THE UFC is holding its biggest event when it brings the show to the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio Janiero, Brazil.

The main event will be between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.

It will be held on June 23 with tickets going on sale in May.

The largest crowd ever is expected for the highly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and American contender Chael Sonnen, a grudge match two years in the making.

The event also features a live finale of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, the showdown between two Brazilians and icons of the sport – coaches Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.
From the beginning of the negotiations for the UFC’s next event in the country, the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo both emerged as strong options to host the event.

Engenhao, home to football club Botafogo and future venue for the 2016 Olympics, has hosted many legendary sports and entertainment events since its opening in 2007.  The event marks the first time for a UFC event in a soccer stadium and the organization expects a record audience.  

The mark to beat is UFC 129, held in April of 2011 at Rogers Centre in Canada, which had a record attendance of 55,000 fans.

UFC President Dana White said: "This will be the biggest sporting event of the year.

"Bigger than the NFL, the NBA, you name it - UFC 147 will be the biggest. The whole world wants to see this fight between Silva and Sonnen. We are broadcast in over 150 countries in 22 languages in half a billion homes.  Wherever those fans are, they are going to be watching this fight."

The rivalry between Anderson Silva (29-4-0) and Chael Sonnen (28-11-1) has produced the biggest grudge match in UFC history.

The two bitter rivals first faced each other in August of 2010 at UFC 117 in Oakland, California. 

The battle featured arguably the biggest come-from-behind win ever; as Silva, who was being dominated from the beginning of the fight, submitted his American rival with a triangle choke in the last round. It was the seventh of nine title defenses for the Brazilian champion.

In what has been one of the long-awaited rematches in UFC history, Brazilian fans will also get a chance to witness Vitor Belfort (21-9-0) and Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) square off in the Octagon.

In their first meeting in 1998 in São Paulo, Belfort knocked out Silva 44 seconds into their fight. Since then, MMA fans have eagerly waited for over 10 years to witness the rematch between two legends of the sport.

Belfort is coming off of a win over American fighter Anthony Johnson in UFC Rio (UFC 142), while Wanderlei dramatically knocked out opponent Cung Le at UFC 139.

THE MMA world is in mourning after one of its most renowned trainers was found dead in his sleep.

Canadian Shawn Tompkins was the head trainer at Adrenaline Training and Fitness Center, London, Ontario, and also a coach at the TapouT Training Center in Las Vegas.

He had trained MMA fighters such as Mark Hominick and veteran Sam Stout as well a many up-and-coming fighters.

He had been an assistant coach in Bas Rutten's now defunckt International Fight League and had replaced Bas as head coach when Rutten concentrated on commentary.

Tompkins, 37, had also been a coach at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. 

He and his wife Emilie had returned to Canada to train Chris Horodecki when the tragedy struck. Chris was training for his next fight on September 10th.

By Martial News Reporter
Pic by Charli Edwards Little RED Creative

A FORMER UFC and Pride fighter has reportedly arrested for assaulting a cab driver.

Ricco Rodriguez, the ex-heavyweight champ of both fight units, was said to have been arrested just south of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

It is said he also struggled and resisted police officers when arrested.

His run-in-with-law was first reported by Phoenix Fox affiliate KSAZ.

He was kept in custody over the weekend after the alleged assault which followed a dispute over the taxi fare of $75 (£45).

The police report said it took three officer to subdue the 6ft 4" Rodriguez, who last fought in BAMMA 5, the MENS Arena, Manchester, in February. 

He faced James Sweeney who was in the Ultimate Fighter season 10. Rodriguez won with an unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 cast member James McSweeney Feb. 26 at BAMMA 5

Police Sergeant Steve Mortos told Fox 10 Phoenix. that Rodriguez was: "was struggling with the officers, flailing his arms...".

He indicated that the fighter resisted arrest because they wanted to handcuff him from behind - which is strict police policy.

Rodriguez has a pro-fight card of 46 wins and 11 loses.

