JACK Shore intends to make sure that everyone is talking about him at the end of the year, with the UFC star hunting an eye-catching win tonight.

The 26-year-old from Abertillery is keen to establish himself as one of the top talents to watch in the bantamweight division.

Shore has a perfect 13-0 record and aims to extend that against dangerous Hunter Azure tonight.

"Every bit of praise, I want to make sure I've earned it," he said. "If I've got to do that the hard way by smashing out three wins in good fashion this year, then that's what I've got to do.

"If they're not talking about me now, I guarantee that by the time this year is over, they definitely will be."

Former Cage Warriors champion Shore is set for his toughest outing on his third UFC appearance.

The Tillery Combat MMA Academy fighter submitted Nohelin Hernandez in the third round of his debut in Denmark, and followed it up with a second-round submission win over Aaron Phillips last summer on Fight Island.

"For a long time when I was outside the UFC, I was the big fish in the little pond — everyone in Europe knew who I was," said Shore.

"I was selling out arenas in Wales, I was a guy that everyone looked up to as the face of the Welsh scene. Now I just view myself as the little fish in the big pond and I've got to earn my stripes."

He will have to do that against Azure, with the Gwent fighter relishing a tough assignment as he climbs the ranks.

"We want those tougher guys, we want to be moving in the direction of fights that are going to start pushing us up the ladder, rather than fighting guys that are unknown," said Shore.

"I think after this fight, if I put on a good performance against a guy like Hunter who is known out there and they've seen a lot of — if I can come over and put on a good show, it will open some eyes."

"On paper, he's got a style that could cause me problems, so it's exciting for me to be able to go out there and show my all-around game," continued Shore.

"People are going to say, 'He's a wrestler,' so am I going to take him down? Am I going to grapple with a guy that has those kinds of credentials? But I can do it all.

"If I've got to keep it on the feet and beat him on the feet for three rounds, I can do that, but don't underestimate the Welsh wrestling.

"We can wrestle over here, too! Don't be surprised to see me nick a takedown or two as well.

"As good as Hunter is, and I've got all the respect in the world for him, I just feel like I'm better than him in every area and my Fight IQ is going to keep me a little bit in front."