How tragedy & 'a scary 5ft Asian' mum shaped rising UFC star Kavanagh

Lone'er Kavanagh has won three of his four UFC fights [Getty Images]

Lone'er Kavanagh was around the age of six when he got a phone call from his mother which would turn his life upside down.

Kavanagh, who grew up in South West London, had to pause his gymnastics class to pick up the phone.

She told him his father had suffered a heart attack that day, was seriously ill in hospital and that he had to go and see him urgently.

By the time Kavanagh had got to the hospital, his father had died.

"It was a hard one because I spoke to him on the phone before work the morning before," Kavanagh tells BBC Sport.

"Not having a father figure is hard growing up, that's why I have so much respect for my mum because she has to do both roles."

Now aged 26, Britain's Kavanagh credits his mum as being the pivotal figure in shaping the person - and fighter - he's become today.

Kavanagh's last name is Irish, which comes from his dad's side, but his first name Lone'er is Chinese, coming from his mum's side, and translates to 'Dragon Son'.

While growing up, Kavanagh says he started hanging around with people "he shouldn't have been surrounded by", so his mum pushed him towards martial arts to help him "stay disciplined".

Last month, Kavanagh earned the biggest win of his 11-fight career by beating former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno on only three week's notice.

"A lot of the stuff I do now is because of my mum. My mum is a very scary five-foot Asian lady, who was very strict growing up, but I needed it," said Kavanagh.

"MMA helped me a lot because I didn't have male role models to look up to. My team Ash Grimshaw, Ashkaw, Brad Pickett, I look up to these guys.

"I didn't know what I was doing but I know my dad's up there in heaven watching out for me, keeping me safe, and he's always with me."

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