His big time career took off after winning three Pride bouts before moving on to the UFC, there he won his first five bouts. He took the heavyweight title off Randy Couture in September 2002.

Sofia Hassen's

SOFIA: Welcome to the Fighters Hall of Fame. Every month I'll be interviewing one of the top fighters in the worlds of MMA, K-1, Kickboxing and Muay Thai and other Combat Sports.

GYM: Machine Team, Team Sure Grip and Spartan Performance
MARITAL STATUS: Single
LOCAL AREA: Newcastle and Essex
JOB: MMA fighter and personal trainer
Pro fights: 8 wins 6 losses 0 draws
Semi pro: never fought as a semi-pro

SOFIA: Hello Darren, thank you for doing this interview...
Darren: Thank you for asking...

SH: Can you tell the readers how you became an MMA fighter?

DT: Never fought at semi pro I just went straight in deep end ha ha ha. I got into MMA through Ian "The Machine" Freeman. I just popped into his gym one day as my friend had started training there. So I started training and enjoyed it and stuck at it. I never went in with any thought about fighting just to train.

SH: What is your normal daily training?
DT: My normal training when not preparing for a fight is normally some strength and conditioning during day then some weights then MMA class on a night. 

SH: What do you do to prepare for fight?
DT: My training steps up when am training for a fight its just all about living in the gym and my other life gets put on hold. I split my training between Machine MMA and Team Sure Grip. I also step up my strength and conditioning training at Spartan Performance as well as squeezing in cardio circuits and running. The hardest part of getting ready for a fight would be sticking to the diet for me.

SH: Can you tell the readers about your first few fights?

DT: My first mma fight was on a North East show called Strike and Submit. I had only been training a few months and I won with a TKO first round. I found it a scary experience as its not easy stepping into that cage, but the feeling you get when you walk out a winner can't be beat and is well worth it. My next fight I lost to a TKO although the fighter I was against was a tough fighter I lost control and nerves got the better all my training went out the window.

SH: What was your most memorable fight?

DT: My most memorable fight would have to be UCMMA against Ben Smith for heavyweight title. 

SH: What was your worst fight you remember?
DT: I haven't really got one worst fight - I hate watching all my early losses because I made so many mistakes in there through nerves and pressure. It took me a while to learn to control it and myself in the cage, but I learnt from those early losses and became a better fighter calmer fighter.

SH: What would you do differently if you had your time again?
DT: If I could do it all again I'd have a few semi-pro fights before jumping straight into pro so I could get some experience fighting in front of crowds and to learn how to stay calm and think in the cage when under preasure and how to control my nerves which was always a major reason to my loses I feel. Iv never done any other proper training other then when I started mma. 

SH: Who do you respect the most? And who is your hero?
DT: Personally I respect every MMA fighter no matter what level as I know first hand what it takes to walk into that cage and face your opponent and the crowd. 

SH: What does the future hold for Darren?
DT: What does the future hold? My main aim is to fight to keep the three titles I hold, keep training and learning and make my coaches, team mates, family, friends, girlfriend and supporters proud and of course keep winning too...

SH: Thank you Darren for doing the interview
DT: Thank you Sofi...

SOFIA: Welcome to the Fighters Hall of Fame. Every month I'll be interviewing one of the top fighters in the worlds of MMA, K-1, Kickboxing and Muay Thai and other Combat Sports.

This month I've interviewed Micky Burns who is top fighter from the North East of England.

He is well-known as a tough fighter and is trained by one of the top full-time  gyms in the region the Advanced Fighting Centre under the eye of John Atkin...

GYM: Advanced Fighting Centre, Newcastle
MARITAL STATUS:
LOCAL AREA:
JOB: Warehouseman and Guillotine operator
Pro fights: 7 wins 4 losses 0 draws
Semi pro 1 wins 1 loss 0 draws

This month I've interviewed Colin Fletcher who is renowned for his mad as a hatter Freakshow persona...as you will see.

