Bellator MMA prospect Brian Moore has put his injury woes to the side, and is out to prove he is a world level mixed martial artist on Saturday night at Bellator 263.
The Irishman, who trains with the likes of Conor McGregor, Johnny Walker and James Gallagher at SBG Ireland HQ in Dublin, will face Jordan Winski on one of the biggest Bellator cards in the promotion's history.
And he believes that this is his opportunity to make a statement with a likely massive viewership watching on the BBC iPlayer and a number of big TV stations around the world.
"He's not as well prepared as me, but nobody on this card is," Moore proclaimed of his opponent Winski. "Even these type of guys that are fighting for the world title and a million dollars.
"I've put in trojan work, I've been diligent with my approach and I've done everything to the letter of the law, as such, so I'm waiting to get in and show that I can beat anyone."
Moore was supposed to face veteran Jared Scoggins, but that bout was cancelled when the American tested positive for coronavirus, and he now must face Winski, who is 11-2.
"I don't care who I'm fighting," Moore insisted. "This is my third opponent change, I signed to fight Jared Scoggins who is a karate-based southpaw moving up from flyweight.
"Now I'm facing an orthodox bigger man who likes to mix Muay-Thai with wrestling, and between those two match-ups that were made I had agreed to fight a 20-5 Rizin veteran.
"I want to fight, I'm here to fight and they offered me my show purse to sit out and eat pizza for the week and enjoy the show, but I said no I want to fight.
"I've studied this guy, that's all I've been doing in the States and I want to show what I'm all about."
This is a massive opportunity for the Wexford native, who has fought main eventer AJ McKee in a close bout that was finished in the third round after what he calls a slip.
And he believes this fight will show him as the world level contender that he is, saying that he has a higher fight IQ than anybody currently in the promotion.
"You're going to see on Saturday night that I am a much more intelligent fighter than anyone on this roster, any of these guys fighting," he added.
"I'm able to adjust and you'll see the work that I've put in and the improvements I've made and that's down to fight IQ more than specific training methods.
"I know I'm world class in this sport, and people can stay ignorant of that fact or jump on board, I don't care.
"They'll know when I have a gold belt around my waist and if I keep winning they can't deny it, it's like I'm on the crest of a wave.
"The injuries that have held me back are gone, the time and effort that I couldn't put into this sport with work and family has all been balanced out.
"I'm able to put in more work than anybody because of the contract I have with Bellator so I can dedicate more time to training and recovery and you're going to see that on Saturday night, and much more weekends in future, I guarantee that.
"I'm like a kid at Christmas here, I can't wait to get in there and look, if people want to stay ignorant and look at Tapology, they'll recognise that I've been in the fire."
