Manuwa wants to put on an entertaining show for the fans

Jimi Manuwa is relishing the prospect of home advantage when he takes on Ukraine's Nikita Krylov at UFC Fight Night London in February next year.

The 35-year-old, nicknamed 'Poster Boy' is widely regarded as one of the most exciting fighters across the franchise's 205lbs division.

Manuwa, who was born in Sacramento, California but now lives and trains in South Croydon. Ahead of facing Krylov, he told Sportsmail in no uncertain terms: ''The London card wouldn't be the London card without the London poster boy on it.'

UFC's Jimi Manuwa is relishing the prospect of home advantage for his fight in London next year

Manuwa (left) punches Anthony Johnson in their light heavyweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

Manuwa's last fight in the capital ended in a total knockout defeat by light heavyweight title contender Alexander Gustafsson and the boyhood West Ham supporter is keen to make amends.

Manuwa said: 'It feels really good to be fighting in London again. Last time I fought in London I fought Gustafsson and it wasn't the result I wanted so this time I'm going to give the fans exactly what I'm known for, and that's knockouts and exciting fights, exciting finishes.'

He added: 'Fighting in London is a bit more comfortable because the surroundings are more familiar. But other than that, my preparations are the same.'

Krylov, meanwhile, comes into the fight on the back of a phenomenal three-match winning streak, with each of those victories coming via knockout or submission inside the first-round.

Manuwa kicks Johnson during their fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in September

Ukraine's Nikita Krylov (right) lands a powerful kick on Brazil's Marcos Rogerio during their August bout

Asked about the recent bout between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo which saw the Irishman win the UFC featherweight title after knocking out his opponent in 13 seconds, Manuwa offered: 'The fight was really quick. I would have liked to have seen more of a fight but, at the end of the day, you can't take anything away from Conor McGregor.

'He's a very, very smart fighter. He backs up his talk and I think he's great for the sport. I don't think anyone in the featherweight division, including Frankie Edgar, can touch him. I just don't think they can touch him. I don't think they're ready for him.'

However, Manuwa did suggest that a step up to lightweight might be difficult for the Dubliner.

He said: 'The lightweight division could be more of a problem for him. I think Rafael Dos Anjos is an absolute animal. I think that would be a great fight, better than the Aldo fight.'

Conor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo earlier this month

The Irishman lands a devastating punch on Aldo to knock him out in 13 seconds at UFC 194

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: O2 ARENA, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 Middleweight Bout Michael Bisping vs. Gegard Mousasi Light Heavyweight Bout Jimi Manuwa vs. Nikita Krylov Lightweight Bout Norman Parke vs. Rustam Khabilov Bantamweight Bout Brad Pickett vs. Henry Briones Featherweight Bout Mike Wilkinson vs. Makwan Amirkhani Bantamweight Bout Davey Grant vs. Marlon Vera Welterweight Bout Tom Breese vs. Keita Nakamura Middleweight Bout Scott Askham vs. Chris Dempsey Middleweight Bout Bradley Scott vs. Krzysztof Jotko Lightweight Bout Teemu Packalen vs. Lukasz Sajewski Heavyweight Bout Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Jaris Danho Featherweight Bout Arnold Allen vs. Yaotzin Meza Lightweight Bout David Teymur vs. Martin Svensson Advertisement