Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast Paddy Holohan

On this weeks podcast Paddy breaks down UFC Fight Night 174 in a Hooligan Report edition of No Shame. In the last of our Fight Island mini series, we recap on the weekends events from Yas Island. Paddy breaks down the action from the card including Whittaker’s UD win over Darren Till, Shogun’s split decision over Nogueira, Francisco Trinaldo’s TKO over Jai Herbert & Chimaev’s stunning TKO over Rhys McKee. It has to be said its a very selective, quality over quantity, break down from the Hooligan, I guess that’s what you call No Shame analysis.
Paddy gives an honourable mention to Rhys McKee on this weeks podcast. The Northern Irish fighter faced one to the toughest match up’s imaginable in a debut UFC fight few would have agreed to. Many are tipping Khamzat Chimaev to be the UFC’s next big superstar & after the Chechen Viking went 2-0 on the Island with an aggregate strike count of 192-2, its clear to see he’s the real deal.
Take nothing away from Rhys, who at just 23 years of age still has a long career ahead of him in the UFC. McKee realised a dream this week on 6 days notice & nobody can ever take that away from the Ballymena man. We look forward to the comeback.
This will be the last podcast for a while, we’ve decided to make a few tweaks & adjustments to the show. Paddy is using the time away as an opportunity take a break from all social media platforms. His digital detox is designed with the aim of spending more time living in the moment as opposed to trying to capture it on a phone. During the podcasts hiatus, the Hooligan plans to swim in the sea, work out three times a week & eat a bit better. If we eliminate the screen time, there is a whole wide world out there waiting to be re-discovered.
We will return, rest assured for a new season, bigger & better than ever. Thank you as always for your amazing support, in the mean time look after yourself, stay positive & remember above all else to keep smiling. We will be talking to you all again very soon.
The full episode #132 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Is available now across all the usual platforms.

UFC Ref Marc Goddard joins us on the line for episode 131of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Not only is Marc one of the top officials in the game but his incredible work with IMMAF has helped to make the sport of MMA safer as a whole. Goddard also officiates for other MMA promotions such as Bellator & Cage Warriors.
In the latest instalment of our fight island series Marc gives us an update on what the whole experience has been like in Abu Dhabi from a referee’s perspective. Goddard has been officiating on the island over the last few weeks, he was ref for the main event at UFC 251 between Unman V Masvidal & took charge of the weekends action between Figueiredo & Benavidez 2. In a career stacked full of highlights, Marc admits that Fight Island will hold a special place in the memory vault.
Goddard has been officiating in the UFC for over 16 years & speaks of his admiration for Dana White after seeing the work the UFC president has put in behind the scenes on fight island. Marc believes that the Abu Dhabi location will be a regular fixture on the calendar for the foreseeable future & discusses the positive energy on location between staff & athletes.
Goddard is known for his control in the octagon & his level of professionalism has commanded the respect of some of the world’s top fighters. It’s no surprise given his previous career as a fighter with 14 professional fights under his belt. The BJJ black belt admits that refereeing & the feeling that comes with controlling high pressured situations is highly addictive.
Despite being part some of the biggest moments in UFC history, Goddard gets the most satisfaction from his work with IMMAF. Marc has been an instrumental figure for the grass routes level of the game, helping to pave the way for a new generation of fighters.
Also on this week’s episode Paddy & Marc discuss the 6th Anniversary of the legendary UFC Dublin Fight card at the Three Arena in 2014. Both men where present that night with Goddard officiating & Holohan kicking off events with a rear naked choke submission win over Josh Sampo. The UFC ref insists that in all his time in the sport, he’s never experienced an atmosphere like that night. He recalls Cathal Pendred’s comeback win over Mike King & the moment the crowd nearly lifted the roof off the building. By the time Conor delivered his iconic ‘We’re not here to take part’ speech after his dominant TKO stoppage over Diego Brandao, the event had already become MMA folklore.
When it comest to reviewing his performance, Goddard insists that he’s his own biggest critic, based off his track record, he’s a bloody good one at that.
“I’m married to this sport, I’m a human being, I’m not a robot, I’m not perfect, but I’ll give it all I’ve got every time you see me”
The full episode #131 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast with Marc Goddard is available now across all the usual platforms.

