Cork MMA fighter Brian Manning hoping to remain unbeaten after tonight's fight in Germany

Cork MMA fighter Brian Manning is currently 5-0 with all wins by stoppage, and he really does have the potential to be Ireland’s next big MMA star.

He is in action this Saturday in Germany.

He made his MMA debut in September 2024 and he has gone 5-0, finishing all of his opponents before the end of the second round. 

Four were by knockout and one was by submission.

Manning was supposed to debut with OKTAGON last September but had to pull out because his daughter Romi was about to be born and then he had to withdraw from his November fight against due to an injury to his thumb.

Brian is fighting against Daniel Schwindt this Saturday in his hometown of Stuttgart ,Germany in front of 15,000 fans with the German a massive local favourite.

Schwindt is 8-4 and has finished all his of wins, just like Manning, so It’s guaranteed to be chaos for as long as it lasts. 

The winner of this fight will be hoping to enter the OKTAGON Middleweight rankings top ten.

“I live in the City centre, close to Saint Luke’s Cross and spent all my life up the northside of Cork,” Brian said.

“My girlfriend Sarah and I recently just had our first baby girl Romi, and she is now four months old, so daddy now has a job to do in Germany on Saturday night.

“I started MMA in November of 2020 and was a real late starter, but I took to it like a fish to water.

“In my amateur MMA career I was eventually successful, after a very shaky start losing my first three out of four fights. 

"However, after that I flipped the switch and went on a big winning streak beating some of Ireland’s best ranked fighters dominantly and winning three Irish titles in the process.

“Then after turning professional at the end of 2024 I went on to win my first five fights.

“I find there’s very little difference with amateur compared to professional game, as it just has longer rounds, maybe more brutal and bit more violent at pro level. 

"This fight game no joke at the end of the day, however, it’s a beautiful technical sport and it takes a lot more than just toughness in this game to be elite.

“ I was delighted to joined OKTAGON last September and signed a four fight contract with them who are the biggest MMA promotion in Europe.

“My preparations are always the same for my upcoming bout, train extremely hard and until my body is broken, which leaves me no doubts in my mind on fight night, then rest and recover fight week, it’s a simple process.

“I honestly cannot wait this fight, as I eat, sleep and breathe MMA and I'm genuinely like a child at Christmas for this bout.

“My plan for the future is simple. That is to be a world champion."