Sea views giving Darragh Kelly a new outlook

These are busy times for Darragh Kelly.

The Moville mixed martial artist, who fights for his first professional title – the Clan Wars lightweight belt – in Belfast this weekend, has recently launched a new business venture.

Kelly and his friend Ronan Doherty opened The Sea View Sauna at Shroove.

The full-moon glass end of the eight-person barrel sauna offers stunning views of the Big White Bay Beach, overlooking the Shrove Lighthouse.

“I had been thinking of getting one of these for my own recovery and myself and Ronan came up with this idea,” Kelly told Donegal Live ahead of Sunday's fight with Brazilian Andre Ferreira.

“It is run with a wood fire stove and it's manned all the time. The location means it works well and so many people are so into their health now in general. There has been a lot of talk about it so far and it has been consistent.”

The Sea View Sauna – which can be found at www.theseaviewsauna.ie and also on Instagram and Facebook - is described as 'the ultimate experience for sauna lovers, sea swimmers and those who love the outdoors' with people encouraged to embrace the various health benefits.

Up to eight people can have 90 minute private access to the sauna, fire pit, dining pod and changing room with a complimentary beverage, protein ball and a complimentary packet of marshmallows.

The Sea View Sauna.

The life of a sportsperson at his level doesn't come cheap.

Training, travel, accommodation, food and recovery are all costly.

“The money can be easy spent,” he said. “I'm going to try and get into a few different things along the way. The sport doesn't come cheap. Each thing on its own isn't too bad, but when you add them all together it's not too easy. The diet is the biggest drain.

“It's important for fighters, and sportspeople in general, to be involved in different things because sport won't last forever.”

That being said, Kelly's professional career is still in its infant stages. Now 3-0, Bellator – with whom he has two remaining fights on his contract – have granted permission for him to fight outside of that agreement this weekend.

As the headline feature on the Clan Wars 47 card, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast, Kelly faces the 2-4 Ferreira.

Kelly fought on Clan Wars as an amateur and the pro debut of Letterkenny man Jordan Furey this weekend brings added meaning.

“Jordan and me have been training together for about seven years now,” 'The Moville Mauler' said. “We have become good fruends and it's great to get back onto a card with him again. We have only ever fought on the same card a couple of times.

“We started from day one together and I'm really glad that we're on the same card now again.

“It's a huge thing for me, personally, to headline and fight for a title. My amateur belts meant a lot to me and this one is no different.

“I didn't expect to get a title fight this early. It's always nice to get a title fight and, always, your next fight is the most important. It's a nice touch having the belt up for grabs. It makes it just that bit more special to have something on the line.”

Having stopped Dorval Jordan in a featherweight clast in February, Kelly returns to fight at lightweight this weekend.

Kelly halted Jordan in the third round of their bout at the 3Arena, but has promised a better version to arrive in Belfast after a five-week visit to Thailand, where he trained in wrestling, jiu jitsu and muay thai.

Kelly said: “I have a new outlook on fighting now. I feel in a very different place and I feel more aggressive.

“I was working privately with Rungthiwa Saeng every second day. We were doing hour sessions on the pads and I feel that I have really turned a corner. I feel that there is a better version coming.

“I feel that my style will change. I think that I went too far down the grappling route. I have an outlook now where I know how to mix it up. I will still grapple of course, but I think now that maybe I was solely set on the grappling in the past.”

Kelly will return under the Bellator banner in September and is expected to have another fight with the promotion in early 2024.
First, though, his maiden pro title is in the crosshairs.

And, perhaps, some recovery at the Sea View Sauna.