Training soon began in earnest.
The national team threw themselves into training, each fighter focused on their individual matchups.
Coaches barked instructions, and the gym reverberated with the sound of pads being hit, bodies colliding, and the odd roar of victory after landing a perfect technique.
Ireland's fighters were getting more and more attention from the media, so they shared regular reports on social media.
There were lots of clips of sparring sessions, strength training, and strategy meetings all over the platforms.
All of them showed how hard people were working to get ready for the tournament.
Fans could not take their eyes off of every post and were analyzing every component.
Some clips showed the team as a whole, which showed how well they worked together.
Others focused on certain fighters, like Damon Cross, whose striking combinations and moves from grappling to striking lit up the show.
