On this weeks podcast Paddy breaks down UFC Fight Night 174 in a Hooligan Report edition of No Shame. In the last of our Fight Island mini series, we recap on the weekends events from Yas Island. Paddy breaks down the action from the card including Whittaker’s UD win over Darren Till, Shogun’s split decision over Nogueira, Francisco Trinaldo’s TKO over Jai Herbert & Chimaev’s stunning TKO over Rhys McKee. It has to be said its a very selective, quality over quantity, break down from the Hooligan, I guess that’s what you call No Shame analysis.

Paddy gives an honourable mention to Rhys McKee on this weeks podcast. The Northern Irish fighter faced one to the toughest match up’s imaginable in a debut UFC fight few would have agreed to. Many are tipping Khamzat Chimaev to be the UFC’s next big superstar & after the Chechen Viking went 2-0 on the Island with an aggregate strike count of 192-2, its clear to see he’s the real deal.

Take nothing away from Rhys, who at just 23 years of age still has a long career ahead of him in the UFC. McKee realised a dream this week on 6 days notice & nobody can ever take that away from the Ballymena man. We look forward to the comeback.

This will be the last podcast for a while, we’ve decided to make a few tweaks & adjustments to the show. Paddy is using the time away as an opportunity take a break from all social media platforms. His digital detox is designed with the aim of spending more time living in the moment as opposed to trying to capture it on a phone. During the podcasts hiatus, the Hooligan plans to swim in the sea, work out three times a week & eat a bit better. If we eliminate the screen time, there is a whole wide world out there waiting to be re-discovered.

We will return, rest assured for a new season, bigger & better than ever. Thank you as always for your amazing support, in the mean time look after yourself, stay positive & remember above all else to keep smiling. We will be talking to you all again very soon.

The full episode #132 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Is available now across all the usual platforms.

UFC Ref Marc Goddard joins us on the line for episode 131of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Not only is Marc one of the top officials in the game but his incredible work with IMMAF has helped to make the sport of MMA safer as a whole. Goddard also officiates for other MMA promotions such as Bellator & Cage Warriors.

In the latest instalment of our fight island series Marc gives us an update on what the whole experience has been like in Abu Dhabi from a referee’s perspective. Goddard has been officiating on the island over the last few weeks, he was ref for the main event at UFC 251 between Unman V Masvidal & took charge of the weekends action between Figueiredo & Benavidez 2. In a career stacked full of highlights, Marc admits that Fight Island will hold a special place in the memory vault.

Goddard has been officiating in the UFC for over 16 years & speaks of his admiration for Dana White after seeing the work the UFC president has put in behind the scenes on fight island. Marc believes that the Abu Dhabi location will be a regular fixture on the calendar for the foreseeable future & discusses the positive energy on location between staff & athletes.

Goddard is known for his control in the octagon & his level of professionalism has commanded the respect of some of the world’s top fighters. It’s no surprise given his previous career as a fighter with 14 professional fights under his belt. The BJJ black belt admits that refereeing & the feeling that comes with controlling high pressured situations is highly addictive.

Despite being part some of the biggest moments in UFC history, Goddard gets the most satisfaction from his work with IMMAF. Marc has been an instrumental figure for the grass routes level of the game, helping to pave the way for a new generation of fighters.

Also on this week’s episode Paddy & Marc discuss the 6th Anniversary of the legendary UFC Dublin Fight card at the Three Arena in 2014. Both men where present that night with Goddard officiating & Holohan kicking off events with a rear naked choke submission win over Josh Sampo. The UFC ref insists that in all his time in the sport, he’s never experienced an atmosphere like that night. He recalls Cathal Pendred’s comeback win over Mike King & the moment the crowd nearly lifted the roof off the building. By the time Conor delivered his iconic ‘We’re not here to take part’ speech after his dominant TKO stoppage over Diego Brandao, the event had already become MMA folklore.

When it comest to reviewing his performance, Goddard insists that he’s his own biggest critic, based off his track record, he’s a bloody good one at that.

“I’m married to this sport, I’m a human being, I’m not a robot, I’m not perfect, but I’ll give it all I’ve got every time you see me”

The full episode #131 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast with Marc Goddard is available now across all the usual platforms.

