IRISH TITLE FOR MICHAEL

Mixed Martial Artist Michael Doyle took the Chaos Irish Lightweight title during a bout at the Everglades Hotel in Londonderry after defeating Strabane's Dominic McConnell.

Michael, who has been competing for three years, won the match in impressive style defeating his opponent with an "Anaconda Choke" just 55 seconds into the fight.

For 26-year-old Michael it was his fifth successive win - bringing his tally to eight fights, six wins and only two defeats. It was his fourth professional fight.

The Lismore Manor king of the ring told the 'MAIL': "It was the shortest fight I've ever had. It was amazing to win.

"All my hard training had paid off. It was a great feeling."

Michael trains at the EFR Gym in Antrim and is coached by Davy Patterson. Locally he has trained at Kempo Gym and Elite 400.

He thanked all the gyms and also thanked Shane McConville for his help with the boxing aspect of his training.

Michael is sponsored by The Stables Bar, Lurgan and he thanked Michael Lavery at Columbia fitness for providing great training facilites at his gym and phyisio treatment.

He also thanked the 70 supporters who travelled with him to Derry to cheer him on.

He's hoping to line up another fight in February or March, but is this week taking a well deserved break with a holiday in Egypt.

As for other plans, he's hoping to travel to England to raise his profile there.

MMA is a fast growing sport brought to prominence recently by big names such as Alex Reid.