By Rhett Butler
Editor’s Note: This interview was captured before Cheick Kongo’s unanimous decision loss to Cain Velasquez
Normally, a super group of fighters deciding to forge like Voltron for a unified MMA takeover is seen as a huge threat to the MMA universe. Ok, excuse the vintage comic book speak but the likes of an MMA super group hasn’t been seen since Kevin Randleman/Mark Coleman and Matt Lindland/Randy Couture. These great duos have now been usurped by the Talented Trio: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael “The Count” Bisping and Cheick Kongo training know out of the Wolf’s Lair.
The Professor Xavier to this merry band of X-Men is Anthony McGann, a man of diverse experience whose eyes are sealed on the progress of his faction. As beneficiaries of a reclusive training facility and expertly executed vision, McGann steers the ship that is now an MMA athletic conglomeration.
“We’re a little bit different here at the Wolf’s Lair, you know, we don’t go out talent hunting, we don’t go out and look at who we can bring in and expand our business. Anyone who’s come and stayed here, anyone who’s come and trained with us, lived with us, we’re like a family.”
In the beginning of McGann’s career as a businessman before grappling mats and sparring drills were commonplace he was your average entrepreneurial suit. Having multiple businesses the transition to fighter manager came by happenstance.
“I come from a background where he had a security company in Liverpool and we own a construction company. We pretty much built the gym originally for all the guys who work for us. A lot of guys liked to box, kick box and do jiu-jitsu so we originally built it for most of the guys to use but we then brought in coaches and the Wolfs lair was born from there. As a businessman my job is now mainly managing fighters.”
The activity, which seemed like great recreation for his employees, turned into yet another business opportunity for the savvy McGann. According, to McGann however the city in which he is based played a lot into the development of his powerhouse.
“We’re based out of Liverpool in England. Liverpool is in the center of the UK. We’re based more northern just below Scotland. It’s pretty much a hot bed of MMA, a lot of the English guys recently who have fought for the UFC come from Liverpool like Terry Etim and other guys who fight for me but there’s a lot of MMA gyms up here. Apart from that in the UK, where we are based it’s off the beaten path and guys who come here every few months there’s not much here for you to do except train and work out.”
The complete plan really melded for McGann when he rounded out the Wolf’s Lair with the best trainers in the entire United Kingdom. Understanding that every team survives from the input of its members is another unique vantage point held by McGann and it has benefitted his collective enormously.
“This is MMA and what we’ve learned over the years is every fight is different and every opponent is different but as long as you’ve got the tools for the job; you know the best boxing coach, the best Thai coach, the best jiu-jitsu guy, a good strong team of sparring partners and teammates and we adapt to every fight. We like to joke and say that we are a democracy and everybody has a say in what’s good and what’s bad and usually the general consensus is what we go with there’s no general here we listen to everyone.”
As the future progresses for the Wolf’s Lair history will forever be marked by the appearance of the first MMA super group that banded under the banner of the Queen’s flag. With nothing but bright days on the horizon McGann can only be optimistic about his new family.
“The Wolf’s Lair has possibly three title shots coming up. If Cheick Kongo beats Cain Velasquez in Germany he gets a title shot (Editor’s Note: Cain Velasquez beat Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany). If Michael Bisping beats Dan Henderson (at UFC 100) he gets a title shot. The only reason Quinton Jackson isn’t fighting for the title in his next fight is because, obviously, he’s going to be in the next The Ultimate Fighter show and he must fight the other coach, which is Rashad Evans,” says McGann. “So for a small gym in little old Liverpool, England there’s a chance we get three fights with the three belts and wouldn’t it be great if we won all three. That’s a tall order, I know, but from our humble beginnings to where we are now anything is possible. We’ve got the right guys, we’ve got the right formula, we’re winning fights easily, and anyone who looks at us can see we’re winning easily. So we’re getting it right, we have all the opportunities coming up. Our aim is to be the best in the world and I don’t think we’re there yet but we’re not far away.”
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