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(Image: Charli Edwards / BAMMA)

UFC 199 goes down next weekend and there is British interest up and down the card as both Michael Bisping and Tom Breese will be in action at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

While veteran Bisping will fighting Luke Rockhold in the main event for the UFC middleweight title, Birmingham's own Tom Breese will look to continue his rapid rise in the welterweight division when he takes on Sean Strickland.

The fight will broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass and will serve as the main event of that portion of the show.

Read more:Tom Breese gives UFC 199 predictions

Speaking to Mirror Fighting earlier this week, Breese told us that fighting in America is something he's been looking forward to and that it's going be exciting be a part of such a high-profile fight card.

"It's going to be great to fight out there in the States for the first time and it's going to be another great experience on my journey," Breese said. "I'm headlining the Fight Pass Prelims so I'll get a little more attention on there because they are promoting them a lot so it's all good."

His opponent next Saturday night, Sean Strickland, has considerably more experience than Breese with a record 17-1. Since losing his first fight back in February last year to Santiago Ponzinibbio, Strickland has got back to winning ways with wins against Igor Arujo and Alex Garcia.

Although still unranked in the UFC welterweight division, Strickland will no doubt be Breese's toughest opponent in his career to date but the challenge won't be phasing him though and he revealed to us that Strickland was actually the opponent he asked the UFC to face next.

"I actually asked for this fight," said Breese. "He's got a great record and I feel like it's the perfect step up in my career. It's going to be a great challenge and I'm really looking forward to facing him.

There's any negotiating needed, he was offered the fight and he took it straight away so it's all good. It should be a great fight."

Read more:Bisping and Silva in verbal spat

Breese was last in action back at UFC London in February where he defeated Keita Nakamura via a unanimous decision.

Despite clearly winning the fight, Breese was a little disappointed with his performance on the night and he explained to us exactly why.

"I think I should have just let it go a bit more," said Breese.

"I as looking for the perfect shots and rather just get in there and let it go I kinda went in there trying to protect my record and protect my reputation. I learned so much from that and now my mindset is to just get in there and go all out attack."

He reflected further: "It was absolutely a good experience to go through. Everything that happens to us in this sport you got to take the positives and grow from it to become a better mixed martial artist in the long run. Getting in there in such a great arena and against such an experienced opponent in Nakamura was all good for me."

Breese would have reflected on that last fight back with coaches at the famous Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada where he continues to train with some of the best fighters in the world under the head coach Firas Zahabi.

"I'm still living here in the same apartment and it's all good," said Breese. I find it a lot better than the dorms and it's now summertime in Montreal so the weather is a lot less depressing and you can do a lot more outdoors."

He continued: "I'm still just working with the whole team but there are always different guys coming through the door. It's great because you get a mix of sparring partners that can be similar to your opponent. There's a lot of guys from Europe that are coming across and it's just really helpful."

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

With only 8 days left until fight night, Breese has now winded down his training and is preparing to make the trip across the border to Los Angeles.

"I've just finished off my training and I'll have my last sparring session on Friday. I'm going to make sure I peak at the right time so everything is great for fight night." For Breese, the plan for the rest of the year is simple - win next Saturday night and continue to climb the welterweight ranks by fighting a further one or two times this year.

"I'd like three fights this year, maybe four," Breese confirmed. "For me, it's about growing as a fighter and I feel the more fights I have the more experience I get. I love to get in there and I love to compete and test myself against the best guys in the world. I'm going to make a name for myself."

Watch Tom in action at UFC 199: Rockhold vs Bisping 2 live on BT Sport from 3am on the morning of Sunday, June 5th or catch the Early Prelims from 11.15pm on Saturday, June 4th exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.