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This is the moment a professional MMA fighter made a teenager with Down’s Syndrome’s dreams come true - by getting absolutely battered.

Paul ‘Boom Boom’ Bentley, 37, took part in a charity fight with 17-year-old Connor ‘Superman’ White in order to raise awareness of the #NoMoreKnives campaign .

The showdown, which took place at Fusion nightclub, was documented in a heartwarming video which shows Connor entering the ring to Sweet Caroline as the crowd sings along.

Later, he can be seen pinning down Paul as he “wins” the fight in front of a cheering crowd.

Speaking after the event, which he said was so popular people were turned away at the door, Paul said it was “hard to put Connor’s happiness into words”.

He told the ECHO: “He was absolutely overwhelmed, he can’t speak but you could tell he was just so happy. I honestly couldn’t put his happiness into words.

“He was just overwhelmed by it all - everyone was singing and cheering and just having a great time.”

Paul added: “There was easily 800 people there, it was so full we had to stop letting people in.

“It just shows how the people of the city come together. People at this time of the year never have any money and they’re always really busy, but they turned up and showed their support.

“It just shows how much humanity and good will there is in Liverpool.”

As well as the main event, there was also a ‘fight for peace’ between Louis Jenkins and Mark Skeggs - and a one-of-a-kind dance-off between Connor and Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd also took place.

Paul first met ‘Superman’ Connor when the MMA fan asked him for a picture after watching a fight around two years ago.

Connor then turned up at Paul’s gym, FPTS in Speke.

Paul said: “He kept coming back to the gym and it was nice to see him taking so much interest in the fighting.

“I ended up speaking to his dad Steve and he told me it was his dream to walk in with a fighter and join them on a ring walk.

“I asked if he’d like to go one better and fight. He just lit up grabbed and hugged me, it was unbelievable. I then said: ‘You’ve got to fight me’.

“So I thought this Christmas show will make his wish come true.”

Speaking of how he hoped to influence the young men of Liverpool in a positive way, Paul added: “The message is #nomoreknives.

"We are fighters and I’m aware we might not always attract the best crowd but if they see us involved with this and showing each other respect, hopefully it will bring the best out of them and the city.”

Pictures courtesy of Kirsty Radcliffe Photography