Jimmy Quinn used to dance for Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity, but decided to take up an MMA career after being inspired by Conor McGregor.
Whilst sitting in a hotel room, Quinn was scrolling through his phone when a motivational video of UFC legend McGregor popped up. A switch flicked in his head and from that point onwards he ditched his dance career to start training MMA. Quinn has since put together an impressive amateur record of 5-1 and he makes his professional debut on Saturday at Cage Warriors 156 in Cardiff.
Quinn was one of six Brits who spent two months training in San Diego as part of a new development and management programme called MMA Fight Academy. The 23-year-old said that although he was dancing for one of the biggest groups in the UK, his peers were supportive of his move into combat sports.
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"I didn’t turn up for dance training for six to eight weeks and I told them I wasn’t going to dance anymore because I wanted to start fighting," Quinn told Mirror Fighting. "They were all supportive of it and said they were always here for me, that the door is always open. I got to the top stage of dance in the UK and it was amazing, but something flicked the switch in me after watching that McGregor video.
"I think my time as a dancer helps with fighting in terms of footwork and coordinating movement. I can watch certain movements and be able to copy them, in a way that's similar to choreography. I feel like that's helped me a lot because I can watch something and pick it up very quickly."
Quinn trains out of the MMA Clinic in Romford but has also spent time alongside the likes of PFL champion Brendan Loughnane and ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till in Thailand. The Dagenham-native admitted that a move to the professional ranks has come around sooner than expected, but it's an opportunity he welcomes with open hands.
"I'm still young in the game as I've only had six amateur fights but me and my coaches decided it was the right time to turn professional," Quinn added. I take this opportunity with both hands because to be breathing, sleeping and living MMA every single day is a great experience."