It’s a Hooligan report edition of the No Shame Podcast as Paddy breaks down the long awaited UFC 251, Fight Island. Also on this weeks show Paddy pays a heart felt tribute to Jack Charlton, a man who brought so many happy memories to the English & Irish people in his lifetime. Jack was manager of the Republic of Ireland football team from 1985 -1995, during his time in charge he changed the culture of the game in this country & made us all dare to dream. Big jack touched so many lives on his journey with the Boys in green & some of the stories that have emerged over the past few days have given everybody a much needed lift, that’s true legacy right there.

Paddy offers his views on the big fights from Saturday night including Kamaru Usman’s dominant title defence against Jorge Masvidal, Volkanovski’s controversial decision win over Holloway, Petr Yan’s impressive display over the great José Aldo along with the incredible rematch between Rose Namajunas & Jéssica Andrade.

During the second half of this weeks show Paddy focuses on mindfulness & mental health. With everything that’s going on in the world at the minute it’s important to check in on those around us and make sure our friends & family are doing ok. In these difficult times we should always remember to breath when things seem to be getting on top of you.

Given the week that’s in it we should remember how Jack Charlton lifted the country during some of the most challenging, darkest times this country has faced & take inspiration from that. There’s not a lot of hope in the air today but that doesn’t mean the wind won’t change tomorrow. Stay positive, stay strong but most importantly look after yourself.

The full episode #130 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

UFC coach, James Doolan joins us all the way from Fight Island, for episode 129 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. James is the head coach & owner of Higher Level MMA in Bathgate, Scotland. The gym is home to multiple world champions & UFC talents such as Danny Henry & Stevie Ray. Danny is set to take on Makwan Amirkhani on the first of the eagerly anticipated UFC Fight Island card’s this Saturday & James is over on Yas Island making final preparations with his fighter. On this week’s podcast, James talks about Fight Island, coaching, BJJ, his career as a fighter & much more.

“I don’t like attention, I don’t like cameras I’d rather listen to people than talk, attention’s not for me… I like to sit back & watch, study stuff. The same way we study martial arts, just study the game & the coaching side of it.”

When it comes to coaching Doolan believes it should always be about the fighter first & foremost. James is one of the most down to earth people in the world of MMA & that’s certainly a quality he looks to instil in his own athletes. However, the Scotsman’s main focus is to create a fight style that suits the individual’s personality, one plan certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to coaching a team. James also notes that a fighter will sometimes need to adjust their style depending on opponent & that’s when an understanding of the person can be extremely beneficial.

“You’re trying to tailor a guy who’s not use to that type of fight. It’s about getting them to fight slightly different to how they want to fight sometimes...They’re fighting for their families at the end of the day"

As things currently stand, Doolan has checked in to his hotel on Fight Island & has just completed the initial 24 hour quarantine, a mandatory procedure for every fighter & coach arriving on the island. James offers an incredibly thorough break down of his journey to the island detailing all the Covid-19 testing measures put in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved on the card. With staggered isolation phases & minimum contact throughout the journey to Abu Dhabi the UFC have left no stone unturned in their preparations. The Higher Level head coach also offers his views on how the fight will go between Danny & Makwan. Dolan believes no matter what the result it will be one of the most entertaining fights on the card.

James had a formidable career as an MMA fighter with a record of 17-9-2, with his last fight coming in 2013. He retells the legendary story of a weight cut in Japan featuring Paul McVeigh. It was a very different time in MMA back then. Doolan admits he didn’t read the finer print of his fight contract which involved a severe penalty for missing weight, the opponents expense purse, costing anything in the region of £5,000, a fee the Scottish fighter didn’t have. McVeigh, who fas fighting on the same card found himself in a similar situation, panic ensued & the fighters challenged each other to make weight, after a drastic 18 hours of cutting both fighters reached their targets. A picture of the depleted duo on their way to make weight still exists online, despite multiple attempts to have the photo erased from history.

MMA has taken Doolan across the globe, with stops in America, Japan, Thailand & most of Europe, not bad for a person who didn’t step foot on a plain until he was 22 years of age. His current hotel overlooks an F1 track with the beach in close proximity. Despite how it sometimes looks from the outside, James won’t get much of a holiday, there’s no such thing in the fight game.

“People think I’m here on holiday but I’m here working, they don’t see the 20-30 years of training & hurt, helping guys make weight, fighting in clubs, community centres. Driving all the way down to England for guys to win in 30 seconds & then driving back up the road. They don’t see all that work. They think you’re flying all over the world & then they see you on the f**king telly but they miss all the shit that goes into it.”

