Derry man claims UK Fighting Championships Featherweight belt

Irish tricolour lifted aloft as the belt was secured around his waist. 

A dream had been achieved for a Derry MMA fighter.

James Slavin travelled to Preston to take on Charlie Flanagan in an amateur featherweight title bout in the UK Fighting Championships.

The expected result was the title would be retained by Flanagan, but the Preston crowd stood in disbelief as he was comprehensively defeated by the Ardmore man.

He said: “To be able to raise the flag victoriously having my team and people there, it felt incredible. At that moment I felt I was representing everyone from Derry and Ireland.

“When I first started fighting and training, one of my goals was to be victorious with a tricolour wrapped around me; it has always been a dream, and a box was ticked off on Saturday in that sense. 

“It feels great to beat your man; he was really highly ranked; I think he was number one in the UK and Ireland and number three in Europe. I finished him, and so by that I should be number one, I reckon.

“It is a big promotion and really well recognised in the UK and Ireland, one of the top three in these islands, and in Europe they recognise it as a top competition too.”

Slavin has worked tirelessly to get to that point and has had his highs and lows, but he is not getting too far ahead of himself as he looks to make inroads towards the top of the sport. 

He said: “I have been grinding for a long time, so it is nice to get a bit of validation.

“I can take this the whole way. I know I can get to the top of this sport, whether that is in the UFC or the PFL. I have the right people around me to get me to the top of the sport. It is just about being consistent now and keep improving every fight; take the right steps, and with this team we know it is achievable.”

Slavin knows the sport is one of highs and lows and had to come to terms with a loss only a few weeks ago before Saturday's bout.

Something he admitted that he struggled with, but the Ardmore man knows it is upon him to get in the right mindset to achieve the feat he managed at the weekend.

He said: “After losing a couple of weeks ago, it was hard.

“It is a weird sport because the losses hurt more than the elation of the wins. Now I don’t know if that is just my personality as a wee bit of a perfectionist.

“It felt great, but I am trying not to go too far as highs and lows come in the sport and you have to be focused on the next goal and challenge ahead.

“You have to be willing to go in there and put it all on the line; your body is going to potentially take a beating. You know it is different when it comes to a football or Gaelic game; there are 14 other men you can depend on, but when going into the ring or cage, it is just me. There are always high stakes.”

Now fighting out of Belfast with Fight Academy Ireland, Slavin was beaming with pride to represent the City of Derry and his newly adopted home on Saturday as he claimed victory.

And he is grateful to be able to do so.

He said: “I train out of Belfast; they have been at the top of the sport, and they are pushing all of us to reach that level too. I’m training with lads like Paul Hughes, who is becoming a superstar in his own right, and he has been a massive help since I came up. He is a fellow Derryman, so he is bringing me along with him, and he has been great with me. 

“I want to represent Derry and Ireland on the world stage; I truly believe I can, as I put everything into it. It is my life; every ounce of my being goes towards fighting and training, and I love it. It is not just a job, as there is not much money in it, if any. But you see, nights like Saturday, money can’t buy that feeling.

“I am grateful for all the support in Derry and those in Belfast who have taken me in. I have got a good circle around me; keep the wave going and strive on.”