Swansea City fan Brett Johns set for UFC return

Swansea City fan and MMA star Brett Johns will swap the Covid-19 lockdown for the show lights of Abu Dhabi on Saturday as he looks to continue his comeback with a second straight victory.

The Swansea-based mixed martial arts fighter will face bantamweight Montel Jackson as part of the UFC’s Fight Island spectacular in an Octagon battle described by UFC organisers as probably “the best under the radar fight of the entire month”.

After over a year on the sidelines through injury, the former two-time world champion burst back onto the scene in January with a stunning third-round submission win over Contender Series star Tony Gravely that also earned him the ‘fight of the night’ prize.

Johns, who is a season-ticket holder at the Liberty Stadium and has built up a close friendship with the likes of Swans defender Joe Rodon and former striker Oli McBurnie, visited the Swans training ground at Fairwood following the victory to meet the squad and manager Steve Cooper.

His opponent Jackson arrived on Fight Island with a 9-1 record and three straight victories over quality opposition since stepping up to UFC status.

Johns will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Abertillery-based sparring partner Jack Shore who beat Aaron Phillips on Wednesday night on Fight Island. However, Swansea-born John Phillips lost to Khamzat Chimaev on the same night.

You can subscribe to watch the fight and find more details at UFC.com.

You can read our previous features on Brett Johns and his love for the Swans HERE and HERE.