BREAKING: Irish MMA Legend Paddy Holohan Leads Team Ireland In New MMA Reality Show

Irish MMA legend and former Conor Mcgregor teammate Paddy Holohan returns to the octagon – but as a coach for Team Ireland in a new MMA reality show called the OKTAGON Challenge.

OKTAGON MMA will pit the nations England and Ireland against each other as they go head to head in a mixed martial arts showdown, which will air on Tuesday September 12th.

IRISH MMA LEGEND PADDY HOLOHAN LEADS TEAM IRELAND IN NEW MMA REALITY SHOW

• OKTAGON MMA launch England vs Ireland in reality show: OKTAGON Challenge
• Show will air on Tuesday 12th September on Channel 4
• The finalists will compete at OKTAGON 48 in Manchester on November 4th
• Conor McGregor says show is ‘a brilliant idea’

European MMA promotion OKTAGON MMA has launched a new reality show in the UK and Ireland, which will be shown on Channel 4, with the first episode airing on Tuesday 12th September. 

OKTAGON Challenge: England vs Ireland is an intense competition that tests eight athletes to the limit as they fight their way through a tournament bracket with the ultimate aim of becoming the winner of the show and subsequently, one of the best prospects in Europe.

The unique aspect of the reality TV show is that the athletes will be competing in “challenges” set beyond the sports world they are used to. Each “challenge” is designed to take the fighters outside their comfort zones so fans can see the true personalities and characters behind the steely competitors. The two fighters remaining will make their OKTAGON MMA debuts at OKTAGON 48, at the AO Arena in Manchester, and fight it out for a 5-figure contract.

The Irish prospects will be led by Irish MMA legend, Paddy Holohan, with Next Gen fighter and OKTAGON lightweight contender, Shem Rock as the co-coach.

England will be led by MMA pioneer and UFC veteran, Brad Pickett, co-coached by fellow lightweight prospect, Akonne Wanliss.

Speaking about the competition, Holohan commented:

“OKTAGON is a great set up. I can tell by the founders, Pavol and Ondrej, that it’s going to be a success. What they’ve created for the younger generation here is very special. The Irish scene now is buzzing, with Conor (McGregor), Ian Garry, Shanuagh Bannan… and these fighters here can join those guys as leading the new charge.

“You can see in the English team that it’s divided, my team is talking, having fun, and that is more important. A lot of battles in history have been won by the lesser team who were up for the fight.

The shows format takes inspiration from The Ultimate Fighter, a show which Holohan’s close friend and former teammate, Conor McGregor has twice appeared on. Holohan has spoken o McGregor about his appearance on OKTAGON Challenge: England vs Ireland.

“I was chatting to Conor about this, and he was amazed that someone in Europe had picked up this kind of show, like The Ultimate Fighter. He’s happy for it, and thinks it’s a brilliant idea. He’s really supportive of it, and he’d be all over this.”