Colin has just come back from an impressive win over Jason Ball in BAMMA 9. Despite his wacky persona of the evil clown he is all business when in the cage...

However, be warned to expect the unexpected in this unique interview with the craziest most scariest clown of the cage...

We give you the one and only COLIN “FREAKSHOW” FLETCHER

GYM: The Unity Gym, The Fightpit and Spartans Gym
MARITAL STATUS: Married
LOCAL AREA: Washington, Sunderland
JOB: Circus clown and hobo
Pro fights:  8 wins, 1 losses, and no draws

Sofia Hassen: Hello Colin, can you tell me a bit about how you got into MMA?
Colin "Freakshow" Fletcher: I never really got involved in martial arts. If you mean rolling around with slippery men and trying to kick and punch them in the head, then pretty much the only way I could afford to buy a ticket to watch MMA was by playing my mouth organ at the train station. But I put it down one day and a hungry chicken stole it, and on the same day Peter McQueen of MMA Total Combat told me he would give me three skittles to fight on his show so that's how I had my first fight at Total Combat.

SH: What is your normal daily training?
CF: I'll wake up early around 11.30 am and go for a three mile backwards jog then wrestle the shopping trolleys of at least six pensioners in Asda. Then at the end of the day I'll work on my stand up by throwing stones at the kids who hang around outside the local shop until they beat me up...

SH: What is your normal daily training?
CF: To prepare for a fight I'll normally starve myself for three weeks so that I'm really hungry this gives me the killer instinct I need to fight really hard.

SH: Can you tell the readers about your first few fights?
CF: My first few fight were horrible I hardly did any ground work so this taught me a valuable lesson - 'If your gonna keep fighting you need to learn the wiggly ground stuff'.

SH: What was your most memorable fight?
CF: My last fight with Jason Ball because it was last week and that's about as far back as I can remember...

SH: What was your worst fight you remember?
CF: My first semi-pro fight. Someone told me that I only threw two left hooks in the fight at the beginning of each round then got taken down and controlled for the rest of the fight...

SH: What would you do differently if you had your time again?
CF: I'd go to school and be a doctor...

SH: Have you trained in other martial art?
CF: No just playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a child with my cousins.

SH: Who do you respect the most? And who is your hero?
CF: I think chuck Norris is my hero I'd love to be like him one day also his moustache is awesome...

SH: What does the future hold for Colin?
CF: I hope in the future I could master riding the unicycle I think it would improve my life drastically...

SH: Thank for the interview…it’s been, erm weird

KASH "THE FLASH" GILL

GYM: Kash "The Flash" Gym
MARITAL STATUS: 
LOCAL AREA: Edgbaston
JOB: Professional kickboxing instructor
Pro fights:  84 wins, 15 losses, and one draw

Sofia Hassen: HELLO Kash...Could you tell the readers a little about your background? 

KASH: I am a born and bred brummie Birmingham. I love the city and proud to boast about it. Birmingham is famous for top reggae band UB40 and has a good mix of people, and is a friendly city compared to London which is a rush rush city. I was brought up in inner city Handsworth which was predominately black and Asian but with a mix of other races so I got along nicely with all groups. I lost my mother as a young school kid age nine with a big family of four brothers and one sister and a father who had to work long hours in the factory to support his family. So I became independent and a strong individual - it was not easy but lucky for me I am very strong minded - having a mother is very important in a child's life as I realise more now having three children, I was always a bit of a loner when I lost my mother so determination was always my key asset.

