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UK MMA fighter John Maguire is expecting a hostile environment when he fights for the KSW welterweight title on December 3 at KSW 37 in Poland.

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Before making his way over to Krakow for his showdown with champion Borys Mankowski, Maguire spoke exclusively to Metro.co.uk about the challenge ahead.

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‘Preparation has been going really good and I’m here at UFC Belfast cornering Zak Cummings,’ Maguire said.


‘I’m still getting the work in and been training twice a day since I’ve been out here.

‘No rest, everything is on track; my weight is fine and I’m just ready to go.’



Just a few weeks ago, Maguire flew out to Poland to take part in some pre-fight media work to promote the event.

It was the first time the Brit had been to Poland and despite him being the man facing the hometown hero Mankowski on December 3, he had nothing but positive things

to say about the Polish people and the welcome he received.

‘They all treated me really well and the country is really nice, I was really surprised,’ Maguire said.

Only 5weeks til i walk into the champs country of #Poland to a sellout stadium and the odds aint looking good,just the way i likes it!? #mma pic.twitter.com/gwdJ7F2kxy — John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) October 26, 2016

‘They treated me like a king.

‘Though I’m not sure they are going to be nice to me on the night of the fight of course.

‘I’m sure they will be screaming ‘Kill the Gypsy’, but we will see.’

On fight night, Maguire will find himself competing in front of over 17,000 people Polish fans in a sold out Tauron Arena in Krakow.

John Maguire is a former UFC fighter (Picture: Getty)

His opponent, Mankowski, is unbeaten in five fights and hasn’t been defeated since 2012.

Despite the champion’s form, Maguire believes he will get the job done on the night and silence the home crowd.

‘Again, backyard, big crowd, everyone knows who he is out there,’ Maguire said.

‘He drives a car with his name and his belt on it, it’s crazy.

‘It’s tough task, but I think I beat him in every range in my opinion.

‘Like you said, the crowd will be on his side, but that’s not going to help inside the cage.

‘I’m looking forward to it, but I know he’s going to be tough and I think he will be really strong for a round, round and half.

‘I’m just going to have to ride with it and feel him out and see how it goes.’

Maguire has won five fights in a row (Picture: Getty)

If you were thinking Maguire might be intimidated at all by the prospect of fighting the Pole in his own backyard, you best think again.

‘It’s good for me, I like walking into people’s backyards and taking their belts,’ Maguire said.

‘It suits me down to the earth.’

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