Derry man upsets odds to finish third in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Masters World Championships

A Derry man finished third at the World Masters IBJJF Jiu Jitsu World Championships.

Ciaran McFadden stood on the podium in the ultra-heavyweight category at the competition in Las Vegas over the weekend of September 1.

McFadden was proud to have overcome the odds to achieve this feat. 

He said: “It is a brilliant feeling to have finished third. 

“I will be honest; I feel I could have done better than that too, I feel, but I made a wee error on the day, which cost me, but that is how it goes, I suppose. I guess you just have to take the rough with the smooth.

"Due to being in my maiden year as a black belt, I entered the competition ranked 28th out of 29 athletes. Throughout the competition, I only faced the top 10 seeds and managed to defeat two former world champions on my way to third place.

“I just took it one fight at a time, and unfortunately, as I say, a wee error cost me as I was defeated by the number two seed, who is also ranked second in the world. But I finished in the top three, so I’m bursting with pride.”

McFadden won silver last year as he competed as a brown belt. 

He said the near misses and the confidence gained from his first ever World Championship as a black belt against other competitors with many more years experience at this level will spur him onto the top spot on the podium. 

McFadden said: “I will keep working until I am on that top spot; that is the goal, but you won’t get there without the hard work, and with that, your time will come.

“You just keep building; there are a lot of heavily experienced boys in the division who have a good few degrees on their black belts and plenty of years as a black belt, this being my first, so it was great to be competing with them.”

McFadden is no stranger to hard work, as he runs his own printing and graphic design business on top of the Kombat Jiu Jitsu gym in Elagh Business Park, Derry. 

He loves every moment in the gym, be that training or coaching adult classes or the next generation of Jiu Jitsu fighters, including his own five-year-old daughter. 

He said: “I was straight back into training after 23 hours of travelling from Las Vegas to coach a kids class and then an adults class.

“I am hugely passionate about coaching and developing people.

“It took me 16 and a half years to become a black belt. It was the milestone and goal I had looked to achieve since I set off in this sport, and now I want to provide the platform for others to do that.

“I have a kids team, and the potential they are demonstrating is phenomenal. I love getting to teach them along with the adults we have. 

“When those I train do well, it is an incredible feeling. Those who train here work hard and deserve every success they get, and I can’t feel anything else but pride. 

“Every win for them is a wee win for me too.”

One of the many products of the gym is Matthew Friel, and McFadden couldn’t be prouder of the athlete.

Friel is set to compete in Cage Warriors against Jordan Molinari in Manchester on September 21. 

McFadden said: “Matthew Friel has just turned professional and just signed with Cage Warriors, with his debut coming up in Manchester. 

“Cage Warriors is Europe’s biggest MMA promotion, a gateway to the UFC. If he does well, he could get a contract for the UFC.

“I remember him first coming through the doors of Kombat; he was a quiet shy lad, and now look at him.”

McFadden can’t wait for the future as he continues competing at tournaments now as a blackbelt while also witnessing those in his gym going from strength to strength. 

He said: “It is brilliant to see them come through.

“The sport is truly growing, and I am happy to be able to do what I am doing with Kombat. Everyone that comes through our doors is welcomed as we look to embrace everyone into our warm environment.”