SH: How did you get involved with kickboxing?
KG: In 1980 Howard Brown and Godfrey Butler were doing a demo in my local park in Handsworth and I really was a boxing fan, but the use of hands and feet really appealed to me, so the following week a class was set up at the local leisure centre and I began training. I never stopped and really enjoyed training and learning from Howard Brown, Godfrey Butler and Edge Brown. I loved learning the art of Thai and kickboxing with three great experienced guys who coached me when I left school at age 16. I trained near enough everyday at the full time gym in Birmingham. The gym had 1 -2 punch bags so a lot of the time it was footwork. Some days near enough 15 x 3 minute rounds. These guys were all great fighters in boxing and kickboxing, so sparring was fast and furious and I often went home with bust lips and sore kidneys. I trained with Howard on classes and after four years got my black belt at 18-years-old and helped Howard run his gym and help with coaching. So I was basically brought up in the gym and became a coach and have taught a lot of the Birmingham coaches very early on.

SH:  What was your normal training?
KG: I am 6ft 3 so for my weight division was a bit of a freak, yeah very rare... My training was immense with long runs sometimes 10 miles in the morning and 10 miles in the evening. I trained three times a day, gym in morning for one hour thirty minutes, after lunch for one hour then went coaching and finished with a long run. Everyday was a tough one. Being tall I trained to fight at long range but could also fight in close. My fight style was a do or die style which was explosive and exciting to watch, which you can see on Youtube. I also have the greatest comeback ever...

SH: What did you do to prepare for fight?
KG: My preparation for fights was always the Flash way. Normally it takes eight weeks to get to my peak fight condition. The first two weeks were long runs to help get my weight down and often do lots of shadow sparring for footwork and combinations, and heavy bag work - 12 rounds of pad work at a high intense pace - five days a week. Sparring was always difficult at later stage as I had to travel to pro boxing gyms. I never took a day off and was often dehydrated and felt dizzy, but never lost my power . Today's fighter is much better prepared, especially with sports science and more advice on diet etc...

(caption): One of Kash's earlier fights - an elimination bout

SH: Can you tell the readers about your first few fights?
KG: I had my first fight in Birmingham against a Londoner who I stopped after about 30 seconds. It was a great feeling and the start of things to come. My second fight was an international with a Yugoslavian fighter. I went the full five rounds - wow what a experience - I won on points. It just shows the calibre I was at to go into a international bout in my second fight! In my third fight, when I was still age 18, I went into the WAKO European championships. But I was moved up a weight to 75kg and was ko'd in my second fight at the championships and spent a week in hospital in Austria. It was a bad experience but made me a better fighter in the long run. I am the first UK Asian world champion in a contact sport but never really realised that till recently when I started writing my biography. There weren't many Asian kids fighting then, but it has since spread now with boxing and kickboxing which is fantastic.

(Caption): Kash has had 100 kickboxing fights in his pro career

SH: What was your most memorable fight?
KG: My most memorable fight has got to be in 1991 in Birmingham when I won the Light Middleweight World WKA title against tough Australian kickboxer Alex Tui. It was the first time my family and friends came to watch me perform and I knocked Alex out in round six with a right hand bang on the chin. I also had two great fights at the NEC against Mexican Ronnie Deleon for the super welterweight full contact WKA (full contact) a fight which went 12 rds with 10 000 spectators. And also in 1995 I fought Tim Izli in a bout which was billed as a grudge match again 10 000 people came to watch. I knocked Tim out in 2 rounds.

SH: What was your worst fight you remember?
KG: My worst fight - damn I don't think I have been in a bad fight - but in early 90's I fought a Thai Fighter on short notice called Humprhey Harrison but I was a bit over the weight and Harrison got me to skip for 45-50 minutes in the changing room before he excepted the fight. Yes you've guessed it I lost with a KO in round two. That was a big mistake as I should've pulled out.

(Caption) Kash outside 10 Downing Street...

SH: What would you do differently if you had your time again?
KG: If I went back to the beginning of my career I would still train as hard but maybe make sure I was less dehydrated and eat more of a balanced diet to supplement training methods. But overall its been a great journey for me, going to Australia four times, Hawaii, South Africa - some really great places. I have always been a full time martial artist and on 26th November I will be inducted into the Combat Hall of Fame for work and commitment demonstrated to the development of martial arts, outstanding character in chosen field of expertise, for committing a great deal of time to representing martial arts. Its a great honour to be along side names such as-Enoeada, Suzuki, Choihung Hi, and Kanazawa.

