Brits Abroad is a brand new feature series which breaks down where and when you can see you favourite British fighters take on Europe and the worlds cream of the crop. From UFC, to ONE FC, to smaller promotions such as EFC Africa, Superior Challenge and more, we have got you covered.
Never miss a fight again as you hometown hero brings back the W for Team UK.
Yannick Bahati
Opponent: Dalcha Lungiambula
Where: EFC 39
When: May 07
Watch: ESPN Player
Birmingham's Yannick Bahati will make his international debut on May 7th when he travels to South Africa to fight at leading African promotion EFC. At 4-0 the UTC man earned a reputation between 2011 and 2012 as one of the best up-and-coming fighters in the UK winning the Fight UK MMA middleweight title before suffering an injury set back which has not seen him fight since.
Having signed exclusively for Africa's leading MMA promotion EFC, Bahati will face follow undefeated prospect Dalcha Lungiambula at EFC 39 on May 07. Bahati brings good takes downs and excellent ground and pound, where his opponent brings world class judo and BJJ credentials which makes for a compelling match up between 2 undefeated fighters.
Joe Cummins
Opponent: Marcel Teniers
Where: EFC 39
When: May 07
Watch: ESPN Player
Another UTC fighter making his international debut in May, Joe Cummins fights alongside teammate Yannick Bahati at EFC 39. At 5-0 as an amateur and 1-0 as a professional Cummins is one of the UK's best up-and-coming prospects, and has the skills to put together the kind of run that could see him replicate the success or teammates Leon Edwards and Vaughan Lee who Cummins also acts as a coach for.
His opponent Marcel Teniers, is an aggressive strikers who has previously won titles in local South African promotion Dragon Legends MMA. At 4-3 in his professional career the South African has struggled for form in recent fights having been knocked out in his last 2. If he employs the aggressive style which he is known for against Cummins at EFC 39 he could be in for another tough night.
Chris Fishgold
Opponent: Gi Bum Moon
Where: Pro FC 10, Taiwan
When: May 09
Watch: Stream to be confirmed
With Cage Warriors future currently on hold as the promotion regroups following the resignation of CEO Graham Boylan, rising featherweight prospect, 10-0 Chris Fishgold will make use of his one fight exemption taking on Gi Bum Moon 3-2 at Pro FC10.
With wins over top European fighters such as Oliver Pastor, Andy De-Vent, and Jeremy Petley, Fishgold's upcoming opponent might feel like a real step down in competition but with a recent win over former UFC Fighter Will Chope, Gi Bum Moon is not to be underestimate and will represent an interesting challenge for Fishgold as he re-familiarises himself have the octagon having not fought since December 2013.
Brad Scott
Opponent: Dylan Andrews
Where: UFC Fight Night - Hunt vs. Miocic
When: May 10
Watch: BT Sports in UK
Following a lengthy lay off due to shoulder injury, TUF Smashes finalist Brad Scott returns to action at UFC Fight Night - Hunt vs. Miocic against Dylan Andrews in what is a must win fight for both men. At 1-2, Scott is in far less danger than Andrews who enters the fight on the back of 2 knockouts in a row however his back is certainly against it fighting hard hitting Andrews in front of a partisan crowd.
This should be an excellent back and forth, fight on the night contender which Scott is more than capable of wins. Expect a hungry Scott raring to go after 14 months out for injury.
Sean Carter
Opponent: Anton Kuivanen
Where: Cage 30
When: May 16
Watch: IS-Extra (Finland)
Another Cage Warriors fighter making use of their one fight contract exemption, BKK Fighter Sean Carter travels to Finland to face former UFC lightweight Anton Kuivanen in the main event at Cage 30 in Finland. On the heals of an epic battle with rising prospect Tim Wilde which saw Carter pick up a submission victory in one of UK MMA's fights of the year, Carter looks to extend his 3 fight win streak against the seasoned Vet Kuivanen in the Fins home country.
With notable wins over Mitch Clarke, and Ivan Buchinger, Kuivanen represents on the toughest tests of Carters career, but with an excellent ground game and solid striking Carter will relish the challenge, and will fancy his chances of upsetting the partisan crowd, and with good reason.
