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| Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors |
WITH last week's historic announcement that the UFC is set to bring the octagon back to British shores – its first ever visit to Scotland – fans have been clamouring to get a plethora of Scots stars on the card.
There has been one man who has ignited social media, with fight fans eager to see him handed his big break when the UFC comes to Glasgow's SSE Hydro on July 18.
Cage Warriors lightweight champion, Steven Ray (16-5), has been knocking on the Zuffa door for the past twelve months and now with the UFC coming to Ray's home country he is hopeful now more than ever that his dreams will come true.
Speaking to Kingdom MMA, the 24-year old Scot said: “I feel like this surely has to be my break. I know I've done enough to get a chance in the UFC and I just hope they give it to me.”
Ray has been forced to watch on as other European fighters, ranked below him, have been signed. But Ray insists that he holds no grudges at the fact. He said: “I'm happy for them. Obviously they're not in control of it and if I was them I would be over the moon.
“It motivates me as I know I'll be there soon if guys under me are being signed. It does annoy me a little though and wish it was me.”
He added: “My management have emailed and had replies from Joe Silva. He said the roster is filled at the minute, but I'm getting my weight down for a late replacement, that could be a possibility and a good idea.”
With just one event announced on the Cage Warriors 2015 schedule and with big things happening in his private life Ray isn't keen to agree to a fight just yet, saying: “My management have been in touch with Cage Warriors but I've just moved house back to my home town, Kirkcaldy, and I've got another child coming in 10 weeks so I'm still training away but not wanting to commit to a fight yet. Obviously, if I was offered a UFC fight then I would as that's potentially life changing.” He added: “I've not made my life easy, in 10 weeks time I'll have three kids, I don't work and I'm chasing the UFC dream so financially things are hard, especially because training isn't on my doorstep. It's a good trek away.
“There have been a few moments where I've said 'Fuck it. I'm done with MMA. It's too hard trying to train professionally and how a champion should and not have financial stability. I think the only thing that's kept me going just now is the fact I know I should get my chance soon, hopefully for UFC Scotland.
“Fighting on the Glasgow show would mean a lot to me. It's the biggest MMA organisation in the world and its basically the only place you can make some life changing money. It also has the best fighters in the world. I would just love to have one fight in Scotland again and for it to be in the UFC.”
To outline his eagerness to fight in the UFC, Ray admits he would take a page out of Irishman, Paul Redmond's book and take a fight in another division just to get an opportunity.
“I'd take a fight at welterweight or middleweight if I had to” the lightweight champ said with a laugh.
He added: “I don't think I could make featherweight so two divisions up light heavyweight would be too much, but I'd still do it if there was no other option, or even at heavyweight.
“I would rather a fight at lightweight though. I just love to fight and getting paid for doing what you like doing anyway would be the best job for me.
“I'd like to fight on any show, I just wish it was soon. Like I said, it's hard living this lifestyle with no money. It gets too hard at times and that's when I've thought about giving up and just getting a normal job.”
“There are a few guys I'd like to test myself against but I don't care who I get. I'll work my way up the ladder and fight whoever Cage Warriors or the UFC put in front of me.”
With UFC having only two Scots currently on the roster it seems likely that they will at least look to the domestic scene to bring more home fighters, and Ray is likely to be high on the list.
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