I’ll prove doubters wrong at Bellator 200… AND ask hero Cro Cop for a selfie

A YEAR ago I was on Geordie Shore getting p***ed.

A year later I’m fighting on Bellator 200 with Cro Cop.

I cannot help but smile when I say it.

He’s an absolute animal. I watched him back in the Pride days. His knockouts…

That was when I first started and was training my Muay Thai.

When I heard he was the main event my heart started going and I was like “f***!’

Getty - Contributor

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

To fast forward ten years and be on the same card as him is a dream.

I’m not nervous for the fight with Ash Griffiths, but about meeting people like Cro Cop, Roy Nelson and Michael Page.

There are so many good fighters on the card. Especially Cro Cop – 100 per cent I’m going to be that person who goes and gets a selfie.

But I’m currently learning from one of the best in Leon Edwards.

Leon is five in a row in the UFC and No14 in the world.

That’s a hell of an achievement.

He’s younger than me but I look up to him as a head-coach because he’s the one who took me in when I didn’t really know anything.

You couldn’t ask for a better person to look up to. Him and his brother Fabs as well.

I’ve got a good squad of coaches around me.

I’m only getting better, that’s why I asked for a pro fighter to go up against.

This kid Griffiths has had 12 more fights than me.

People told me I need to step up and once again I’m going to show everyone why I belong in there.

Wherever I go I do pull a crowd which is probably why Bellator came in. I do take interest.

I don’t think anyone’s gone from reality TV to fighting. To be as successful as I have been is just madness.

Entering the fight game full-time was a gamble but reality TV will always be there.

I’ve got my name from it and if I want to go back to it there’s plenty of opportunity.

I don’t even go out anymore. I can’t remember the last time I had a drink.

It’s gone from one extreme to the other.

Now I’m in the gym twice, sometimes three times a day, eating perfect – there are no more takeaways.

Everything is so strict in camp.

I’ve been in the fight game a year and made weight bang on all three times.

There are fighters who’ve been doing this for five, ten years and can’t make weight. It shows how dedicated I am.

I still get hate but it’s only ever from people online. People sitting there in their mothers’ spare room because they haven’t got a life or job.

But out and about a lot of people show interest, telling me they’ve watched my last fight and congratulating me.

I’m back in Birmingham training and working closely with my strength coach Damian and head coach Rocky.

There are eight weeks of hard graft to do before Bellator then I’ll leave it all in the cage on fight night.

It’s one of the biggest English cards ever and I can’t wait to get in there and once again prove everyone wrong – not that I need to.

Win lose or draw, at least I know I’ve put everything on the line.

To purchase tickets for Bellator 200 go to Ticketmaster or The SSE Arena Wembley