SH: Have you trained in other martial art?
KG: I have never tried any other martial arts. I've only done Kickboxing and Thai Boxing with Master Toddy and Master A. I also did Boxing for a short while. All martial arts have something to offer Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo etc...its all good for each individual choice. I respect them all.

(Caption): Kash with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard...

SH: Who do you respect the most? And who is your hero?
KG: I started with Howard "The Hawk" Brown and we remain very good friends to this day. And my biggest respect is to my coaches Howard Brown, Godfrey Butler and Edge Brown.
Later years I had no coach as money was not sufficient to pay coaches so my pals who I trained helped me with Pad work holding who were Levi Lovell and Rob James. It was hard finding pad holders and sparring partners big down fall in my career. My hero is my dad also was my biggest fan but sadly he passed away two years after my retirement. I also have my boxing hero's like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, but my favourite all-time great - who was built like me - is Tommy Hearns who stands at 6ft 2" and 10 stone 12 pounds before he went up the weights.

(Caption): Howard "The Hawk" Brown, who was one of Kash's coaches

SH: What does the future hold for Kash?
KG: I am eligible to become a master with over 30 years experience but hold 6th degree black belt in Kickboxing. I have always been a professional in my eyes as I know nothing else - when I left school started teaching fighting - that's it no other profession. My ambition was to become world champion and then give back to the community I've recently opened a full time gym which I am very proud of. I have produced four World champs and European and British. The future is Flash I am currently setting up a charity "Kash 4 Kids" in the community and want to continue helping and supporting the local youth. I’m also working on my biography "My Life In A Flash" with my writer Shirley Thompson. The book has is a blow by blow account of my life growing up in an inner city, my journey into kickboxing and becoming a world champ and role model for the kids. As well as written text it has pictures of my life as well.  It comes out next year.

SH: THank you for taking time out to talk to us...we appreciate it
KG: Thank you...

DAVE "SPEEDY" ELLIOTT

GYM: NEWCASTLE GRACIE BARRA
MARITAL STATUS: Engaged to be married
LOCAL AREA: North Shields, North Tyneside
JOB: Professional instructor
Pro fights: MMA 14-9-0; Kickboxing 23-5-1; BJJ record 60-8-0

Sofia Hassen: Let's start from the beginning, what was the first martial art you ever did?
DE: I started off with traditonal Ju-jitsu and Kickboxing back in 1995 with a man called Fred Singh.

SH: When did you start doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? How old were you when you first started?
DE: In 2000 I started BJJ with Marc Walder after attending a Royce Gracie seminar. I Went down Essex to train with Marc Walder for a day and decided this was the sport I wanted to do full time.

(Caption): Dave rolling with his son Tyrone...

SH: Was it hard or did you naturally pick it up?
DE: I took to BJJ like a duck to water I found it really easy to pick up, I became addicted very very quickly and soon started training seven days a week, any spare time I had I spent on the mats just messing around with moves.

SH: What inspired you to do martial arts?
DE: I first started boxing as a child after being bullied at school, as I got older I naturally wanted to progress which meant trying other stuff. I wanted to train Ju-jitsu after watching UFC 2 and seeing how you didn't always have to use striking to win a fight. So when I looked around for a Ju-jitsu school that's when I come across Fred Singh at Westgate Hill Primary School and that's where the journey began.

(Caption): BJJ legend Marc Walder...

SH: Were there any memorable teachers who helped you?
DE: There are so many people who have inspired me on my journey but I would have to say the most inspirational teacher/coach has to be Marc Walder. He always had time for me if I had a question he would answer it, if I made any mistakes he would help me rectify them and he became a very close friend too.

