On 6th June, at Adrenalin FC's 'Fight Club,' Combat Sports' Steve O'Keeffe (0-1) fell short to undefeated London Fight Factory alum Diego Vital (4-0) in a contest for the organisation's Lightweight Title. The Taekwondo black belt was gutted with the submission loss, which came after 3:18 of the second round after a rear naked choke.
"I was very disappointed with myself and my fitness," he lamented. "My performance was good apart from that. I won the first round and was doing OK in the second, but I gassed big time.
"The fight went very well. I loved the challenge and didn't feel he was too good to beat because I was doing everything right. My fitness was poor. Like Diego, I have a full time job as a plumber. I live in Kent, work in London and work 12 hour days, then go right to training so had no time to up my fitness.
"I feel I kept him standing well but he's a clever fighter and noticed me getting tired so waited to take me down. He put me in four rear naked chokes during the fight, but caught me with the last. I feel I would have got out of that if I had any air left in my lungs. Diego complains about his fitness but he was still fitter then me."
Indeed, in an interview with MMAHitPit.com which came out earlier this week, Vital emphasised the fact that fitness was a major issue for him due to him not having the appropriate time to train. 'The Animal' seemed to overlook the challenge O'Keeffe posed in that article, but Steve didn't take this the wrong way.
"I don't feel disrespected," he remarked. "I don't think fighters should complain about their work and home life commitments. There is no money in UK MMA; well not enough. So every pro fighter, unless they are living off mummy and daddy, has to do a days work. I know how this game works."
"He wants to shine himself in a good light," flowed O'Keeffe. "He has a good record but his opponents haven't been great. I would have finished his opponents as quick and in the same way. I was his first challenge. I kept him standing for as long as my fitness held out. Then I pulled guard because I was that tired and he took advantage of it."
Steve, who held 2-0 record in the Semi-Pro ranks was not taken aback by any of the skills of his Brazilian foe. "I wasn't surprised at anything," admitted the veteran of over 100 Taekwondo bouts. "I knew Diego was good, and I knew he'd be working on his stand-up because I'm known as a stand-up fighter. I think he still has so much to improve with his stand up as do I. My boxing is poor, and its something I'm really working on. I think Diego should do the same because he's a good fighter and could be a lot better."
A rematch against the new Adrenalin FC Lightweight Champion is something O'Keeffe craves. "I would love a rematch," asserted Steve. "I really enjoyed the fight. That's what this sport is about; not winning a fight in 30 seconds which had been the average fight time of both of us before this.
"The crowd loved it. They were going crazy. I threw a few flash kicks in for entertainment purpose. But I spoke to Diego and his camp after and his a nice guy and he said he really enjoyed it too. I think be would welcome a rematch when we are both at our best."
Even with the loss, O'Keeffe is keen to consistently fight at a good level and improve all the time. "I will fight anyone," declared Steve. "I love fighting. I love training. I want to fight some more guys like Diego; of that standard. I feel I could have beat him and have to prove myself before I can ask for a rematch out of respect. I want to do things properly. I want to be the best I can. I'll except any fight as long as the fights are putting me on the right path to the UFC. Diego was a tough pro debut."
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