MICHAEL 'The Count' Bisping enjoyed a night on the other side of Ultimate Fighting Championship's 6ft steel cage when the sport returned to the UK.

Although he wasn't competing at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena, on Saturday, he was there to cheer on his friend and training partner Paul Kelly who won his UFC debut against fellow Brit Paul Taylor.

And Bisping - who rose to fame after winning a $1m UFC contract on reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter - revealed his own next fight will be on April 18.

But he has another battle to face before stepping into the Octagon in Montreal, Canada.

The 28-year-old fighter, from Clitheroe, who has fought as a light-heavyweight for his five UFC fights so far, is dropping a weight class - from 205lb to 185lb - in order to join the middleweight division.

Until UFC 78, last November, he was undefeated in mixed martial arts - with 15 victories - but said going into the fight that if he lost he would make the move.

And after a controversial split decision gave the win to Rashad Evans he stuck to his word.

Bisping said: "It doesn't make sense to give every opponent an advantage when I don't have to.

"At middleweight, I will be just as strong if not stronger than my opponent and, without carrying the extra 20lbs, I will be fitter than I am at light-heavyweight.

"I started the new training regime and diet on January 1 and the weight is coming off slowly.

"I just think the time is right to move down. And I think I will dominate in that division."

His opponent at UFC 83 is rumoured to be Charles Chainsaw' McCarthy.