STEVIE RAY is eyeing double historical past as Britain’s first MMA world champion since Michael Bisping – and solely ever Skilled Fighters League winner.
Manchester’s Bisping in 2016 cemented his place in historical past because the first from the UK to win UFC gold.
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Nobody since has achieved the identical within the UFC or some other main promotion internationally.
However Scotland’s Ray, within the semi-final of the PFL’s 2022 season, is able to change that.
He faces Anthony Pettis – an ex-UFC champ – in a rematch on Saturday and a win places him within the PFL finale struggle, the place $1million is up for grabs.
So for Ray, he has the possibility to place himself subsequent to Bisping within the historical past books, and accomplish that $1m richer.
He instructed SunSport: “I feel there’s solely been one, and that’s Michael Bisping by way of MMA world champion.
“Clearly, you’ve received some boxers which have received world titles, Josh Taylor being one, however by way of MMA, there’s not some other ones.
“And the PFL are proper up there with the UFC, even Anthony Pettis, he left the UFC on his personal to go together with PFL as a result of they supplied more cash.
“Now I’m two fights away from not solely the $1million, but additionally a legit world title. Confidence all the time comes out of your work ethic, and I do know my work ethic is second to none.
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“I put within the work and I consider I deserve it, so I’m coming for it.”
The PFL consists of a two-bout common season, the place factors are earned per technique of victory, and the highest 4 qualify for the semis.
Ray, 32, was crushed by Alex Martinez in his opener however shocked Pettis, 35, with a second-round submission in his second struggle.
It earned him 5 factors and secured a spot within the final 4 in New York, the place he rematches Pettis straight away.
The American was pressured to faucet out following a physique triangle, struggling an injured rib within the course of.
And with such a brief turnaround, with little time to relaxation it, Ray feels he has not solely a psychological advanatage, however bodily too.
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He stated: “I’m going to be in his head slightly bit, because it was solely 5 weeks in the past I beat him.
“There’s strain on him, I used to be the underdog within the struggle and clearly received the win, he’s now combating me once more six weeks later.
“I’m feeling good, my physique’s feeling good, I got here out of that struggle unhurt as effectively and was straight again to coaching.”
Ray added: “Will probably be the cartilage in his ribs, so it’s uncomfortable.
“I’m positive his ribs will likely be fantastic but it surely’s the coaching which goes to be affected.
“He would’ve needed to have been cautious when he began coaching once more, all of that is psychological warfare.
“It’s going to be in his head slightly bit that he hasn’t been in a position to practice as exhausting as he usually does due to his rib damage.
“And whereas he’s doing that, the man who beat him is coaching even tougher. I’m coming in fitter, sharper and even higher this struggle.”
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