Down's own high King can rule the roost

ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL: Ian O'Riordanon the former Ultimate Fighting Champion combatant who has become central in every sense to James McCartan's plans

WHO IS Kalum King?

Good question – if like most of us you’re not entirely sure of his background. We know he’s nailed down one of the midfield positions on the Down team this year, and made a massive difference in doing so, but what exactly do his team-mates mean when they refer to Kalum King as a former member of the UFC?

It sounds like some secret political organisation – understandable for the part of the world King grew up in – although the UFC is in fact the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the American-based mixed martial arts event, and better known across the world as cage fighting.

What is cage fighting?

Good question – again, if like most of us you’re not entirely sure. It’s a combination of kick-boxing, judo, boxing, karate, taekwondo, kung fu, Brazilian ju-jitsu, and wrestling. It can be dangerous, naturally, but it’s also highly disciplined – there’s no eye-gouging, no stamping, no biting, no spitting, no pinching, no groin attacks,

no attacks to windpipe, no fish-hooking, no pushing palm or elbow into nose, and no swearing.

King had been first drawn to boxing, at age 15, and five years later, while studying psychology at Queen’s University in Belfast, reckoned he should try cage fighting, having watched it on TV.

Like he does most things in life, King gave it his maximum commitment – even though he continued as a trainee chartered accountant.

He made several competitive appearances, including a Northern Ireland v USA contest at the King’s Hall in late 2007.

In a newspaper interview around that time, King described his typical week’s training as follows: Monday: Brazilian ju-jitsu, two hours; Tuesday: mixed martial arts, two hours, Brazilian ju-jitsu, one hour; Wednesday: mixed martial arts, two hours: Thursday: rest; Friday: wrestling/kick-boxing, two-and-a-half hours; Saturday: Brazilian ju-jitsu, one-and-a-half hours, mixed martial arts, two hours; Sunday: boxing, two hours.

He became deeply engrossed in cage fighting, training at the Chum Sut gym in Lisburn, and regularly promoted the strict discipline and strength of mind necessary for the sport.

“When people think of cage- fighters they automatically think we’re a bunch of meatheads who want to spill as much blood as we can,” he explained. “But that really is not the case. It is 10 times stricter than boxing, for example. More or less every cage-fighter has a background in one particular martial art so we are already skilled and disciplined fighters.”

So how did Kalum King, now aged 25, end up playing midfield for Down in an All-Ireland final? Good question – again, if like most of us you’re not entirely sure.

Although it’s no great exaggeration to say if it wasn’t for Kalum King, Down wouldn’t be in Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

For many people, the first they heard of him was after he made that crucial fingertip deflection on Robert Kelly’s late, late free for Kildare in the All-Ireland semi-final. Had that gone in, Down were out.

When King was interviewed on The Sunday Game that evening, his gentle demeanour and sort of bookish look seemed at odds with his background. Was this really the former member of the UFC?

It should be pointed out King has, in fact, some background in Gaelic football.

Six years ago, at age 19, he was briefly brought into the Down senior panel, under then manager Paddy O’Rourke and played a few games at midfield for the injured Seán Ward.

He also helped his club, Bryansford, win the Down senior title back in 2003, and the same year won a county under-21 title.

But it was only when James McCartan came in as manager late last year that the process of tempting King back into Gaelic football gathered momentum.

Centre back Kevin McKernan recalls one of the first training sessions of the year: “Yeah, I remember it was January, in Ballymartin, I think, and this mad session, in minus six degrees.

“I think Kalum was touching 17 stone at the time, and he thought he was going to have a heart attack.

“But he’s down to 15 stone now. Anything that interests him, he’ll do it. He got into the cage fighting, enjoyed that, but is now enjoying the football.

“It seemed like a small thing at the time, but he’s really added to the team. The work-rate he puts in, digging in and helped out with the defence, gives us defenders a bit of confidence.”

McKernan also highlights what it is King brings to the Down team: “He really is a great tackler. He spoke to me one day about bringing things across from the boxing into football. He’s very quick hands, and the amount of turnovers he’s had for this year has been brilliant.

“You can’t be hitting punches, but you can bring that quick hand speed. It’s not something you can really see, but it’s vital. He really has brought a new lease of life to the team.”

Forward Benny Coulter, acting captain for Sunday in the absence of the injured Ambrose Rogers, also highlighted the importance of King to the Down set-up – putting him on a par with the returning Marty Clarke.

“I can’t emphasise how important Kalum King has been to this squad of players,” says Coulter. “He’s massive to this team. Over the years we’ve played Dan Gordon and Ambrose Rogers at midfield. The two of them like to attack so much that maybe they weren’t getting enough tackles in. And maybe left us open at the back.

“But Kalum has a real defensive mind. He’s been great for us. Great for the young lads and great for the team. He’s a big, strong lad and I wouldn’t like to mess with him, not after what he’s done in cage fighting. But he’s also a quiet fella. Just gets on with his training and his football.”

So, that’s Kalum King.

His real name too, by the way.