It’s a Hooligan report edition of the No Shame Podcast as Paddy breaks down the long awaited UFC 251, Fight Island. Also on this weeks show Paddy pays a heart felt tribute to Jack Charlton, a man who brought so many happy memories to the English & Irish people in his lifetime. Jack was manager of the Republic of Ireland football team from 1985 -1995, during his time in charge he changed the culture of the game in this country & made us all dare to dream. Big jack touched so many lives on his journey with the Boys in green & some of the stories that have emerged over the past few days have given everybody a much needed lift, that’s true legacy right there.
Paddy offers his views on the big fights from Saturday night including Kamaru Usman’s dominant title defence against Jorge Masvidal, Volkanovski’s controversial decision win over Holloway, Petr Yan’s impressive display over the great José Aldo along with the incredible rematch between Rose Namajunas & Jéssica Andrade.
During the second half of this weeks show Paddy focuses on mindfulness & mental health. With everything that’s going on in the world at the minute it’s important to check in on those around us and make sure our friends & family are doing ok. In these difficult times we should always remember to breath when things seem to be getting on top of you.
Given the week that’s in it we should remember how Jack Charlton lifted the country during some of the most challenging, darkest times this country has faced & take inspiration from that. There’s not a lot of hope in the air today but that doesn’t mean the wind won’t change tomorrow. Stay positive, stay strong but most importantly look after yourself.
The full episode #130 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

UFC coach, James Doolan joins us all the way from Fight Island, for episode 129 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. James is the head coach & owner of Higher Level MMA in Bathgate, Scotland. The gym is home to multiple world champions ...

Gareth Murray joins us on the line for episode #128 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Gareth is the owner of Sneaker Surgery, a store that specialises in many bespoke shoe services including repair, restoration & customisation. If you appreciate a good pair of Nike Air Max, if you’ve recently went on a ‘Last Dance’ Air Jordan spending spree or if you simply prefer the classic white Continental look then this is definitely the episode you’ve been waiting for.
On this week’s podcast Gareth tells us how retro sneakers have recently surged in popularity, with huge sums of money being spent on vintage kicks. Although the scene isn’t massive in Ireland yet, it’s starting to take off & Murray believes he is ahead of the curve with his Sneaker Surgery brand.
Gareth explains how he got into the shoe business. He was always a fan of decent pair of runners back in the day, however it wasn’t until he moved to Australia that he realised how big the footwear scene really was. After a visit to a Nike Outlet with friends, Murray rekindled his passion for trainers & began trawling eBay, Gumtree & various platforms to grow his collection. Later he moved back to Ireland, boasting the freshest kicks in town.
By this stage some of his trainers became worn, when he dropped them into a repair store in Dublin he was horrified by the end result. Gareth believed he could do a better job himself. He began research & experimentation, buying old worn out shoes, cutting them up & restoring them to their former glory. After a while he realised that he had a talent for the restoration process & began taking on clients & the Sneaker Surgery was born.
Anybody who knows Paddy will know how much he loves his runners, so much so he spent a chunk of his first UFC pay cheque on new kicks. However the Hooligan’s impressive collection is no match for Gareth who boasts a staggering 117 pairs of shoes, many being second hand purchases he restored himself. Murray sees it as a healthy obsession, or a steady investment depending on who’s asking.
On the subject of most expensive sneaker in the world, Murray believes it has to be Nike’s 2016 edition of the Iconic Mag shoe. The Mag comes fully equipped with the self lacing technology made famous by Marty McFly in Back to the Future 2. Less than 100 pairs exist with a hefty price tag of 55-60,000 dollars per unit, ’60G’s BABY’
As things stand currently Gareth works a 9-5 job by day & operates the Sneaker Surgery by night. It’s perhaps a fitting parallel to Michael J Fox’s schedule for the first Back to the Future movie with the Hollywood legend also working two jobs during production of the film, rehearsing ’Family Ties’ from 10am - 6pm before rushing to the BTTF set to shoot through the night. Not only does Murray own an earlier version of the Nike Mag, but he also has a tattoo of the shoe on his leg, this man really loves shoes.
The one piece of advice Gareth gives to potential customers is not to throw out their shoes, it’s the biggest regret for his existing clients who have seen stunning results from the shoe surgery. So if you have an old mucky, squashed pair of Predators that are set for the scrap heap, there is still hope yet.
If Murray can’t save the shoe, or make it perfect, his guarantee is that he will always make them look better at the very least. Some of the custom designs are simply stunning & given the bespoke nature of his trade he is always open to developing new ideas with his clients.
Ultimately Gareth’s main ambition is to create a legacy that one day he might be able to pass on to his 15 month old son. We’ll be rooting for him all the way.