This Saturday's Fight Island card starts at 2.00 am local time with Danny setting to walk around 4.00am which involves it’s own challenges in preparation no doubt. Doolan explains how the island has been completely shut off from the rest of Abu Dhabi, making it one of the safest places to be in the world right now.

Also on this weeks podcast Paddy & James discuss how Jiu-Jitsu has improved their overall problem solving skills in life. With the rate BJJ technique evolves at, James believes it should be a staple part of every coach’s arsenal. The mindset Doolan gained from BJJ improved his overall strike game. James has recently began the process of setting up IMMAF Scotland after being approached by Mark Goddard to get involved with the organisation. Doolan believes IMMAF offers the best route for any young fighter looking to break into the sport.

This is a much watch for any fighter in MMA with buckets of wisdom from James, one of the very best coaches the game has to offer & we don't say that lightly. The full episode #129 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

Gareth Murray joins us on the line for episode #128 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Gareth is the owner of Sneaker Surgery, a store that specialises in many bespoke shoe services including repair, restoration & customisation. If you appreciate a good pair of Nike Air Max, if you’ve recently went on a ‘Last Dance’ Air Jordan spending spree or if you simply prefer the classic white Continental look then this is definitely the episode you’ve been waiting for.

On this week’s podcast Gareth tells us how retro sneakers have recently surged in popularity, with huge sums of money being spent on vintage kicks. Although the scene isn’t massive in Ireland yet, it’s starting to take off & Murray believes he is ahead of the curve with his Sneaker Surgery brand.

Gareth explains how he got into the shoe business. He was always a fan of decent pair of runners back in the day, however it wasn’t until he moved to Australia that he realised how big the footwear scene really was. After a visit to a Nike Outlet with friends, Murray rekindled his passion for trainers & began trawling eBay, Gumtree & various platforms to grow his collection. Later he moved back to Ireland, boasting the freshest kicks in town.

By this stage some of his trainers became worn, when he dropped them into a repair store in Dublin he was horrified by the end result. Gareth believed he could do a better job himself. He began research & experimentation, buying old worn out shoes, cutting them up & restoring them to their former glory. After a while he realised that he had a talent for the restoration process & began taking on clients & the Sneaker Surgery was born.

Anybody who knows Paddy will know how much he loves his runners, so much so he spent a chunk of his first UFC pay cheque on new kicks. However the Hooligan’s impressive collection is no match for Gareth who boasts a staggering 117 pairs of shoes, many being second hand purchases he restored himself. Murray sees it as a healthy obsession, or a steady investment depending on who’s asking.

On the subject of most expensive sneaker in the world, Murray believes it has to be Nike’s 2016 edition of the Iconic Mag shoe. The Mag comes fully equipped with the self lacing technology made famous by Marty McFly in Back to the Future 2. Less than 100 pairs exist with a hefty price tag of 55-60,000 dollars per unit, ’60G’s BABY’

As things stand currently Gareth works a 9-5 job by day & operates the Sneaker Surgery by night. It’s perhaps a fitting parallel to Michael J Fox’s schedule for the first Back to the Future movie with the Hollywood legend also working two jobs during production of the film, rehearsing ’Family Ties’ from 10am - 6pm before rushing to the BTTF set to shoot through the night. Not only does Murray own an earlier version of the Nike Mag, but he also has a tattoo of the shoe on his leg, this man really loves shoes.

The one piece of advice Gareth gives to potential customers is not to throw out their shoes, it’s the biggest regret for his existing clients who have seen stunning results from the shoe surgery. So if you have an old mucky, squashed pair of Predators that are set for the scrap heap, there is still hope yet.

If Murray can’t save the shoe, or make it perfect, his guarantee is that he will always make them look better at the very least. Some of the custom designs are simply stunning & given the bespoke nature of his trade he is always open to developing new ideas with his clients.

Ultimately Gareth’s main ambition is to create a legacy that one day he might be able to pass on to his 15 month old son. We’ll be rooting for him all the way.

The full episode 128 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Spotify, iTunes & to watch on Youtube.

Anyone else feel like ordering some retro AF1's?

