When it comes to fighting, you could say I don’t fit the stereotype.
It's funny, everyone thinks there is a story when it comes to MMA fighters. Who died in their life? Fighting in school. Some kind of loveable rogue. But none of them apply to me. I just love martial arts, and I love competing, That is my story - I don't fit the narrative.
Growing up in Manchester, I had a fantastic childhood growing up there - initially playing football like all the other lads, but then got into wrestling, boxing, karate, and then moved into mixed martial arts at the age of 17 and here we are thirteen years later still absolutely loving it and doing it every single day.
I got into MMA through my next-door neighbour. He was a fighter back in the day when there wasn't much understanding of the sport. The fighters were all called animals and everyone got questioned at the thought of fighting in a cage.
Seeing things go from that to mainstream as it is now is amazing - and it is a journey I have been on since the start.
I long for competition – give me a cage over a 9-5 any day of the week
I am a pretty regular guy. I enjoy other things in life as well as fighting. I like to party, I like women - who doesn't? This sport makes all that stuff difficult but you have to dedicate your life to it. Thirteen years I have been fighting and that means an endless list of sacrifices.
I am not one to dwell on them though, because the positives far outweigh the negatives.
I could be sat in a 9-5 job and that for me would be hell on earth. I have been able to pursue my passion and do it in some amazing places. Right now I'm in Dubai, if I'm not here it’s Thailand, if not there, then it's America. That says it all about the perks of the job really.
It is the competition element that gets me more than anything. People think they are better than me, and I get the chance to prove them wrong - there is no better place to do that than in a cage.
They say you are born to do things, and I really feel like this is what I was born to do.
I am a good boy, but I absolutely adore fighting people and can't wait to fight somebody else to be honest. I have spent a year out of the cage which absolutely infuriates me, but at this stage the whole world is in disarray so who am I to complain about things.
I can still train and do that part of my job - I would never neglect the sport. Some people might take a year off but that shows me you don't love it like I do.
