Jack Marshman will fight at UFC Belfast next month (Picture: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors)

Jack Marshman will become the first Welshman to compete in the UFC when he takes on Magnus Cedenblad at UFC Fight Night Belfast on November 19.

The former Cage Warriors middleweight champion has been battling eleven long years for his opportunity at the highest level and is currently on a six fight winning streak.

Despite his form, Marshman revealed he could not quite believe it when he eventually got the call.

‘I was preparing to defend my Cage Warriors belt and I just got a call ten days out,’ Marshman exclusively told Metro.co.uk.


‘He [my manager] said there was a problem so I automatically presumed my opponent had pulled out.

Congratulations to IFM athlete @jackmarshman on achieving his dream! Jack will be the first Welshman to ever compete in the #UFC ? #mma pic.twitter.com/lwXKrV3NVT — Intensiti FM (@IntensitiFM) October 6, 2016

‘It was just my manager winding me up though and he soon told me that it was the UFC calling about the Belfast card.



‘It was just amazing. It was a shock to the system when he told me.

‘I’d been winning big regional titles and was on a tear so I thought of knew it was going to happen, but it when it did it was still a big shock.

‘I’ve been on a long journey with this sport and the support I got the day I signed was just mental.’

Hailing from Abertillery in Gwent and at 26 years old, Marshman hopes that with the fight taking place in Belfast, the crowd will be behind him.

‘I’ve got over a hundred people coming across to watch, even people I’ve not even seen for years,’ said Marshman.

‘Belfast is only across the water so it’s not that far for people to get to.

‘Plus I think the Irish will get behind me because of the Celtic kind of background so I hope they will also give me their support. It should be a noisy atmosphere.’

Good luck in the @UFCEurope @jackmarshman! Here's a look back at your Cage Warriors highlights ? pic.twitter.com/ucHHaKwkXQ — Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) October 7, 2016

Having fought 25 times professionally already, Marshman believes his experience will help him overcome any nerves he has stepping inside the octagon and that he will be able to savour the experience of his first UFC fight night.

‘It’s all about excitement for me,’ Marshman said.

‘A lot of people talk about getting the ‘UFC jitters’, but I’ve had so many fights outside of the organisation and it’s all I’ve ever wanted so I don’t think I’ll suffer from that.

‘It doesn’t make a different to me, I’m just going to go in there and enjoy the full week.

‘This is everything I’ve worked for my career.’

If the Welshman is to enjoy the experience to the fullest, he will have to overcome stiff competition in the Swede, Cedenblad.

Marshman is well aware he is in for a tough fight but is confident his hand will be the one raised when all is said and done.

‘I’ve watched a few fights and I think he’s more just awkward that anything,’ Marshman said.

Magnus Cedenblad has fought five times in the UFC (Picture: Getty

Magnus Cedenblad beat Garreth McLellan in his last fight (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s good and he’s on a nice little run of four wins, but he’s a guy that I think is beatable.



‘I know I’ve got the tools to beat him so I’m going to go in there and use them to the best of my ability and get the win.

‘It’s one the crowd should look forward to because I’ve never been in a boring fight.

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‘I’ve finished 17 of my 20 wins and any fight I’ve ever lost has been a tear up.

‘I bring a lot of excitement so I would imagine if you tune you will be watching the fight of the night.’

Tickets to watch Jack in action at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2 are on sale now and available via the SSE Arena box office and Ticketmaster.

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