Simeon Powell seeking Mike Tyson’s seal of knockout approval as he chases MMA glory in PFL Challenger Series

Simeon Powell will have the job of catching the eye of boxing legend Mike Tyson as he embarks on his dream MMA journey with the Professional Fighters League and their new Challenger Series.

22-year-old Londoner Powell is an emerging talent on the thriving UK MMA scene, balancing his fighting ambitions with a full-time job as an engineer apprentice.

A life-changing opportunity now awaits when he takes his place in the PFL’s new competition in Orlando, Florida in February.

PFL CEO Peter Murray describes the format as ‘American Idol meets MMA’ – a series pitting undiscovered talent against each other with the winner to be rewarded with a PFL contract.

Serving as a feeder system, the winners of the Challenger Series then enter the promotion’s regular season format in April with the winners of that gruelling campaign handed a cheque for a cool $1million.

The Series will also feature a celebrity panel which will recommend who should get signed by the league. Confirmed panel members include former NFL stars Ray Lewis and Todd Gurley with heavyweight legend Tyson also set to play his part. Fans will also get a chance to vote for who deserves a contract.

Powell, undefeated in four professional fights and competing at light-heavyweight, is building a reputation for devastating finishes and is confident his style will quickly win over fans – and ‘Iron Mike’.

‘The format, the judges, the fans, it all benefits me,’ Powell told Metro.co.uk.

‘I finish fights, that is what I do. And fans love finishes. ‘How is Simeon going to do it this time?’ I feel like that is the sort of thing that fans latch onto. They don’t know how I’m going to finish it.

‘And of course, I need to catch Tyson’s eye. Who wouldn’t? He is a legend. I like knockouts and he is