MMA coach John Kavanagh flies in to SBG Rochdale

John Kavanagh (centre) with Bellator fighter Martin Stapleton (right) and Glyn Powditch and Ted Powditch 6 (left)

Students and friends of SBG Rochdale, based at Full Contact Performance Centre on Queensway got some expert tuition from John Kavanagh, world-renowned head coach to Conor McGregor, the top earning MMA fighter in the world, to celebrate the expansion of the new SBG Rochdale mixed martial arts gym.

Kavanagh flew in from Dublin on Friday 3 May for the sold out, standing room only event with tickets selling out in record time. one of the largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA clubs in the UK.

John Kavanagh met head of SBG Rochdale, Bellator fighter Martin Stapleton, head of SBG Bury, Glyn Powditch, and Glyn's son Ted, 6 who got some expert feedback from the man himself.

Glyn Powditch said “Martin Stapleton has built one of the best MMA facilities in the UK here in Rochdale. Not only that, Martin brings in the world's very best coaches to Rochdale. He's building an MMA Mecca and if you live in Rochdale, you are spoiled rotten!

"My gym, SBG Bury fly every August to John Kavanagh’s world-renowned gym in Dublin to train and this year Kavanagh’s expanding to a new 15,000 square foot facility himself.

"To be able to come and train with John Kavanagh in a comparable level of facility in Rochdale, and it only take 20 minutes to get here from Bury, means we've been able to bring youngsters as young as 6 to be inspired by one of the world's best MMA coaches.

"Ted, 6 has talked about how John Kavangh said he did an "amazing takedown" all weekend!”