Gavin Hughes makes his Cage Warriors debut on April 15 against former opponent Chris Bungard in a fight that has been on the cards for years.
The two lightweight fighters face one another in a rematch seven years on with possible title implications. Hughes won the first fight via guillotine choke in the first round.
Hughes has been looking forward to making his debut under the European promotion for some time now and sees it as no coincidence that Cage Warriors gave him Bungard as his first opponent.
"I have always wanted to fight for them, to be honest, but it's just never come up. I went to EFC in Africa and then Bellator, so it's another box ticked, and I am not taking it lightly," he told the ECHO.
"We had both been signed to Bellator around the same time, so I thought it might have happened there, but it didn't. He has had a couple of wins in Bellator; I have myself, but now we're both here. I feel like it's perfect for me with him coming off that title fight, so I have got my eyes on that belt.
"I know for a fact I am already in his head. He posted something saying something like, 'I'm a different fighter now,' and I hope he is because he has to get out of the first round now.
"Don't get me wrong, I respect every opponent, but I think he'll be in my face, but I don't talk sh*t. I'll just get back in his face."
With Chris Bungard coming off a loss to Cage Warriors lightweight champion George Hardwick, Hughes believes he is in reach of a title fight if he is successful against Bungard but has nothing but respect for the current champion. When asked if he believes he deserves a shot at the belt, Hughes said: "I'd like to think so. I don't see why not if he has just fought for the belt, and I've then beaten him twice. I have got to be up there. I know it's only my first fight under Cage Warriors, but I've still come from big organisations. I don't know what they [Cage Warriors] have got in mind, but I've got one thing in mine – I want that belt.
"He's [Hardwick] class. You can't take that away from him. He has got a good all-round game, but it's a bit different when someone's got the belt; I totally respect him.
"He might even end up going to the UFC, so you never know. We have all got our sights on that belt. When you have got that belt, everyone wants to fight you, even if they respect you or not. You have just got to focus on that belt; that's all I'm thinking about."
'Big Tasty' has been in the sport of MMA as a professional since 2015 and believes he should be considered one of the figureheads in MMA in the city of Liverpool.
"I have been around a long time now, and I'm going to be around for a lot longer as well; I've fought all over the world, so id like to think that. I have fought in the likes of South Africa and represented the city, and I feel like I have done that well to the highest level. But like I said, I'm still looking for titles and am as hungry as ever."
Since his previous fight in 2022, Hughes has overcome adversity in multiple injuries as well as making changes to his training by heading to Next Generation MMA. The fighter's determination to be the best means he takes little time off, spending as much time as possible on the mats. With training hard and staying active, the 35-year-old sees a good 2023 for his career.
"I don't stop training, so not much has changed in that aspect, but I have been doing a lot more at Next Gen now under [Paul] Rimmer, so he's brought me on board there, so that's been a really good asset to my training.
"A lot of the lads in Next Gen are in Cage Warriors as well, so there's a lot of good lads there. We have freshened everything up within me after coming off a loss in Bellator; I needed to change things up."
"The main thing is being active; I have had a couple of slips with injuries and stuff; I have had two operations, so just staying fit and healthy whilst being smart. I am in one of the best shapes I've ever been in for a long time, and I am fit and healthy and ready to go.
"I think that the main thing is staying fit and healthy. Of course, I still have my eye on that belt; the main thing is also Bungard first, getting the win and moving from there. I see a good year, especially with Cage Warriors, as they keep you active."
With the Scouser being hungrier than ever, 'Big Tasty' will be looking to take a bite out of the Cage Warriors division on April 15th.
