TRAINING: It is easy to become blind and see each day as a similar one. It is not the case. Training can't reflect routine and structure. A fight is not that, so why engineer a schedule like that? Most mornings I wake up and decide what and how I feel like doing then go from there.

 

Thoughts on opponent, Rafael Natal? Natal is derived from the Latin of nātālis (to be born). Hopefully, Rafael's style has been born again, otherwise things won't end well for him. Natal is also perched on Brazil's Atlantic Coast with some great beaches I hear.

When and why did you start training for fighting? My fight career began at 16 years old, when I realized that by living a few years of my life like most won't, I could live the rest of my life like most can't.

What ranks and titles have you held? UCMMA Middleweight MMA Champion, 3 time BAMMA Middleweight World Champion, ISKA Cruiserweight British Champion, 3 time ABA Southern Counties Champion, Full Contact Unlicensed Boxing Champion, Cliff Richard Invitational Chess Champion 1991

Do you have any heroes? Karen and Michael J Watson

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Anywhere that I can represent Queen and Country is a great honor.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? BA (Honours) Degree of the highest order in Media and Cultural Studies

What was your job before you started fighting? Agricultural land owner and licensed slaughterman

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Amateur Boxing Standout 2006, Multiple ABA Southern Counties Champion

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? MFC Knockout of the Year 2010, Five Time Fight of the Night Winner, Three time Knockout of the Night Winner, Longest Reigning BAMMA Champion

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Orange belt in Kyokushin Karate, Purple belt in BJJ, Lau Gar Kung Fu green belt, Muay Thai A Class rank, Black belt with a green stripe in Wing Chun, Silver 2 gloves in Savate back when I trained in France in the 90's,Open class international amateur boxing

 

Favorite grappling technique: The one that works

Favorite striking technique: Repeat as above

• Pro since 2006

• Eight wins by KO, one by submission (guillotine)

• Six first round finishes

• Has won five of his last eight

• Owns wins over Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Alex Reid, Matt Horwich, John Maguire

• Has also faced Xavier Foupa-Pokam, Daijiro Matsui, and Jesse Taylor

 

• Origin of nickname: “I can't help but wonder if my fight moniker of Kong was inspired by the Monkey King, who is known in traditional Chinese as Sun WuKong. 'Journey to the west' is a pretty good novel actually if you get the chance to read it.”