MMA Hero Brad Pickett joins us on the line for episode #127 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Brad is a former UFC fighter, head coach of Great Britain Top Team & considered by many as a pioneer of British & European MMA.

With an MMA record of 26-14, Pickett was one of the most entertaining fighters to grace the octagon. On this weeks episode Paddy talks about his admiration for Brad, explaining how he used to skip school as a youngster to watch ‘ One Punch’ fight on the former MMA promotion Cage Rage. Pickett had a hard hitting style that made him a fan favourite. Brad explains how he took inspiration from Mike Tyson’s fight game. Many of the boxing legend’s trademark moves such as the bob & weave, the over hand, & hook shots where all elements that Pickett adapted for his own game in the world of MMA. Amazingly throughout his entire fight career, Brad never broke a bone in his hands. He attributes this to developing good technique. Brad also had a versatile ground game to complement his stand up & admits he would have developed his wrestling more if started MMA at an earlier age.

“I was trying to beat you from the first minute to the last minute.”

Brad’s first MMA lesson was at 26 years of age when he was humbled by a 16 year old fighter. Growing up Pickett had a background in cricket & soccer before boxing from the age of 19-21 but admits that MMA was by far the toughest sport he’s ever competed in. His first fight was in November 2004 & less than a year later he became the Cage Rage British Featherweight Champion, defeating Ozzy Haluk via Submission.

It was around that time he started travelling to the US to train with American Top Team, developing an excellent relationship with MMA coach Mike Brown, the pair remain close friends today. In 2009 Pickett signed for World Extreme Cage Fighting after years of knocking on the door. His first Fight at WEC 45 earned him a victory via submission along with the fight of the night bonus, enabling him to spend more time training in the US. It was the start of an incredible bonus streak that lasted 5 figths into his UFC career.

In April 2010, Pickett claimed a dominant Unanimous Decision victory over Demetrious Johnson at WEC 48, one of only 3 fighters to defeat Mighty Mouse. The WEC merged with UFC in 2010 & Brad had his first fight for the premier MMA promotion in 2011 at UFC 138.

“If you’re in it for the money you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Money comes with success”

After going 3-3 in his first 6 UFC fights, Brad dropped down to the flyweight division defeating Neil Seery via Unanimous decision in 2014. Pickett regrets dropping down a division admitting that he was stylistically unsuited for the lower weight class. Despite having so many impressive victories throughout his career, ‘One Punch’ was unable to win multiple fight eliminator opportunities with many of his opponents going on to challenge for the belt. Brad’s final UFC victory came in 2016 against Francis Rivera, before retiring in 2017 in his home town at UFC London. His post fight interview is an absolute tear jerker.

Also on this weeks episode, Brad offers plenty of career advice for up & coming fighters along with discussing the impact of social media on today’s generation. Since retiring from the UFC Octagon in 2017, Pickett has transitioned into coaching & will be in Nathaniel Wood’s corner at UFC Fight Island on July 15th. Brad talks about the importance of mindset above all else. Having made the walk himself he has the emotional intelligence to understand what his fighters need & how to get the best out of them as individuals.

Brad’s legacy stretches far outside the Octagon having spent his entire career passing on his knowledge to future generations. The standard in the UK now compared to the early 2000’s is testament to trailblazers like Pickett who helped to pave the way.

On the subject of making it to the UFC, Brad insists that Cage Warriors is still the best route for British & European fighters. However ‘One Punch’ adds that It’s not just about the the Ultimate Fighting Championship anymore. There are plenty of options for fighters to consider now with the expansion of Bellator in Europe, One Championship in Asia & other emerging promotions such as ACA (Absolute Championship Akhmat).

For some of our younger audience if you haven’t checked out Brad’s career, the highlights are on Youtube, familiarise yourself with a true legend of the game. For the rest, no better excuse to relive some of those epic battles that brought every single one of us to our feet, even Dana White.

The full episode #127 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, Spotify & iTunes.

The king of cake, Ben Cullen joins us on the line for episode 125 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Known as the Bakeking, Ben is a multi award winning cake designer & a regular contributor on Channel 4’s ‘Extreme Cake Makers’. The Birmingham native produces weekly cake builds, topical cake sculptures & how to videos on his popular youtube channel Bakeking TV.

