Leon Hill ready to make huge Cage Warriors statement

Leon Hill headed to his grandfather's grave after his last Cage Warriors win and held up an imaginary belt.

His girlfriend took a picture of him, though it's a snap he's intent on updating sooner rather than later.

"When that dream comes true, I'm going back to the grave with that belt and I'm going to stand there," vowed Hill.

Family means everything to the Drogheda man who will be on the Cage Warriors 161 bill at the RDS on Saturday.

It'll be the first MMA event at the RDS and Hill is chalked for a welterweight bout with Ieuan Davies of Wales.

'The Professional' is chasing a 7-1 record and will hear roars of approval from his legion of cousins who are coming up from Kerry.

They'll have plenty to cheer about if his prediction of a seventh straight stoppage comes to pass.

"A lot of lads said no," said Hill of efforts to match him up with an opponent. "A lot of lads were sent forward and a lot of them turned me down because I'm on a six-fight winning streak and I'm finishing every opponent I get in there with.

"I'm going to continue to do that. So not a lot of lads want to get in there with that. And every time I get in there, I fight to the finish. I'm constantly progressing in the fight to get a lad out of there."

"You're broke most of the time and you're getting up every morning to get punched in the face for a living, not a lot of people want to do that."

Conor McGregor started out as a Cage Warriors fighter too before being drafted by the UFC.

Fighting out of the Team KF Martial Arts gym in Swords, Hill could be on a similar career path.

Those who coached him up over the last decade or so noticed the talent straight away.

"It's all about sacrifice and dedication," said Hill. "When you're chasing this life full-time, you're not