Wigan's UFC fighter Mike Grundy hopes for December fight

Mike Grundy is hoping Christmas comes a little early as he sets his sights on a return to the octagon in December.
Mike Grundy outside his Wigan gym, Elite Fitness FactoryMike Grundy outside his Wigan gym, Elite Fitness Factory
Mike Grundy outside his Wigan gym, Elite Fitness Factory

The 33-year-old has been training for several weeks since his UFC defeat in July.

“I’m eager to get going again," he said.

“I’d fight now except my coach wouldn’t let me!

"After my surgery, they said it takes three months to fully heal so while I've been training since then, I’ve only been light sparring.

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"But I’m feeling good and hopefully I’ll get another fight in December.”

Grundy broke his jaw in the opening minute of his loss to Movsar Evloev, but bravely carried on before being edged out on the judges’ scorecards.

It could have been so different if his Russian opponent hadn’t been able to wriggle out of a choke in the first round.

The Wiganer – a former international wrestler who won his UFC debut last year – said: “My coach said 90 per cent of fighters would have tapped at that point.

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"In that choke, he was taking his last breath when he got out and he said afterwards he was willing to go to sleep, so that’s how close I was and fair to play to him, he was a tough opponent.

“But suffering a broken jaw was definitely a changing point, it affected my timing and my vision.”

Despite being disappointed from the defeat, Grundy is responding the only way he knows how.

“When I came back home I sulked for a week, I didn’t want to see anyone," said the Team Kaobon fighter. "But then you have a word with yourself and get back into it.

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“I had my first MMA loss in my fourth professional fight and in my wrestling career, although I had a lot of wins, I had some tough losses, too.

“But you’ve got to get back on the horse. I know wasn’t far off last time.

“There are only a handful of people doing what I’m doing and I don’t think many would have gone all the way with a broken jaw.”

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