DE: I started competing in kickboxing when I was 23-years-old and then when I was about 29-years-old I started competing in MMA I didn't do any semi-pro or amateur fights in MMA just went straight into pro and it was roughly that same time that I started competing in BJJ too.

(Caption): Dave (left) with Marc Walder (second left) after his black belt grading

SH: What Grade are you now (belt) in what style/s?
DE: I am a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and was the first person in the North East to ever gain this.

SH: When was your first Cage/kickboxing pro fight?
DE: My first kickboxing fight was 1994 and my first MMA bout was about 2000 against Paul Jenkins who was tough as nails and hit bloody hard.

 
(Caption): Dave Lee...

SH: What was your most memorable fight and why? Who was it against, where and when...did they win?
DE: My most memorable fight would have to be my fight against Dave Lee, the fight was made at 77kg on Cage Rage. I took the fight about two days before the fight. I remember weighing in at around 73kg and he was 77kg, which is a lot bigger than me. I was crapping myself as the guy looked huge compared to me. The fight didn't last very long, touched gloves, he threw a uppercut I double legged him, mounted then rolled into a triangle... fight over. The same guy ended up fighting in the UFC a little bit after that fight.

(Caption): Robbie Oliver

SH: What was the worst fight you've had and why? Who was it against, where and when...did they win?
DE: My worst fight was probably my fight against Robbie Oliver again on Cage Rage in London. This was the first fight I had fought at 65.8kg. I made weight (day before weigh in) and so did he. The fight started and we both traded punches, kicks and knees, and I thought it would be a bright idea to jump guard. I got slammed and ko'd for my troubles lol.

SH: Looking back, would you have done anything differently? 
DE: Yeah definitely I would loved to have taken it all more serious when I was younger because you always look back and think what if? I wish I had kept up with my kickboxing as well as my BJJ because I was fighting at a really high level in kickboxing at the time.

(Caption): Aturo Gatti - Dave admires his fighting abilities

SH: Who do you admire the most and why?
DE: My biggest fighting hero is Arturo Gatti he is a boxer who was a throw back of the good old days of fighting. He had everything a fighter needs heart, desire, skill and power. Pound for pound he is one of the best fighters to ever live, whether it’s MMA, Boxing or any contact sport.

SH: What is your biggest regret (if any) and why?
DE: My biggest regret is probably losing contact with friends.

(Caption): Dave has a fearsome BJJ record...

SH: What’s your fighting record?
DE: My MMA record is 14-9-0. My kickboxing record is 23-5-1 and my BJJ record is prob about 60-8-0 at a quick guess.

SH: What are your ambitions for the future?
DE: Just to keep going from strength to strength with my students and hopefully one day to produce my own black belt.


(Caption): Dave with his fiancée Ritu - who set up Knuckle Force

SH: When did you start Knuckle Force and set up the website?
DE: I didn't start Knuckle Force my fiancée Ritu is the brains behind the whole setup, from venues dates everything. The only thing I do is try and help out on the day and put some of my fighters forward to show case there skills, which is originally why the show was first started. All I can say is for someone who is not long been involved in the sport is doing a far more professional job than people who have been in the sport for a lot of years. I just wish everyone had her attitude in the sport then the sport would come along a lot better.

SH: Thank you for this interview Dave, I've really enjoyed talking to you...
DE: Thank you.

NEXT MONTH SOFIA WILL BE INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDARY KASH "THE FLASH" GILL...

PETER IRVING

GYM: IRON WOLVES TEAM
MARITAL STATUS: Married
LOCAL AREA: West End, Newcastle Upon Tyne
JOB: Professional fighter, Fighters Only technique expert, MMA coach
Pro fights: 15-7-1

GYM: Newcastle Fight Faktory
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL AREA: Forrest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne
JOB: Policeman in North East
Pro fights: 6 wins and 1 loss

SOFIA Hassen: Welcome Rob to Cage Fight Night's Fighter Hall of Fame...
Rob Mills: Thank you for interviewing me...

