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Highland Games’ Past and future


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Spencer Kilco reporting for £4£: The best for MMA News, Views and Reviews

 

 

Being from London myself I have a keen interest with the MMA goings on in are magnificent city. One of the hot prospects here and around the world is the Highland brand. Highland Games hosts weekly events here but half way around the world the company also hosts Highland Challengers on the Island. But how did this international company get its start? I sat down with owner Callum McGregor to learn what he went through in the early days.

 

“I started Highland Games because I have a passion for running an organisation. Previous to Highland Games, I had attempted to start up Lions Share MMA. I believe we only made it to four events so that was hardly an impressive start. When I found out about The Island, a mixed martial arts paradise where fighters would be free from the limitations of athletic commission bureaucracy, I felt it was the perfect place to begin the empire.”

 

McGregor shared my love for the London city and the MMA scene that was emerged, behind Vegas and obviously the Island I think we are fast becoming one of the hotspots for MMA.

“MMA in London is brilliant. The fans love the sport and there are plenty of options for recruitment.” We agreed that there seems to be exciting fresh talent almost every day emerging in the city.

 

And then there the organisation working a 110% to put engaging and exciting fight for the fans. “Troid is one of the most historic organisations the world has seen with not far off of 300 events behind it. REVO is another solid promotion here. An interesting fact is that a fighter I once managed, Paddy Connell, fought on one of the first REVO cards ever held.”

 

So we agreed the MMA culture in London was great, but more importantly what is Highlands next move to improve on it. “I would love if we could just continue on. I would like to take this opportunity to announce the signing of Tony Bullard; undisputed Attack Fight League Welterweight Champion, undisputed World Combat [Now EFC] Welterweight Champion and former World Combat [Now EFC] Lightweight Champion. Guys like Bullard are how we expand Highland Games. There are names like Paul Stampfer, Texas Pete and Clinton Offley out there who we'd love to help us push forward.”

 

“As for the "Highland Brand", The Island will always be our starting point. This season we have Highland Challengers, whom we hope are able to pull out in front before the end. Following the season, HC will continue as an under 25s organisation. We are also in talks to start Highland Kickboxing for season 5 of The Island. Whilst on The Island, those divisions were very shallow.”

 

As a fan myself, like millions others we argue over who is the best. So I wanted to get word on who McGregor Highland Games has ever had. I thought it had to be LightHeavy Weight. McGregor wanted to contemplate the rich first of Highland Games first:

 

“Tony Bullard and Ska Asap were really the only incredible stand outs at 170, and we've signed both of them as Lightweights now. Massimo Benvenuti, the current Highland Games Middleweight Champ, is a natural Welterweight who's found a home a weight above. It's certainly arguable. LightHeavy Weight had that crown stolen from him by Matt Couture. At the end of the Island season, LHW had two losses and was unable to win the tournament. Barney Gumble is a close one too because he went 18-0 before losing in the tournament to our current champ Mase Force. General Tso I think is generally considered the best Island fighter as he remained undefeated and was able to win his tournament.”

 

But then he agreed with me:

 

“If we're talking about post-Island as well though, it's LHW, no question.”

 

I truly thank McGregor taking time out to chat with me. I think this organisation and his leadership is one of the best in the currently MMA work, especially in London. Maybe I’m biased. But let’s hope Highland continue to put on such a specular show that they have given us so far!

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