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Gareth Fullerton

KSW 77: Carl McNally ready to entertain as he plots more glory in Poland

Carl McNally believes his exciting brand of fighting offers "value for money" - as none of his bouts have gone the distance.

The Glengormley fighter is heading back to Poland this weekend for the second of four contracted fights under the KSW banner.

His KSW debut ended with the 28-year-old earning a stoppage victory and the honour of 'Submission of the Night'.

Read more: Co Antrim MMA fighter following Norman Parke blueprint in Poland

This Saturday he takes on Polish prospect Shamad Erzanukaev (1-0) on the huge KSW 77 card at Arena Gliwice.

And with 15,000 fans expected to attend the show - which is headlined by five-time world's strongest man Mariusz Pudzianowski and Mamed Khaldiov - McNally has promised more entertainment inside the cage.

"It is a sport where you want to get the crowd going, and I think the Polish crowd enjoyed watching me first time out," McNally told Belfast Live.

"As my style shows, my fights don't go to a decision - ever. So you will get your money's worth from the start.

"The Polish fans were incredible last time. I was heading to the airport after the first fight and people were stopping me for photos and stiff. I asked them to tag me on social media and saying 'my name is...' but they knew who I was already.

"So it was absolutely mental for me."

McNally - whose amateur record stood at 9-1 while he's unbeaten in two professional fights - added: "I can't wait to go back. I have had a weird feeling all week, as if I am going home.

"I am craving to get back out there again and put on a performance."

McNally believes his fight with home favourite Erzanukaev will be a 50-50 affair

"He is one of their big prospects, and he will be a great fighter. I have had that talked about me before," he said.

"I hope he fulfils his potential, but not on Saturday night. I don't actually know much about him and I don't tend to watch a lot of videos of my opponents.

"We just have to get in the cage and work out who is better. He fought on this card last time so he has done it before, and he is the home boy.

"But both of us can probably say we are favourites or underdogs. And we both have the same 15 minutes to fight each other and find out who is better.

"It is another big opportunity for me. I want to get the win and then head home and enjoy Christmas. It should be more special considering the sacrifices I have put in.

"This will be my third fight this year and hopefully I can finish 2022 in style."

Reflecting on his debut in Warsaw earlier this year, McNally said: "I loved it.

"Everything went to plan on the night. We were a bit of shocked by the sheer size of the venue, but at the end of the day the cage is the same size.

"We only saw the arena about 90 minutes before we had to make the walk, so it was all new. But I thrived off it.

"It is the stuff you dream of when you're younger.

"I picked up an eye injury early on, and I was seeing double for a few minutes. But once we closed the distance on my opponent it went well.

"I also got the submission of the night. I was actually walking in Glengormley when I got tagged in a social media post, and I just started screaming all over the street."

Carl' McNally's fight and KSW 77 will be available for fans in Northern Ireland on Viaplay.

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