Issue 039
July 2008
Unbeaten Straight Blast Gym product Aisling Daly recently catapulted her way into the spotlight with an impressive first round stoppage victory over the durable (if somewhat overmatched) opponent Aysen Berik in Cage Rage 25.
Swamped by a deluge of media interest in the run up to the bout, the pink-haired pugilist faced her concerns about fighting in front of a massive Wembley audience head on, and implemented a tough mental attitude as she faced off with Berik, sister to journeyman Sami. “I really didn’t think about it, I was just like, tunnel vision going into the cage – I didn’t even look around at the crowd, I just looked at the cage and focussed on the fight,” says Ais (pronounced Ash).
The determined Irish fighter quickly stamped her mark on the contest and soon had her opponent on the floor and in trouble with punches. “She wasn’t defending very well, I don’t think she was used to being mounted like that, she was throwing her hands up and stuff like that.”
Shaken and battered, Berik appeared vulnerable to numerous submissions, but Daly was intent on getting the job done without risk of losing position. “I just decided to keep popping and finishwith the TKO. I was comfortable where I was so I just decided to keep throwing shots.”
Next up, Myriem el Banouti fared no better under the vicious assault of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt. Aisling laughed as she explained how the fight ended in very similar circumstances. “I just came in, threw a few shots, got the takedown, passed from side control to mount. She couldn’t get me off, so I just threw some shots and then her corner threw in the towel. That was the end of the fight; I’m becoming a bit predictable I think!”
Riding high following these victories, Aisling feels ready to take on the best and Cage Rage organisation is doing its best to oblige her, as she appears set to square off with Haute Tension representative Tevi Say. “As far as I know, I’m fighting on the next Cage Rage on the 12th of July. She’s agreed and I’ve agreed so it’s just sorting out contracts and stuff like that now – as far as I know, it’s all sorted.” Say is a veteran French fighter with experience in Japan, and will be a tough test for the unbeaten Irishwoman.
Ais ‘The Bash’ insists that Say’s experiences of fighting in the rings of Japan will do her no favours when she steps in the cage for the first time. “Under Smackgirl rules there are no headshots on the ground, so I wonder how that will affect her, especially seeing as my style is ground and pound. I think that might cause a problem for her as she won’t be used to getting hit in the head.”
Aisling closed the interview with a real sense of joyous optimism as she assessed her long-term objectives in the sport. “I just want to see how far I can get with it, I would love to fight on one of those big shows in America, make some sort of career for myself over there and maybe become the EliteXC 135lb champ. That would be really what I’d love to do!” At the rate with which Daly is cementing her position as one of Europe’s top female fighter, you can’t help but wonder if it is a matter of time before she makes it.
