TILLERY Combat mixed martial arts ace Jack Shore would be ready to make the step up if the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) came calling, but for now he is more than happy to keep learning his trade with Cage Warriors, writes Jason Batty.

Shore collected a sixth pro victory at Cage Warriors 87 in Newport last Saturday with a stoppage defeat of Italian Mattia Galbiati.

Before the contest, Shore had finished every one of his rivals with slick submissions, but against Galbiati he had to demonstrate his versatility.

The Gwent star dropped the durable Galbiati in the first round with a solid left hand only for the Italian to get back to his feet.

But Shore continued to push the pace with solid jabs and high kicks, and he took Galbiati to the floor in round two, relentlessly raining down elbows.

The stubborn Galbiati, who had never previously been knocked out, somehow survived, however, Shore was rewarded for his perseverance in the third.

After snuffing out a judo throw, Shore once again sent his opponent crashing to the canvas, this time with a fierce and impeccably timed knee which left the referee with no option but to stop the contest.

“The victory felt good, it was nice to show off a bit of my all-round skill set," said the Welshman.

“As the fight went on I got more relaxed and I think people can now see I’m half decent on my feet as well on the ground.”

Fans have called on UFC chiefs to give featherweight Shore, one of the UK’s hottest prospects and seen as a new breed of mixed martial artist, a shot in their ranks, but the 22-year-old remains grounded.

“I’m just taking this one fight at a time,” he added. “If it comes then I’ll be ready, but until then I’ll keep fighting better boys that will put me in a better position.”

Shore is back in action at Cage Warriors 89 in Antwerp, Belgium on November 25 when he faces fellow unbeaten prospect Ayton De Paepe.

Shore takes an army of fans wherever he goes and Belgium will be no different.

The packed Newport Centre was littered with hundreds of supporters wearing his trademark ‘Jack Shore’s on Fire’ t-shirts and singing his name.

“The atmosphere was great all night but when I came out it went to another level, and it was great to see people support me and enjoy themselves,” he said.

“I always like to put on a show for them and I appreciate it every single time.”