In a recent interview with Fighters Only, former undisputed Muay Thai world champion Niamh Kinehan shared her thoughts after kicking off her professional MMA career with a win at Oktagon 74.
Considered the greatest female Muay Thai fighter to ever come out of the UK, the Manchester native decided earlier this year to seek a new challenge. After winning every championship belt available and becoming undisputed in her weight class, she signed her first promotional deal with Oktagon MMA.
Kinehan got her mixed martial arts career off to a flying start this past weekend at Oktagon 74, and she reflected on her debut with Europe’s fastest-growing promotion.
What’s been the most challenging thing about entering a new discipline, especially after being so successful in Muay Thai?
“Probably starting from scratch. I am so used to being at the top of the game and being able to rely on my capabilities and knowing my strengths within Thai. I knew myself so well as a fighter, and I think sometimes you can take that for granted. Now, I’ve got to assess myself again, look at where my weaknesses lie, and it’s a new learning curve.”
Did you put any pressure on yourself in the lead-up to your MMA debut at Oktagon?
“I tried not to put the same amount of pressure on myself as I do in Muay Thai. I wanted to just use this fight as a benchmark to get the first experience boxed off. There was more to it than just the fight—it was the experience as a whole.
“People talk about their ‘pro debut,’ but this was literally my overall MMA debut. I have never fought amateur, never fought on small-hall shows, never stepped foot in the cage. So although I was going for the win, this weekend was more about taking in the whole experience than just the fight!”
What was the main factor in signing with Oktagon MMA?
“Oktagon offered me a good contract with good communication, and they seem to be in line with where I want to go as a fighter. Their events are on a mega scale, and this weekend solidified that I made the right choice.”
You’ve had some big moments in your career—how big was making your MMA debut at Oktagon 74?
“Massive! The whole transition into MMA, signing contracts, and then fighting happened so quick! Oktagon 74 was a sold-out event at an amazing open-air stadium, and I had lots of friends and family fly over for the fight. It was definitely a moment I will never forget!”
You faced a familiar opponent, holding a victory over her in Muay Thai. How pleased were you to be matched with your previous dance partner?
“I fought Michaela [Hlaváčiková] literally one year ago to the day on Saturday—the same weekend, just one year later—which is crazy! She is a tough fighter with great heart, and I was glad to share the cage with her and thank her for taking the fight.
“I have ended up accidentally sharing a couple of ‘firsts’ with her—my first fight back in Thai after the surgeon told me I would more than likely never fight again, and my first MMA fight—so she’s ended up being quite a part of my journey!”
How happy are you with your performance, and did you get to show anything new you had been working on?
“It’s like I mentioned before, I’m trying not to analyze the performance too much in terms of critique. I didn’t do what I was capable of, and after watching it back there were clear moments where I could have followed up and gone for the finish. But I was finding my feet, embracing the experience, and getting the feel for the cage, so overall I’m happy with that.”
You only get one debut, and yours came at an open-air stadium in Prague. Tell us about the ring walk, your feelings about the event, and your first taste of being an Oktagon fighter.
“Oktagon as a promotion is amazing—I’ve been looked after from start to finish, and it’s clear they’ve taken an interest in my previous career and where my potential lies as a fighter. The venue and crowd were amazing.
“The ring walk was a mixture of a big deep breath and ‘let’s do this!’ As soon as I heard my song play, I was like, right… game on.”
Finally, what aspirations and goals do you have in the organization and in the sport?
“I’m coming for it all. I want to go to the very top and be the champion, and that’s what I’m aiming to achieve!”
