Hardy recorded a good luck message for McGann as he took a break from filming his new BBC drama Peaky Blinders

Mad Max actor Tom Hardy took a break from filming BBC drama Peaky Blinders to send best wishes to up-and-coming British MMA fighter Jack McGann .

Hardy and his co-star Paul Anderson, who also featured in recent cinema blockbuster Legend, sent the message from the set of the critically acclaimed BBC 2 series ahead of McGann's upcoming lightweight clash against Damien Lapilus atBAMMA 23 in Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on Saturday night.

McGann is regarded as one of the UK's outstanding young MMA prospects having grown up training at the famous WolfsLair gym alongside some of the sport's most famous names including Cheick Kongo, Michael Bisping, and former UFC light heavyweight champion, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.

Hollywood A-Lister Tom Hardy takes time to wish rising star Jack McGann well ahead of his next fight

Peaky Blinders, based on the exploits of a Birmingham crime gang shortly after the first World War, is currently filming its third series and features a stellar cast which includes Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, and Sam Neill.

Hardy is a big fan of MMA and his friend, McGann, who is still just 22, will be looking to improve on an already impressive record of 9-1-0 when he faces the dangerous Frenchman, Lapilus, on Saturday night.

Despite his age, the Liverpudlian has his sights set on the BAMMA world lightweight title following a string of impressive victories, including the stunning first round stoppage of fellow Englishman Jack Grant at a packed show at Dublin's 3 Arena in September.

BAMMA is regarded as the UK's premier MMA promotion and one of the biggest outside the UFC, and is currently broadcast on Spike TV and Channel 5.

McGann (right) is one of Britain's up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters

The 22-year-old will come up against Damien Lapilus at BAMMA 23 on Saturday at BAMMA 23

McGann's fight at BAMMA 23, 'Night of Champions', will be shown live this Saturday on Facebook , with the entire card replayed on Spike on 21st November at 9pm.

Tickets are still available for Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena this weekend where several world titles are being contested. Bantamweight phenom Ed Arthur's championship is up for grabs, and Bellator veteran and Manchester native Martin Stapleton's will meet fellow countryman Gavin Sterritt in a scrap for the vacant lightweight belt.