Central Coast plumber Jamie Mullarkey’s unusual path to reach Fight Island
Self-taught fighting machine Jamuie Mullarkey spent hours watching YouTube learning to mimic different moves. Now the UFC fighter is one of six Aussies heading at Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island in October.
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Jamie Mullarkey is the Central Coast plumber who learnt to fight via YouTube.
First teacher?
The Ultimate Fighter.
That famed US reality TV series which, owned and operated by the UFC, was into season seven by the time Mullarkey stumbled upon it, aged 14.
Back then, the young Coastie was Terrigal Trojans rugby flanker.
“But then I saw Amir Sadollah,” he says, referencing the eventual series winner who hailed from Brooklyn, New York.
“He was an average Joe who didn’t look chiselled, ripped, anything like that. But he was submitting guys, knocking them out — he was an animal, and a true martial artist.”
Overnight, Mullarkey became obsessed with the sport.
“I started bingeing all the old Ultimate Fighter series,” he continues. “Then my mates and I would try to work out different moves.
“I still remember my first proper training session, I actually threw this kid into an arm bar — and I was hooked.”
Seated now at a cafe adjoining his Erina gym, Impact Centre, Mullarkey is talking through his rise from anonymous plumber to Australian fighting’s Generation Next.
With all but one of his 13 wins coming via stoppage, the now 26-year-old lightweight is set to be catapulted into what shapes as the busiest, and most exciting, period for Australian UFC fighters ever.
In October, Mullarkey is one of six Aussies set to throw down on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi — facing Frenchman Fares Ziam on October 18.
On the same card, rising light heavyweight Jimmy Crute challenges Lithuanian Modestas Bukauskas while a fortnight earlier, Bondi featherweight Josh Culibao takes on Canadian Charles Jourdain.
Elsewhere, hyped Sydney middleweight Jacob Malkoun — who doubles as the training partner for Australia’s first UFC champ Robert Whittaker — will also make his Octagon debut at UFC 254.
On the same night Whittaker faces American Jared Cannonier, the undefeated Malkoun will take on New Jersey native Phillip Hawes.
Also on that card, Mt Druitt heavyweight Tai Tuivasa is up against towering Dutch fighter Stefan Struve.
Importantly for Mullarkey, who now trains at the Gosford gym of former UFC favourite Ross Pearson, the Fight Island bout is the first fight where he has prepared full-time.
Despite losing his UFC debut last October, eventually going to the judges following a barnburner with New Zealander striker Brad Riddell, the Coastie is predicting a far different version of himself against Ziam.
“After grinding for eight years on the tools and training every day, I’ve finally prepared full-time for this one,” he says.
“The fight against Brad, it was on three weeks notice.
“And no excuses, he won. But if we ran it back now — definitely different.”
Undefeated in his first nine fights as a professional, Mullarkey was then pitched into a 2016 showdown with Alexander Volkanovski — an undefeated Wollongong slugger who has since risen up to become UFC bantamweight champion.
“Everyone was saying the winner of our fight would get a UFC contract,” Mullarkey recalls. “So to lose the way I did (via first round KO) was disheartening.
“Worse, I jumped into another fight quickly and lost again.
“I’d gone undefeated in nine fights, with nine finishes, then suffered consecutive losses.
“That hit me hard. Had me wondering how I would ever compete with the world’s best.
“But I hung in, got myself on another tear and eventually into the UFC.
“So now I’ve definitely got that belief in myself. I believe I can beat anyone.”
Originally published as Central Coast plumber Jamie Mullarkey’s unusual path to reach Fight Island