MMA Hero Brad Pickett joins us on the line for episode #127 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Brad is a former UFC fighter, head coach of Great Britain Top Team & considered by many as a pioneer of British & European MMA.
With an MMA record of 26-14, Pickett was one of the most entertaining fighters to grace the octagon. On this weeks episode Paddy talks about his admiration for Brad, explaining how he used to skip school as a youngster to watch ‘ One Punch’ fight on the former MMA promotion Cage Rage. Pickett had a hard hitting style that made him a fan favourite. Brad explains how he took inspiration from Mike Tyson’s fight game. Many of the boxing legend’s trademark moves such as the bob & weave, the over hand, & hook shots where all elements that Pickett adapted for his own game in the world of MMA. Amazingly throughout his entire fight career, Brad never broke a bone in his hands. He attributes this to developing good technique. Brad also had a versatile ground game to complement his stand up & admits he would have developed his wrestling more if started MMA at an earlier age.
“I was trying to beat you from the first minute to the last minute.”
Brad’s first MMA lesson was at 26 years of age when he was humbled by a 16 year old fighter. Growing up Pickett had a background in cricket & soccer before boxing from the age of 19-21 but admits that MMA was by far the toughest sport he’s ever competed in. His first fight was in November 2004 & less than a year later he became the Cage Rage British Featherweight Champion, defeating Ozzy Haluk via Submission.
It was around that time he started travelling to the US to train with American Top Team, developing an excellent relationship with MMA coach Mike Brown, the pair remain close friends today. In 2009 Pickett signed for World Extreme Cage Fighting after years of knocking on the door. His first Fight at WEC 45 earned him a victory via submission along with the fight of the night bonus, enabling him to spend more time training in the US. It was the start of an incredible bonus streak that lasted 5 figths into his UFC career.
In April 2010, Pickett claimed a dominant Unanimous Decision victory over Demetrious Johnson at WEC 48, one of only 3 fighters to defeat Mighty Mouse. The WEC merged with UFC in 2010 & Brad had his first fight for the premier MMA promotion in 2011 at UFC 138.
“If you’re in it for the money you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Money comes with success”
After going 3-3 in his first 6 UFC fights, Brad dropped down to the flyweight division defeating Neil Seery via Unanimous decision in 2014. Pickett regrets dropping down a division admitting that he was stylistically unsuited for the lower weight class. Despite having so many impressive victories throughout his career, ‘One Punch’ was unable to win multiple fight eliminator opportunities with many of his opponents going on to challenge for the belt. Brad’s final UFC victory came in 2016 against Francis Rivera, before retiring in 2017 in his home town at UFC London. His post fight interview is an absolute tear jerker.
Also on this weeks episode, Brad offers plenty of career advice for up & coming fighters along with discussing the impact of social media on today’s generation. Since retiring from the UFC Octagon in 2017, Pickett has transitioned into coaching & will be in Nathaniel Wood’s corner at UFC Fight Island on July 15th. Brad talks about the importance of mindset above all else. Having made the walk himself he has the emotional intelligence to understand what his fighters need & how to get the best out of them as individuals.
Brad’s legacy stretches far outside the Octagon having spent his entire career passing on his knowledge to future generations.