Ticket MASTER

FLETCHER PROVING HE CAN COPE WITH THE DEMANDS

- BY KEIFER MACDONALD

NATHAN FLETCHER laughs as he recalls the most demanding aspect of the preparation for his fight against Caolan Loughlan at UFC London later this week.

"It's been crazy! I won't be sorting all that again," he laughs as he explains the arduous process of sourcing tickets for the hundreds of friends and family planning to make the trip to London's 02 Arena on March 22. "That's an absolute headache!" That assertion is a testament to how confident the 27-year-old feels ahead of the most important night of his life so far: a first UFC appearance on home soil.

But after spending an afternoon with Fletcher [9-1-0] at Next Generation Gym in Liverpool, it's easy to see why bantamweight is so ready for his shot at the big time.

"This is everything I've ever wanted to do," he tells the ECHO. "It has been my dream to get into the UFC and fight on a show like this.

"Now, the real work starts and I've got to make a name for myself, make some money and get to where I want to be which is challenging for titles."

From balancing a career in the octagon with a brief stint as a caretaker in his hometown of Southport, a job he quickly quit, to rubbing shoulders with distinguished UFC figures like Diego Lopes and Gunnar Nelson, Fletcher has experienced nearly everything MMA has to offer since first walking through the doors of Next Generation nine years ago.