SH: What was the first martial art you ever did and how old were you when you first started?
RM: Started Karate from the early age of four in my local area. A few years later went into Ninjutsu to KungFu and then Thai Boxing.

(Caption): Rob at the AB Combat

SH: Where was the dojo/gym situated and who did you train under?
RM: Although I trained at other locations since I was four in my local area, the first gym I remember the most was training in a kickboxing course with John Dawson.

SH: How old were you when you entered your first competition?
RM: At about 15-years-old I was already competing in semi-contact sports. I did about sixteen or so fights with Karate then seven or eight fights with Kickboxing after that. Won a pro-wrestling match trophy as the Wu-Tan winner. The trophy is about a foot high. I became interested in wrestling, started watching a lot of pro-wrestlers and UFC. The fight included a lot of open hands and throws, my short legs made me harder to get down and I won it easily.

(Caption): Bamma

SH: What Grade are you now (belt) in what style/s?
RM: Blue belt in BJJ, black sash in Kung Fu, Black Belt in Kickboxing under WKI and MKC. Currently the MMA Total Combat European Welterweight Champion.

SH: When was your first Cage/kickboxing pro fight?
RM: I used to do full contact tournaments at 16-years-old with a fake ID. I would be there fighting ex-army lads who thought I was at least 18-years-old. The fighting tournaments back then were less serious than they are now, for instance Thai Boxing is struggling with everyone turning to the UFC. Smashed my wrist at MMA so had to go on a two-year break. When Peter Irving opened a grappling club I joined and did amateur fights after four months. Won my first fight then under forty seconds. Did five more semi contact fights after that and won them all under a minute.

(Caption): Rob vs Love

SH: When did you turn professional?
RM: My first MMA professional fight was with Enzo Parente that I won in June 2007. An organisation called Northern Fight League was set up to help introduce different ground impact rules and to get fighters into professional fights. I went up to fight Alan Love in what was originally meant to be a semi professional fight with them but as changed to a pro. This took place in December 2008 and I lost this fight after two rounds.

(Caption): Rob vs Ryan Copland at Optimus...

SH: What was your most memorable fight and why? Who was it against, where and when...did they win?
RM: The most memorable fight was also my easiest fight. It took place in Metro Radio Arena and came close to the UFC style championships. My fight was against Ryan Copland in 2010 at the Optimus Fighting Championship 1: The New Dawn.

SH: What was the worst fight you've had and why? Who was it against, where and when...did they win?
RM: The worst fight I had was my last one with Leigh Cahoon in Manchester for the BAMMA 5 event. It took place earlier this year on the 26th February. A number of personal events like my brother in hospital meant I wasn't as prepared as I would have been for this fight, so consequently I lost. I want to fight Leigh again in the future.

(Caption): Rob vs Scott Ward

SH: Who do you admire the most and why?
RM: I admire people I work with like Peter Irving, Craig Jones and Paul Cook for sheer determination in their work. Unlike some fighters who have had it easy with money, these guys have worked hard to be where they are today and I respect them for it.

SH: What is your biggest regret and why?
RM: My biggest regret has to be that I didn't get into fighting properly till an older age. I would've ideally started earlier and trained more.

(Caption): Rob training with Michael "The Count" Bisping

SH: What’s your Fighting Record?
RM: So far I have 14 wins and 2 losses. Professional fights include 6 wins and 1 loss. I also have 2 fights lined up for this year.

SH: What are your fight ambitions for the future?
RM: My ambitions include fighting Leigh Cohoon again under better circumstances. I'm also looking forward to defending my current European title. I want a UFC Card in the UK too. I mentioned I would retire at the BAMMA 5 event earlier in the year, but with changes in my personal life I have decided I am just getting started in my fighting career.

SH: Thank you for this interview Rob, its been a real pleasure talking to you...
RM: Thank you.