Clan Wars Announcer Mark Leonard Speaks to the ISKA
We recently caught up with Clan Wars Announcer Mark Leonard for an interview in which he tells us about himself and shares his insight on the forth coming ISKA Championship Clan Wars 10 card
Hi Mark, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today for the ISKA fans and followers, can you perhaps start by telling us a bit about yourself please?
Mark: I am a mild mannered Software Developer by day, mixed martial artist by night and an MMA enthusiast around the clock! I started in MMA at the turn of the millenium just as word was spreading in Ireland about the sport. I was lucky enough to be involved in the early days, to see the sport grow out of its infancy here and I am delighted to still be involved!
Q: Can you tell us how you got involved as one of main figures behind the Clan Wars commentary and announcing team?
Mark: I have done a lot of Announcing work over the years for Irish shows, that coupled with my work with the MMA League meant I am a bit of a familiar face to many people involved in the sport in Ireland, Paul wanted to see if I could convert the rubbish I talk constantly into something that would work across the medium of TV and gave me a chance at Clan Wars 3. I am learning a lot every time out and grateful to get the best seat in the house for one of Ireland ‘s Top Promotions..
Q: We have all heard your commentary many times on the television channels that Clan Wars is broadcast on and it does make a refreshing change, the Clan Wars fans and viewers always comment on some of the quick quips you throw into your commentary. Is this something that comes naturally or do you pre-rehearse and then look for an opportunity to try out your bit of comedy magic? Do you find commentary comes easy to you?
Mark: In the early days I did try to reharse a few lines here and there, but when I listened to the tapes back they never sounded quite right. These days the only prep I do is on the fighters, their backgrounds and stories, and then just let everything else flow. I am much happier working like that as I think it sounds much more natural. I am a bit of a wiseass at the best of the times, so I think this fits in well with colour commentary, so I guess it does come pretty naturally now I have gotten out of my own way.
Q:You have been involved with Clan Wars from Clan Wars 3 and now we are looking at Clan Wars 10 at the Ulster Hall, can you tell us the how you have seen the show develop from the inside and maybe you could give us some information on why you think it has become so successful?
Mark: I think one of the things that separates Clan Wars from other promotions is they always go big! Right from the get go promoter Paul McLoughlin has been pushing the quality of fights, the production values and all the rest that goes with an event like this as hard as possible. Clan Wars always provides a platform that brings the best out of fighters and that has born fruit at every show with some of the most exciting match ups I’ve seen anywhere. Once fans see what a Clan Wars show is like, they will always want more!
Q:Clan Wars 10 is marked down as a special because there is 5 World Recognised ISKA titles on the line and boasts some of Ireland top talents such as Conor Dillon, Declan Dalton, Joe Clarke, Alan Philpott, Steve Mc Combe and Ricky Edgeworth for example – can you give us a break down on these fights, why there is such a buzz about these fights and if there’s any other under card or pro fights you are excited about or indeed fighters that the fans go mad for?
Mark: There is a cracking card for Clan Wars 10, the stakes have never ben higher. Joe Clarke vs Alan Philpott is going to be extremely interesting match up, both are finishers and dangerous on the ground so I expect this to be a very tactical match. I think fans will have Joe as the favorite coming into the match, but I wouldn’t believe it, I think either fighter could take this one.
Conor Dillon robbed me of a match I wanted to see between Steve McCombe and Decky Dalton, but I can forgive him as I think his fight on Clan Wars 10 with te Diamond will be even more exciting; I won’t soon forget the 3rd round Elbow KO he landed on Taz at clan wars 8 and I am sure we will all be looking out for another shot like that from the Done Deal, but in the Diamond Dalton I think he has the unique challenge of someone who is at home rough housing the same as he is. Its very possible that at the start of each round these two will start swinging and won’t stop until the bell! definitley a match that could finish in an instant so I will be glued to the action on this one.
Steve McCombe will have a point to prove at Clan Wars coming back after his loss to Dillon and I wouldn’t want to be the one on the receiving end of it, but then again most people wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Richie Edgworth either! Richie is on an impressive two win streak so he is coming into this match full of confidence, which he will need every bit of when he faces off against one of the most experienced fighters in the division. An air of youth vs experience to this match that will make it a very interesting challenge for both fighters.
If I had to pick one of those matches that I am the most looking forward to then it would be Decky Dalton vs Conor Dillon, but I think any one of them is worth the price of admission by themselves!
9 March 2012
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