Ben is arguably one of the most creative guests we’ve had on the show. Although he keeps his designs relevant to what’s going on the world, a new idea can spring to mind at any point or time. His instagram channel is a feast for the eyes with cakes in the shape of roast dinners, celebrities, sporting super stars, iconic film characters, musicians, coke cans & even bananas, ‘go banana!’

Ben studied Graphic design at Chester University before taking up a tattoo apprenticeship. While tattooing a customer in 2014, Cullen was shown an example of a decorated cake by his client, inspiring him to create his first super cake, for his dad’s birthday.

One of his earlier cake sculptures was of the newly retired Champ Champ, Conor McGregor. Cullen discusses how the McGregor Cake was a real turning point in his career. It was a design that Conor’s official website, the Mac Life shared across all of their social media channels. It was the first time Cullen was exposed to large volumes of online feedback, with mixed reviews on his work. Ben admits that he felt out of his depth at the time, technically he would design it differently today, but he was still incredibly proud of his creation, it looked pretty epic to be fair.

“Nobody cares until the Rest of the world cares”

Paddy talks about the Similarities between creative minds & BJJ minds. It’s a sentiment Ben agrees with entirely, having a sporting background in soccer & boxing. In fact Ben never even liked baking growing up. Cullen, who is also a painter, attributes his success to mindset. He believes anyone can be anything if they’re willing to put the hours in.

Bens cake production is widely accessible through his online platforms. His content is fun & exciting with a story behind every project he uploads. He attributes his success to dedication, graft, learning from failure & always focusing on being the best version of himself. He believes if you adopt that philosophy you’ll never need to worry about competition. The only person Ben challenges is himself.

“I have to say that’s probably the first time I’ve ever been told ‘You’d look well as a cake Paddy!’”

Just before coronavirus struck in the UK, Ben realised he was going to turn 30 in Lockdown. Rather than ruin the annual tradition of going for a few drinks, he built his own pub out the back garden. As-well as having functional beer taps, the bar is equipped with it’s own membership cards, an official sign above the door, tables, chairs, a dartboard & the footie of course, on loop. The only thing missing is the ever-present regular slumped in the corner, however Ben tells us that’s his role.

When he’s not creating on youtube, or on our TV screens, Cullen teaches & demos around the world at some of the biggest cake expos. His plans for the future are to keep improving his skills & to continue growing his audience online. Not bad for a man that doesn’t even eat cake.

Coming out of Lockdown, it’s refreshing to see people like Ben who think outside the box. Cullen used his talents to turn his passion into a living & thus became the King of Cake. We’ll all need to think a little bit more creatively going forward. Let’s not go back to normal, let’s be better.

We’re not sure about you but all of this cake talk has got us in the mood for some sticky toffee pudding.

The full episode #125 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including, iTunes, Spotify & to watch on Youtube.

Darren Conway joins us on the line for episode #124 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Darren is a comedian who has taken the internet by storm with his satirical take on Irish life. The social media star has gained many fans in recent months with his dry humour earning praise from the likes of Michael Conlan, Blindboy, & Mary Lou McDonald.

At the start of the show, Paddy addresses recent events in America surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last Monday. George died after a white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes suffocating the 46 year old who repeatedly pleaded for his life. George’s death was captured on video & sparked outrage leading to world wide protests, with riots breaking out across the US. Many activists, actors, musicians, sports starts & social media influencers have since spoken out against the racism & police injustice that has re-surfaced over the past week. Paddy re-affirms that message by urging people not to stay quiet & to educate against prejudice that still exists in today’s society.

Paddy also discusses matters closer to home regarding the homeless crisis in Dublin. Cllr. Anthony Flynn recently made us aware of situation involving a 70 year old man & woman being forced to sleep in their car after being evicted. Another situation involved a health worker being issued a ticket after sleeping in her car outside a Garda station. In these times it’s never been more important to stick together, Paddy urges people to unite together.

On this week’s episode Darren tells us what he’s been up to during lockdown, using the period of isolation as an opportunity to write new material, produce more sketches & collaborate with the likes of PaddyPower. His most recent clip takes inspiration from Matt Damon’s time in Ireland during the pandemic, claiming the Hollywood A-lister wanted to stay for some lovely cans.

Darren started creating sketches over 8 years ago & has been relentless ever since, continuously refining & perfecting his material . When he’s not entertaining the nation, Conway works full time as a barman, which is extremely impressive when you consider how often he posts new material. Over the past few months his content surrounding the Irish General Election & the Covid-19 pandemic has put Darren firmly on course to becoming a full time comedian sooner rather than later.