Luke Barnatt
Opponent: Mark Munoz
Where: UFC Fight Night - Edgar vs. Faber
When: May 16
Watch: BT Sports in UK
After a blistering start to his career which seen UK middleweight Luke Barnatt go 8-0, the man known as Bigslow is now on a two fight losing skid following lackluster performances against Sean Strickland and Roger Narvaez. Mark Munoz has lost his last three fights to tough competition against Lyoto Machida, Gegard Mousasi and Roan Carneiro. Both men has looked a shadow of there former selves over there last few fights, but with Barnatt likely needing a win to save his UFC career, and this being Munoz last fight having announced his retirement after this fight win or lose, the stakes are raised for this fight and it certain makes for a compelling match up.
Munoz may not be as high up the ladder as he used to be but is still a name and if Barnatt picks up the win, he propels himself up the rankings.
Martin Hudson
Opponent: Alejandro Ferreira
Where: Superior Challenge 12
When: May 16
Watch: superiorchallenge.com
An up-and-comer on the UK MMA scene, Martin Hudson of Team Crossface makes his international debut at Superior Challenge 12 where he takes on Alejandro Ferreira. 2-0 in his professional MMA career Hudson has blasted through his first 2 opponents submitting both men with rear naked chokes in the first round.
His opponent, Ferreira fights for the second time his career having been knocked out in is professional debut. Early in his career, not much is known about Ferreira on these shores but according to Swedish MMA website kimura.se, Ferreira comes from a BJJ background, which could make for an interesting battle with Hudson.
Carl Booth
Opponent: Sadibou Sy
Where: Superior Challenge 12
When: May 16
Watch: superiorchallenge.com
An explosive up-and-coming fighter from Nottingham, Carl Booth fights for the second time in his professional career when he takes on Sadibou Sy at Superior Challenge 12. Known as the bomb, Booth made his professional debut with a knock out win over Jarrah Hussein-AlSilawi at CWFC Fight Night 10 after posting a 7-3 record as an amateur.
Decorated striker, Sadibou Sy fights for the 4th time in his professional career when he takes on Booth. An ISKA World Champion, the Swede brings an excellent striking game which is bound to make for an exciting fight when he takes on the hard hitting Booth.
Niko Gjoka
Opponent: Simon Skold
Where: Superior Challenge 12
When: May 16
Watch: superiorchallenge.com
A veteran of the UK MMA scene, Niko Gjoka has faced some of the UK's best in his 21 fight career having shared a locked cage with the likes of James Brum, Dean Garnett, Neil Seery, and more. Gjoka has endured an up and down career with a 11 wins and 10 losses. One thing that can be said about Gjoka is he is a finisher having won all but one of his fights by TKO, or submission.
The same can be said about his opponent, Sweden's Simon Skold who is 5-5 in his professional but currently on a 3 fight win strike. The Swede has also only failed to end just one of his victories inside the distance, one of those victories being a submission victory over UK MMA notable Theo Michailidis. This fight has war all over it, expect someone to get finished.
Jack Mason
Opponent: Roberto Rigamonti
Where: Venator FC
When: May 30
Watch: Fox Sports 2 (Italy)
Jack Mason fights for the second time in 2015 when he takes on Italian new comer Roberto Rogamonti. A legend on the UK MMA scene Mason has faced and defeated a who's who of European MMA and will now travel to Italy to take on top Italian prospect Roberto Rigamonti at Venator FC which is will be shown on Fox Sports in Italy.
At 4-1 Rigamonti shares a common opponent with Mason having lost to Florent Betorangal a fighter Mason has previously beaten. While Rigamonti is an interesting prospect, one which the hometown crowd will get behind, Mason will likely be too much for Rigamonti at this stage of his career.
Karl Moore
Opponent: Mauro Cerilli
Where: Venator FC
When: May 30
Watch: Fox Sports 2 (Italy)
Top 10 ranked British Light-heavyweight Karl Moore will look to extend his unbeaten 5-0 record as he travels to Italy to take on Mauro Cerilli at Venator FC on May 30. A solid striker thanks to his Muay Thai background, Moore has adapted his game well to MMA developing a decent ground game to match making him one of the finest lighty-heavyweights in the UK.
On the cusp of a UFC call up thanks to his Irish heritage, expect Moore to be too much for the Italian, who although undefeated, is nowhere in the kind of shape Moore is and lacks the skills to match Moore.
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