'We're modern-day gladiators' - Meet the Stockport MMA talent hoping to make waves in the sport

Stockport flyweight MMA fighter Alex Home admires American Mixed Martial Artist Jon Jones for being the youngest ever UFC world champion and aims to emulate Jones and get his own name in the history books as a professional in the sport he loves.

"I’m 21 now," said Home," and I started training when I was about six. My dad was a fighter and got me into it so maybe my trajectory was mapped out. I’ve had 11 amateur fights and won eight but am now challenging the very best fighters.

"In December I went to the States on an all-expenses-paid trip to have an MMA bout in Nashville against Bryce Woerner who’s the number one amateur flyweight in Tennessee and ranked third in the US. He’s also had 11 bouts and won nine including against me. It was an intense fight on his home turf. I didn’t take a back step once and had him wrestling. He’s usually the one doing all the striking, but I proved a match in striking and learnt a lot from this encounter. I didn’t get the win unfortunately but learnt so much and fitted in some tourism."

Home attended Reddish Vale High and then Denton Community College and lives with his mother, older sister and younger brother. Having obtained his coaching qualification, Home teaches and offers personal training sessions at 12 Gauge MMA in Bredbury.

"It’s my second home, the best gym in Greater Manchester. I’ve always been there trained by my dad and now by chief coach Matt Thorpe. I also train at Aspire Combat Sports in Liverpool. I won two championships last year earning me the Kingdom Combat and UKFC belts.

"Alex has had a highly successful amateur career rising to third in the UK," said Thorpe. "He recently challenged for the Aeries title in Nashville against one of the best American amateurs. He