Also on this weeks show Darren gives us his dream line up for Fight Island with Kenan & Kel a surprise addition to the card which also includes a showdown between Gerry Adams & Mattress Mick. Darren has big plans for the future with the recent announcement that he’ll be starting his own podcast show in the coming weeks.

In Darren’s words he is ‘just normal bloke that goes to the shop’ which is perhaps that very reason his content is so appealing. His characters, scenarios & catchphrases represent people, places & moments that we’ve all come across at some point in time. That said, there is only one DJ Fresh Vibes. Yup Darren Conway.

The full episode #124 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

Owen Colgan joins us on the line for episode #123 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. The comedian has recently launched his new chat show ‘ Around the Fire with Owen Colgan’, a three part series currently available on the RTE Player, fans of Colgan will not be disappointed.

Owen, who rose to fame for his break out role as Buzz McDonnell in the hit TV series ‘Hardy Bucks’ has firmly established himself on the Irish comedy circuit as a name in his own right. The Mayo native has gained a huge online following for his unique style, when he’s not talking about jambons or crows, he’s featuring regularly for the likes of content kings Paddy Power, the sketch where he caddies for 2019 Open Champion, Shane Lowry is a particular favourite.

Colgan’s humour has a universal appeal, particularly in the sporting world, he regularly works with household names across MMA, GAA, soccer & horse racing. We are perhaps a little bit biased but Owen's 2016 Eir Sport online mini series ‘Hard Men In Cars Getting Coffee’ featuring Paddy himself, is comedy gold.

On this weeks show Owen gives us an update on what he’s been getting up to during lockdown, providing us with some useful tips & tricks to make it through the pandemic. It’s proven to be a very creative period for Owen as he’s been busy shooting new content, learning to play the flute, growing fresh vegetables, all while training to run a marathon around his village. Colgan offers his take on Fight Island, with his dream line-up being one absolutely nobody could have predicted. Owen also has his own podcast which is exclusively available on Patreon, the latest episode entitled ‘Basketball Dreams and hanging out in Woodies’ is everything we’ve come to know and love from the comedian.

This is Owen’s second time on the No Shame Podcast, you can check out his first appearance on youtube for more weird & random insights on the great man. The self proclaimed hardest man in Ireland may not win a UFC title anytime soon, but there’s no doubt he’s a contender for one of Ireland’s funniest. The full episode #123 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all major platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify, this one’s a cracker.

Nucentz, an OG of Irish rap, joins us on the line for episode #122 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Nucentz, whose real name is Rob Byrne, was one of the leading figures of Irish hip-hop during the early 2000’s. The Tallaght native has collaborated with artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Maverick Sabre & opened for the likes of Public Enemy. His music has gained millions of views online with tracks such as ‘Had Enough’, ‘Do You Really Love Me’, & of course the2007 hit ’Sin City’ a Class A’z collaboration with Terawrizt & Redzer. Now after years away from the industry, He’s back & is here on the show to tell us why.

Irish hip hop has never been more popular, with artists such as Versatile, Rejjie Snow, JyellowL, Rusangano Family, Kojaque, Leathal Dialect, Mango x MathMan & so much more on the scene, it truly is a golden age for the genre. Back in Rob’s time you could hardly even call it a scene,’ explains Nucentz, it was all about getting on the airwaves to gain much needed exposure. Thankfully with the rise of social media, that’s no longer the priority & artists can get their music out to millions, keeping their work intact in its truest form without the dreaded T’s & C’s of the radio Edit.

From the age of 13 Rob was obsessed with making it in the music industry, at a time when the odds of an Irish rapper earning a salary were long at best. It’s something Paddy can relate to as no Irish fighter had ever made the UFC when he began fighting. Nucentz earned a reputation in the industry for doing things right, producing studio quality material when audio visual tech wasn’t anywhere near as accessible as it is now.

Through his lyrics he captured the mood of a generation perfectly with a catchy social commentary & hard hitting punchlines. Listening back to ‘Sin City’ now there is a timeless quality to the song, with the outbreak of coronavirus, political turmoil & the impending recession, the lyrics have never been more relevant. Sin City was part of Byrne's work with Class A’z, an Irish rap collective.

