Liverpool MMA fighter Lee Chadwick will fight on the Bellator London card this weekend as he looks to vault his way into the light heavyweight title picture with a statement win over Maciej Różański.
Chadwick, who has trained with number one Bellator welterweight Michael 'Venom' Page, who will fight for the title in the headline of Bellator 281, will be up against a tough opponent in Różański. The Polish fighter who once went the distance with Jack Hermansson, who will be Darren Till's opponent at UFC London on July 23.
It's a fight that would certainly boost Chadwick's profile should he be able to defeat Różański, and admits that he's trained as hard as he ever has in preparation for Friday night's bout in London.
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Chadwick told the Liverpool Echo: "What people don't understand sometimes about combat sports, is that the training is always harder than the fight. The amount of rounds we do, what we put ourselves through to get to fight night - it can be mentally and physically exhausting.
"The amount of fighting you have to do before you get to the actual fight - that's the easiest bit, fight night!
"The only thing difficult about fight night is the anxiety and nerves. And listen, any fighter who tells you that they don't get nervous - they're lying. You need the nerves, if you don't get them you should probably stop. It's not whether you get nervous, it's how you deal with them."
Chadwick comes into the fight as the heavy underdog, with Różański making his Bellator debut. The Polish fighter has a 13-3 record, and comes into the fight riding a three-win streak.
But the Liverpudlian is confident of his abilities in the cage, and looks forward to showing the audience why he deserves a title shot himself.
"I want to win this fight, fight a top five guy and go for the title. I want to be challenging for the belt in the next tournament.
"I think I am close to earning that shot - I just need another win against a top guy. This guy I am fighting at Bellator 281 has never been stopped. So when I stop that will statement. My opponent has fought Jack Hermansson and went the distance, so he is no joke."
On his prediction ahead of the fight, Chadwick said: "I think I am going to break him down, bit-by-bit and get a submission. I am trying to take him out - I will work him down and look for my opportunity."
Chadwick trains in the same gym as number six UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall, and although he has not trained with him himself, he admitted he's a huge admirer of his game. He said: "He's at a high level and he's doing great. He's a striker and we're more of a wrestling gym, so I haven't trained with him myself - but I would definitely like to. He's an incredible fighter."
You can watch Bellator London on BBC Sport on the BBC iPlayer from 9pm.
