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There’s always that point where something you’ve been doing starts to feel bigger than just enjoyment, where it shifts from being something you like into something that could actually define your life. For Lone’er Kavangh, that transition into fighting wasn’t just about stepping into the cage, it was about stepping into a completely different mindset. One that demands consistency, discipline, and a level of mental strength that people don’t always see from the outside, especially when you’re competing on a stage like the UFC.
In this interview, I really wanted to go beyond the usual questions and get into the reality of what it takes to build yourself as a fighter over time. We spoke about when it first clicked for him that this could be more than just something he enjoyed, and how that moment shaped the way he approaches everything now. He opens up about how his mindset has evolved over the years, how you go from just wanting to win, to understanding the deeper mental side of the sport, and what it means to stay locked in.
We also got into the idea of discipline, which gets spoken about a lot, but not always honestly. He talks about those days where motivation isn’t there, when training feels like the last thing you want to do, and what actually pushes you through in those moments. It’s that side of fighting, the quiet, repetitive, sometimes frustrating side, that really builds who you are, and he doesn’t shy away from that. There’s also a reflection on the fights that have shaped him the most, not just physically but mentally, and how those experiences have changed the way he trains, prepares, and sees himself as an athlete.
We spoke about who he is outside of fighting, how he switches off from that intensity, what he enjoys when he’s not in camp, and the simple things that bring him back to himself after the pressure of a fight.
Overall, this conversation felt very real, honest, reflective, and grounded. It’s not just about the highlight moments or the wins, but about the mindset, the growth, and the discipline that happens in between. A closer look at Lone’er Kavangh, not just as a fighter, but as someone fully stepping into his path.
When did it first click for you that fighting could actually be your career, not just something you enjoyed? Was there a specific moment or fight that made it feel real?
It’s something that I kind of fell into. I always wanted to compete, but I didn’t realise at the time that you could do it as a job. One of the first ever fights I watched was a Roy Nelson fight. I was a bit of a fat kid growing up, so when I saw this big, fat hillbilly knock someone out, jump on the cage and rub his belly, I was like, “That’s something I can see myself doing.” And then I kind of fell into it from there.
Do you have a specific approach when it comes to training?
It’s kind of like a way of life now. I feel like, as a fighter, you wake up and the first thing on your mind is what training you’re doing that day—what you’re working on and what you’re going to do in the session. So, say it’s sparring, what you’re going to focus on, or if it’s wrestling, what takedown you’re going to go for. It just ends up being part of my life now.
Do you approach your training differently now compared to earlier in your career? What’s been the biggest shift?
Yeah, I guess now I can focus a lot more on training. When I first started, I was at school, then I went to uni, so it was very spread out. But training’s always been top priority. If you ask my mum, I was trying to skip school just to go training. So it’s the same kind of thing now—just getting as much training in as I can.
Everyone talks about discipline, but do you still have days when training is the last thing you want to do? What gets you through those moments?
Yeah, of course. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and your body’s all over the place—you feel finished. So you wake up and think, “Why am I doing this?” You’re just so tired and then you’ve got sparring—you’re about to get punched in the head for an hour and a half—and you’re like, “Why did I choose to do this?”
But at the same time, I love my life. I think I’ve got an amazing life. I love what I do, I love the training, I love pushing myself every day. Even though I get those thoughts, they’re passing thoughts, because I love it and know I’m going to do it anyway.
Can you point to one fight in your career that really changed you, either mentally or technically? What did you take from it?
Technically and mentally, the loss that I experienced—we had to work on a lot, because it was something that I didn’t want to experience again. That was a big one for me because it gave me a lot of lessons to learn. I went away with my coaches, and I’m continuing to work on the things that I needed to.
But in terms of changing it for me, probably my first fight with Cage Warriors, I realised, “Okay, this is something I can do.” I wanted to take it and make it a career.
If fighting wasn’t your path, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
Maybe join the army, and that’s probably the only thing I can really picture. It would have to be something physical. I’m not built to sit in an office all day—I’d lose my head. So yeah, something like that.
What do you like to do to switch off when you’re not training or preparing for a fight?
To be honest, training takes up so much of my life that most of the time I have, I’m just chilling with the boys. Nothing crazy. I don’t really have too many hobbies outside of it. I love watching films, binge-watching series and that’s really it.
When I’m at home, I don’t actually watch that much fighting or UFC. I’ll watch something else because it gives my mind a bit of a break
After a fight, do you have a go-to meal or something you always treat yourself to?
Normally, it’ll be a large Domino’s pizza, a cheeseburger and a stuffed-crust with the big garlic dip. That’s it.
If someone came to you and said they wanted to become a fighter, what’s one piece of honest advice you’d give them that people don’t usually talk about?
I’d say consistency, because that’s the main one, but everyone talks about that. So I’d say mentality. I feel like fighting is 70% mental.
You’re going to have days where you doubt yourself, or when you’ve got a fight coming up and you’re thinking, “What if this happens? What if that happens?” It’s about being able to replace those with positive thoughts and understanding that they’re just passing thoughts and you’re going to do it anyway.
Lastly, what do you want people to understand about you as a fighter that they might not see from the outside?
For me, it’s about being the best fighter I can be. Of course, I want to win the belt, become champion and defend it, but my overall goal is to keep improving and reach my full potential as a fighter.