In 2011 Nucentz won ‘Ireland’s First Rap Superstar competition’ hosted by Spin 1038, which lead to a collaboration with Lupe Fiasco. The 2012 song ‘Had Enough’ was played reguarly across National radio, however Byrne reveals that he had little control over the single with the record label holding all the rights to the track.

From day one, it was Rob’s aim to collaborate with star’s like Lupe Fiasco, however when he got there he realised he still wasn’t able to earn a sufficient salary from Rap. Despite further success with the song ‘Do You Really Love Me’, Rob was reaching burnout, having given everything for more than 10 years, coupled with the fact he had a young family to provide for, he made the difficult decision to walk away from the industry. Sometimes timing just doesn’t suit in life & for Rob it seemed as though his number was up.

Now, almost 8 years later, Quarantine life has reignited the fire in his belly. What started off as a pet project has turned into a fully fledged comeback. He explains how a friend sent him a link to a microphone, which he went out and bought. Byrne started writing again, plugged the mic in & put a few tunes together. Incredibly, he is close to realising a new album, the lead single is being produced by DJ Flip, with actor & fellow Tallaght native Emmett Kirwan featuring in the official music video, a nice little No Shame Exclusive for you there. Rob believes there is a new maturity to his music while keeping the core essence of everything the fans loved the first time around.

Nucentz is is looking forward to working with the new generation, with plans to collaborate with rap duo Versatile later in the year. The time of ‘making your own buzz’ has come, a time which has allowed the independent artists to thrive. Having helped pave the way for the modern Irish Hip-hop scene, there’s no doubt that Rob will be a massive asset to the current generation of talent.

Everybody loves a comeback story & at just 33 years of age Byrne still has plenty of time on his side. In his own words 'the Coronavirus has awoken a sleeping giant', the second coming has arrived, Ladies & gentlemen, Nucentz is back.

The full episode #122 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

On this week’s No Shame podcast, Top MMA journalist Petesy Carroll joins us on the line to discuss UFC #249. Saturday night marked a triumphant return for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Jacksonville, Florida & we’re breaking down all the key talking points from a card that will never be forgotten.

Peter currently writes for MMA Fighting, one the biggest MMA news outlets in the world. Alongside fellow broadcaster Niall McGrath, Carroll co-hosts the fantastic ‘Eurobash’, a weekly podcast that offers a definitive guide to MMA with interviews from the best in the business. It’s fair to say Petesy is on top of his game at the minute.

The build up to UFC 249 has become infamous due the un-imaginable obstacles posed by the Coronavirus. However, the logistical nightmare of trying to host a major live event in the middle of a pandemic could not stop UFC president Dana White from putting MMA at the forefront of the sporting world on Saturday night. The PPV garnered massive traction online with an opening message from US President, Donald Trump spearheading the mainstream engagement across all social media platforms.

The main event lived up to its billing with a stunning performance from Justin Gathje, who stopped Tony Ferguson in the 5th to claim the vacant interim Lightweight Belt. In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo defeated Dominick Cruz & after announced his immediate retirement from the sport of MMA. Petesy & Paddy offer their views on the announcement, predicting a return for Triple-C in the near future.

Some of the other fights discussed during the podcast include Francis Ngannou’s demolition of Jairziho Rozenstruik, Anthony Pettis’ hard fought UD over Donald Cerrone & an honourable mention to Bryce Mitchell’s UD over Charles Rosa, most definitely one to watch back if you’re a technique fiend.

We also talks about the prospect of the eagerly anticipated Fight Island, a UFC event currently in the works which will reportedly take place on a custom built Island tailored specifically to facilitate the participating fighters. The location of the island is currently unknown, all we know so far is that it’s definitely not Arranmore.

This weeks podcast concludes with a conversation that centres around the future of MMA in Ireland & the need for the community to come together & be unified in it’s approach to re-opening gyms when safe to do-so.

It’s alway a great pleasure to have Petesy on the show. The man is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to Irish MMA, having been there from the very start, pre Irish-Invasion era. His contribution to reporting on Mixed Martial Arts in this country has helped to set an exceptionally high standard of journalism. For over 10 years his consistent dedication, incredible level of professionalism & classic sense of humour have earned him the respect of the MMA world. If you’d like to know more about his back story, make sure you check out his first appearance on the No Shame podcast back on episode #037.

The full episode #121 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify.