Cork youth MMA fighters launch fundraiser to compete at world championships for Ireland

A mother of one of the competitors said: 'These young athletes represent the spirit and resilience of Cork'

SBG Cork members (left to right) Katie Power, (a current world champion), Matthew O'Donoghue, Deividas Martinkus, Allen Kaczor, AJ Whitehouse, Jack Connolly, Atia Munir O'Flynn and Andrzej O'Riordan (the youngest member), who are all set to represent Ireland at the world championships in Abu Dhabi.

A group of talented young MMA fighters are the focus of a massive fundraising campaign to ensure they can fight for Ireland on the world stage.

Atia O'Flynn, 17, Katie Power, 16, Andrzej O’Riordan, 12, Allen Kaczor, 17, Matthew O’Donoghue, 16, Deividas Martinkus, 17, Jack Connolly, 17, and AJ Whitehouse, 16 — all members of SBG Cork martial arts school — have been selected on the Irish youth Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) team to represent Ireland at the IMMAF World Championships in Abu Dhabi in August.