Aberdeen MMA fighter Paull McBain has been snapped up by leading mixed martial arts promotion Cage Warriors and is set to make his debut against Cork’s Lloyd Manning (2-0) in a featherweight bout at Dublin’s 3Arena on Saturday March 4th.
McBain, 27, is the former Art of Combat featherweight champion and is regarded as one of Scotland’s most exciting MMA prospects with a perfect record of 8-0 as an amateur and 3-0 as a professional – a run that caught the attention of Cage Warriors talent spotters.
McBain said: “I was aiming for the big shows so it’s pretty cool to be given the opportunity to fight for Cage Warriors, especially since that’s where guys like Michael Bisping, Stevie Ray and of course Conor McGregor forged their MMA careers.
“It’s a big step up but I feel like I’m ready. I’m relaxed and comfortable in the cage and the bigger stage is where I want to be.
“I want the harder fights against better names so that I can test myself. Plus, I know that I will have more eyes on me with Cage Warriors to show folk what I can do”.
Across the cage will stand Cork’s Lloyd Manning (2-0) who was a multiple national champion in Judo and a highly decorated Sambo player before turning to MMA, and whilst McBain knows there is no easy fights ahead of him, he is confident of finding a route to victory on March 4.
He said: “I know Manning is a Judo and Sambo guy but he knocked his last two opponents out, so he is obviously well rounded fighter.
“What’s good for me is the fact he is a south-paw as my previous opponent was a south-paw so I am able to carry on training for that style.
“I noticed he has lost by submission in his amateur career and I have a few submission victories so if there is a gap in his game I will find it, I will expose any weakness he has and quick.
“I will of course be taking this journey one fight at a time but I am 100 per cent looking for a shot at the featherweight title, that’s my ambition”.
Cage Warriors is Europe’s premier MMA promotion, broadcast live to UK and Ireland fans on BT Sport and worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.
Tickets are available from cagewarriors.com
Written by Tom Heffernan
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