This Saturday will see Danny Roberts fight at UFC Moscow in a career-defining fight for the adopted scouser.
Despite being brought up in Bristol and London, Roberts calls Liverpool his home after moving here when he first began his professional career at aged 20.
‘Hot Chocolate’ made his name in the sport in Merseyside as he gathered a record of 11-1 and was signed for the UFC after headlining a Cage Warriors show at the Echo Arena.
Initially, Roberts was training at Next Generation MMA before leaving to open Aspire MMA. The welterweight fighter now lives and trains in Florida with some of the best in the sport, including welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
However, his career since joining the UFC hasn’t gone as he had hoped and his fight in Russia this weekend is vital for him to stay relevant in the world’s biggest promotion.
Since he joined the UFC in 2015, he has gone 5-4 in the company with two impressive knockouts over Oliver Enkamp and Bobby Nash the shining lights on his record. But as of late, he has hit the most difficult patch of his career with two back-to-back losses.
His last loss came at the hands of Michel Pereira who viciously knocked him out in the first two minutes.
His opponent for the upcoming event will be 24-year-old Zelim Imadaev who will have the home advantage being a Russian citizen.
Imadaev was unsuccessful in his UFC debut in April, but is one of the biggest prospects in the country and will present the Englishman with a difficult fight.
One that he can and must get over to ensure his place in the UFC.
Danny Roberts is set to feature on the main card of the event, which starts at 7pm BST on Saturday. He is expected to make the walk between 8.30/9pm.
