John Kavanagh (martial artist)

John Kavanagh (born 18 January 1978) is an Irish martial arts coach, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and former professional mixed martial artist. His students include fighters such as Conor McGregor, Makwan Amirkhani, and Gunnar Nelson.

John Kavanagh
Born	(1978-01-18) 18 January 1978 (age 47) Churchtown, Dublin, Ireland
Residence	Dublin, Ireland
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg; 11 st 0 lb)
Team	Straight Blast Gym Ireland
Rank	4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Matt Thornton 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate under Pat Conlon[1]
Mixed martial arts record
Total	6
Wins	3
By submission	3
Losses	3
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	1
Other information
Occupation	Martial arts coach
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

He is the founder and head coach of Irish MMA gym Straight Blast Gym Ireland in Inchicore.^[2] He is the current president of the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association.^[3] Kavanagh was inspired to take up mixed martial arts after watching footage of the UFC tournament in 1993.^[4] A pioneer of MMA in Ireland, he competed in some of the earliest local circuit MMA events in Ireland and the UK and is the first Irish man to receive a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.^[4] Kavanagh was welcomed into the Straight Blast Gym International association of gyms in 2001 by SBGi founder Matt Thornton.^[4][5]

Today, Kavanagh is known as one of the best MMA coaches in the world,^[6] being nominated for the World MMA Awards "Coach of the Year" in 2016,^[7] and winning it in 2017.^[8]

Kavanagh is also the promoter of a mixed martial arts organization Euro Fight Night which held their inaugural event in October 2019.^[9]

John Kavanagh is the current president of the Irish Amateur MMA Organisation, IMMMA.^[10]

Awards and achievements

• World MMA Awards
  • 2017 The Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year^[11]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

6 matches	3 wins	3 losses
By knockout	0	1
By submission	3	1
By decision	0	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	3–3	Robbie Oliver	Submission (armbar)	UZI 2: Combat Evolution	8 March 2003	1	2:26	Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Loss	2–3	Danny Batten	Submission (keylock)	UZI 1: Cage Combat Evolution	30 November 2002	2	N/A	Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Loss	2–2	Leigh Remedios	Decision (unanimous)	UC 1: Ultimate Combat 1	10 March 2002	3	5:00	Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
Win	2–1	Tamel Hasar	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Cage Wars 1	23 February 2002	1	N/A	Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
Loss	1–1	Bobby Karagiannidis	KO (punches)	Pride and Honor: Pride and Honor	24 November 2001	1	N/A	South Africa
Win	1–0	Leighton Hill	Submission (triangle choke)	Grapple & Strike 1	29 May 2000	1	0:55	Worcester, England, United Kingdom

Instructor lineage

Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Hélio Gracie → Rolls Gracie & Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie Jr → Rigan Machado → Chris Haueter → Matt Thornton → John Kavanagh

Further reading

• Kavanagh, John (2016). Win or Learn: MMA, Conor McGregor and Me: A Trainer's Journey. Penguin Random House UK
• Slack, Jack (2017). Notorious: The Life and Fights of Conor Mcgregor. John Blake Publishing Ltd