ABERTILLERY’S Jack Marshman makes his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in Belfast tonight, and he has every intention of impressing enough to help bring a show to Wales.

The 26-year-old mixed martial arts star faces Sweden’s Magnus Cedenblad at UFC Fight Night 99, which also features Swansea first-timer Brett Johns.

Marshman, a Lance Corporal with the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, has signed a four-fight contract with the UFC – and he can’t wait to show his skills on the sport’s biggest stage.

A seasoned competitor with 25 pro bouts under his belt, including 20 wins and five losses, the Tillery Combat MMA Academy-trained ace is clear about what he wants to achieve at the top level.

“I want to be one of the best fighters in the world,” said the former Cage Warriors world middleweight champion.

“I know there are guys ranked ahead of me at the moment but I’d really like to win a big title.

“I just love competing and I’m very competitive in every aspect of life – I want to make the most of the chance I have been given.”

He went on to add: “I’d love to bring a UFC show to Wales, we’ve never had one before.

“There are Welsh fighters in the UFC now so hopefully they will think about it.

“Brett Johns has just been signed as well and he is fighting on the same card as me.

“We’ve both got a lot of support and if we put in good performances then it will help our chances of getting a show in Wales.”

Marshman, nicknamed ‘Hammer’, has spent more than a decade being coached by Richard Shore, as well as the latter’s son Jack and former world boxing champion Gavin Rees.

“The sport of mixed martial arts has only been around for 20 years so it’s still fairly new,” he said.

“I’ve been competing in it for 12 years and I’m one of the new breed, someone who came into mixed martial arts straight away.

“People like Conor McGregor (the UFC’s current lightweight and featherweight champion) have made it more mainstream.

“There are a lot more fans watching it now and it’s only going to get bigger and better.”