Moray Brazilian jiu-jitsu warrior Kevin McAloon battles it out for winner-takes-all £5000 prize among 16 elite fighters taking part in Trixel Sports Grand Prix event
KEVIN McAloon will be one of 16 Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters battling it out for a winner-takes-all £5000 prize this weekend.
The 32-year-old, an instructor at the SBG Moray club in Elgin, was given an invite to compete at the elite Trixel Sports competition in Coventry after claiming a British Open triumph last year.
That success was gained just 20 weeks after he broke his leg in a competition, and he will need the very same determination to beat some strong competition for the big prize on Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a super exciting opportunity and it’s not like you can try again next time, because you need to be invited and there might not be a next time.
“You have to grab that opportunity with both hands.
“I’m not focusing on the prize money available, but just one person at a time. I don’t want to make it too much of an obstacle in my head being a 16-man tournament.”
The event is organised by the British Abu Dhabi Combat Club, whose UK Open tourney McAloon won last year to earn his shot at glory this week.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is part of the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) scene and the Elgin-based fighter says the prize money is not the biggest incentive this weekend.
“This would be a huge thing for me if I won this, life-changing as an athlete and also to get the recognition, there would be no going back. If you win something like this people are not going to forget very easily and it is going to open some doors for you.”
McAloon has received backing from local sponsors Elgin Slating and Tiling and Kenny McGregor Joiner to finance his participation in Coventry.
“Personally I feel I have been overlooked a lot for such reasons as being from where I’m from.
" A promoter might look at how many tickets I might sell in the likes of London or Liverpoo. These guys are different, they want a good variety of the best and they want to put on an entertaining product.”