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(Image: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

International Combat Elite has announced its partnership with one of the world's top MMA promotions World Series of Fighting.

Outside of the UFC the biggest MMA promotions are Bellator, ONE Championship, WSOF and the all-female Invicta FC.

ICE was launched by former UFC star Tom Blackledge from Wigan in around 2012 and he runs it with partners Aaron Wilkinson and Carl Prince.

Blackledge competed at UFC 127 and was also a coach on the Ultimate fighter and notably coached Quinton 'Rampage' Johnson.

He told Mirror Fighting that the partnership with WSOF Global is great news for ICE .

He said: "ICE has events all over the UK and always features international fighters. This is great news because it means a big pool of quality fighters.

"This all fits in with the ICE vision - I think we can be massive, like the UK version of the UFC. We have big plans and we will achieve them.

An ICE fight:

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"A lot of smaller promotions make the mistake of offering easy fights, there's never any challenge and it will kill the sports. Nobody wants to see a 12 second fight - they want to see stars.

"They are just watering down an already watered down talent pool.

"We have challenging fights and excellent referees. Our referees are phenomenal."

Tom Blackledge's fight highlights:

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WSOF is based in Las Vegas and it has had big names like Bas Rutten and Kurt Angle on commentary.

The promotion WSOF Global is now expanding with international partners.

ICE uses promo videos of fighters to build up the fights and are currently exploring proposals for a TV deal.

Blackledge said that his promotion also has a developmental programme for young fighters and even offers advice on nutrition as well as fight training.

He said: "We want to build superstars from amateur to professional. They won't have to go anywhere else."