Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is widely regarded to be among the fastest growing sports in the world. In Ireland, its popularity has skyrocketed, taking the sport into the mainstream. The reason? Conor McGregor.

Jean-Baptiste Seckler is from France, a country that until September had never hosted a commissioned mixed martial arts event. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has yet to brought bring its all-swinging, all-dancing, seemingly all-conquering circus to French shores.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

What next? After this, truly a night of nights... what next? Well, Motley Crue actually. And then Michael Bublé’s New Year’s Hangover Party.

The Las Vegas news cycle doesn’t roll around quite like the rest of the United States. Even a brief few minutes stuck sitting in an airport terminal stateside, with just a TV locked on a 24-hour news network for company, can shred the soul. CNN, FOX, MSNBC, choose your poison.

It has been a hectic afternoon at the Palms Casino for Catherine Costigan.

Stepping out of the sliding doors of McCarran International Airport into a July mid-afternoon on the fringe of the desert is not the most settling of experiences.

Boxing’s back off the canvass with the billion dollar fight of the century — and that’s bad news for the upstart UFC bidding to muscle in on the money.

Las Vegas will trump Croke Park as the venue for “The Notorious” Conor McGregor’s Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title showdown against Jose Aldo. 

Despite claiming that physical activity in schools and decreasing childhood obesity are two of her big issues, Senator Catherine Noone would seem to have started a campaign to prevent one of the world’s fastest growing sports from increasing in popularity.

Cathal Pendred was 11 when his younger brother Padraig was knocked down and broke his femur. As broken bones go that was up there with the worst of them. Two months in traction in a bed at Temple Street Children’s Hospital — and during the summer holidays too.

Dublin Mixed Martial Arts fighter Cathal Pendred today confirmed he has been given a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC).

Niall Horan enjoyed a night out with Brian McFadden in London on Saturday.

He may not be well-known in Ireland, but Conor McGregor is making plenty of new friends in America.

Conor McGregor glides around the ring in a South Boston gym, counting down the hours before his US debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship today.

Carly Baker turns lots of heads with her come-hither lingerie photoshoots but behind the girly smile is a core of discipline, hard work and grit.

UFC’s Irish star Conor McGregor is enjoying the spoils of his rise to fame but won’t be letting his focus waver as he seeks a title fight sooner rather later, writes Brendan O’Brien

JAKE HECHT will return to Cork tomorrow after enjoying a successful debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday night.

IT’S a familiar, hackneyed old show. And one which is rerun a lot these days.

How was Ultimate Fighting converted from ‘human cockfighting’ to a multi-million dollar brand? The only way to find out was by getting into the famed Octagon, suggested a brave Adrian Russell.

A Las Vegas promoter has poured scorn on reports Michael Jackson is planning a Las Vegas spectacular - insisting the pop superstar is incapable of performing ever again.

ENGLAND flanker James Haskell has been engaging in gruelling Ultimate Fighting Championship-style training to hone his rugby skills.

American actor Matthew McConaughey cut his face while training for his upcoming fighter movie.