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John Maguire reacts to his win

John Maguire

TRAINING: Wake up, eat, and then go do my S&C at Core Cambridge. Rest, eat more, and then pad work in the afternoon. Rest, have a snack, then evening session of MMA sparring, then more food, then bed.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I have followed fighting since I was a kid, and was always fighting with my brother. We loved the UFC when it was first shown over here, and we used to practice the moves on each other and pretend to be Tito Ortiz! Me and my brother have seen every single UFC card... and I think I can name the main event of all of them! But I started actually fighting in 2006.

What ranks and titles have you held? Cage Gladiators MW Champion, Cage Rage UK WW Champion, OMMAC WW Champion

Do you have any heroes? I've got loads of heroes... love a bit of Van Damme & Bruce Lee! Bret 'The Hitman' Hart from WWE was the man, and I wear pink in my fights because of him. But as for UFC fighters, Tito Ortiz and Matt Hughes are the guys I first started watching and trying to emulate.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I've been working towards this since I started training MMA and I will let you know what it means to me after I’ve experienced fighting in the Octagon!

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? As I’m a English traveler (gypsy) I left school at 13 and had to teach myself to read and write, but just went straight to work with my dad, logging in the winter, tree surgeon in the summer. I wasn't really brought up, more like dragged up!

What was your job before you started fighting? Too many to list... but the last one was an Industrial Boiler Erector

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Pink Belt in Gypsy Jiu Jitsu (GJJ)

Favorite grappling technique: Kimura (Johnmura)

Favorite Striking technique: Jab…keep it simple.