Getting to grips with our Ultimate Fighter

IRELAND’S first representative in the controversial but hugely popular ultimate fighting championship (UFC), Thomas ‘The Tank’ Egan, weighed in at a lean 12st 1lb at the O2 Arena in Dublin yesterday, ahead of his historic debut tonight.

The Newbridge man felt every ounce of that weight earlier this week as he sat on my back, twisted his legs around my head and pummelled his lethal fists into my ribs.

Having reluctantly accepted a challenge to take on a man who gets job satisfaction from fracturing human bone, this Irish Examiner reporter bravely advised Egan, 20, that he shouldn’t pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel.