Grundy ready if UFC London comes calling

Reyes was scheduled to face Nasrat Haqparast at the O2 Arena, but rumours have surfaced the 31-year-old will not able to compete due to injury.

German media outlet GNP1.de reported the withdrawal, with the official announcement by the UFC being awaited.

Wiganer Grundy has recently been vocal in his ambition to compete in the UFC, and insisted that he’s more than ready to take on Haqparast if he receives the call.

He said: “It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve always been training all the way through it. I’m always ready, I train day in, day out, and I’m ready to go.

“I’ll win that fight (against Haqparast). I train daily with lads who are in the UFC, so I know exactly how I deal with those guys.

“You can’t really keep knocking back up into different parts of the world and beating the best. It is my time.”

Several other fighters have registered their interest for the vacant spot, including Australia’s Damien Brown, but Grundy has been an overwhelming favourite to be selected in the eye of the fans.

Grundy hailed the support he has received on social media and believes he’s earned his opportunity to test himself in the UFC.

“I’m in the gym every day anyway even though I haven’t got a fight booked, so I’m fit and ready. I’m a local UK lad, and I do deserve the opportunity,” he said.

“The amount of attention that I’ve had today on social media makes me think that I can’t see how it can’t be me really.

“You don’t really see it until things like this happen, or until the fight, but the amount of attention is nice to see. I feel took back from my wins, and the way I’ve been that I’ve been humble.”

Grundy has been impressive form of late, forming an eight-match winning streak including a win against Fernando Bruno for the Aspera FC featherweight title in Brazil last November.

He said: “I’m ready for that fight, and it’s what I want.

“It’s what I’ve always wanted since I started MMA, so it’s kind of a dream come true if I’m given the call in the next couple of the days. I’ll be ready.”

Grundy’s mixed-martial-arts record currently stands at 11 wins, and one loss after 12 bouts.

In 2014 he represented Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 74kg event.

Grundy fights at Team Kaobon, and is team-mates at the club with current UFC star Darren Till, and the 2017 Breakthrough Fighter of The Year took to Twitter to prompt UFC into approaching Grundy.

He tweeted: “Just heard there has been a pull out at @ufc #London! @MGWRESTLING is ready at 9 days notice!!! Number 1 ranked in England... what more is needed?”