Jamie Mullarkey to debut at UFC:243 in Melbourne
After originally taking up Mixed Martials Arts to keep fit, Jamie Mullarkey is now days away from his UFC debut.
Central Coast
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Cagefighter Jamie Mullarkey will live his dream out when he makes his UFC debut on the UFC 243: Whittaker v Adesanya card at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
He arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday and was raring to go.
“I’ve been pushing so hard in the gym; now it’s time to show the world what I can do,” he said.
The former Erina High School student originally took up Mixed Martial Arts to keep fit during the rugby union off-season as a 14-year-old and was soon hooked.
“It’s been a long tough journey, 10 years in the making,” Mullarkey, 25, said.
“It was about slowly getting better and putting in the hours on the mat.”
Mullarkey fights out of Central Coast MMA under head coach and former UFC fighter Ross Pearson and has been fighting in Australian shows at the top level for five years.
He had earmarked the Whittaker vs Adesanya card as a possible opportunity for him to make his UFC debut.
When he saw Brad Riddell, from Christchurch, had been signed by UFC for the event and didn’t have an opponent, he threw down the challenge on social media.
“I tagged him in a post — in a respectful way — and said he hadn’t taken on the best Australia has to offer, as he hadn’t come up against me,” he said.
Mullarkey recently got his wish and was offered the fight, as well as a UFC contract.
He won’t be drawn on what might be on the horizon after the October 6 fight.
“I’m not looking past this fight,” he said.
“I think this is perfect timing. I feel good and I feel confident.”
Mullarkey said he would have plenty of support from family and friends in the crowd.
“My family have been great; they’ve been behind me since day one,” he said.