MMA star Chris Bungard proves too hot for Erick da Silva in 'ridiculous heat' at Cage Warriors

Chris Bungard admits he was relieved to get a good win against Brazilian Erick da Silva in searing heat in Wales on Saturday, in a fight that had “absolutely everything”.

The 33-year-old Holytown fighter beat da Silva in a three-round decision at Cage Warriors 142 at Ebbw Vale Centre in Wales on Saturday night, stretching his record to 17-7.

Bungard described the fight as gruelling, but was just happy to be back in the cage after “about a year out”, and hopes his next bout will take place in November.

‘The Bad Guy’ said: “It feels great, it always feels great to win.

“I think it has been a year since I fought, so I was just wanting to get in there, to be fair.

“A victory is good, you never get used to winning, that’s for sure.

“It was insane, it was down in Wales and in ridiculous heat for the full week we were there.

“I was in the arena for five hours before it, and it was just ridiculously hot.

“The fight was gruelling, just with the pace – it wasn’t back-step, it was just constant, no rest, and it was pretty horrible, to be fair.

“It was tough, challenging, and I was tired, so it had a bit of absolutely everything you could think of in a fight.

“We got the nod this time; the last fight I lost on a split-decision, so I didn’t want to be on that side of it again.”

While Bungard hasn’t been in action for a while, he has been prepared and circumstances have prevented fights from taking place.

But he’ll be ready for his next battle towards the end of this year.

He said: “I’ve been in the gym every day, I’ve just been away for a year because I couldn’t get matched – the guys I was supposed to be fighting pulled out, needed surgery, or I couldn’t get on the shows.

“I had a wee bit of an injury as well, I had nerve damage.

“I