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This week saw the exciting announcement from UFC that two of Great Britain’s best MMA talents will feature on the UFC on Fuel TV 5 Fight Card, due to take place in Nottingham in September. Jimi Manuwa and Tom Watson are two of the U.K.’s most hotly tipped fighters; their inclusion at a UFC event will go some way to cementing their status as rising stars of international mixed martial arts.

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Both Manuwa and Watson boast very impressive fight tallies. Manuwa, or the Poster Boy as he is known, has an unblemished record, having won 11 out of 11 professional fights, whilst Tom “Kong” Watson has only lost four of his nineteen fights, with the majority of the losses having taken place nearly five years ago when he was just starting out.

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Watson is the current reigning BAMMA World Middleweight Champion, having defeated the likes of Matt Horwich, Alex Reid, Murilo Rua and most recently Jack Marshman in order to obtain and retain the title. Manuwa has been approached by UFC before, but publicly stated that he would not fight for the promotion until he considered himself to be at the peak of his MMA capabilities.

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Manuwa and Watson join a fight card that is already brimming with top British MMA talent. The former rugby playing Brightonian, John Hathaway will face Cambridge-based fighter John Maguire. The fight between the two Johns is likely to be a particular highlight for many U.K. fans, given that they are widely regarded as top British welterweights. Maguire has quickly built up a strong fanbase both sides of the Atlantic with his impressive all-action, multi-discipline approach to fighting. Hathaway, has a slightly more calculated, considered approach, plus the benefit of extensive UFC experience and a lot of support in the U.K.

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Nottingham fighter, Dan Hardy is also on the fight card for UFC on Fuel TV 5. He will be going toe-to-toe with Amir Sadollah in what will be his first U.K. fight in over two years. Interest is likely to be particularly intense, especially after Hardy’s career saving win against Duane Ludwig at UFC 146. If Hardy is looking for an easy time of it on his home patch, he can think again. American fighter Amir Saddollah is determined to follow-up on his win against Jorge Lopez last month with a victory against the Brit.

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Some commentators have dubbed UFC on Fuel TV 5 “Great Britain Vs the World” and it is not difficult to see why when you take a look at the top British talent booked to appear. Hardy, Manuwa, Hathaway, Maguire, Watson, Ogle, Sass and Pickett are amongst some of the very best mixed martial arts fighters the U.K. has ever produced. You’ve got to hand it to UFC, they know how to put together an enticing fight card. Fight fans should expect something very special to take place in Nottingham on 29th September when UFC rolls into town.

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Words By A.L.Cuin.

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Image Courtesy of Snoop MMA.