COREY Fry has already shown he is not one to shirk a challenge and on Saturday night the Blackburn fighter has another chance to make the world of MMA sit up and take note.

It was back in November when Fry stepped in to the ‘lion’s den’ and beat the experienced and home favourite, Deniz Ilbay, in front of 20,000 partisan German fans in Cologne.

On Saturday, in his second fight for Oktagon - one of Europe’s biggest MMA promoters - Fry is back on home soil when he takes on another German, the undefeated Max Holzer, in what should be a raucous night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

And just like he did in Cologne, Fry is ready to end another unbeaten record in a bout which many are tipping to be fight of the night.

Fry has no qualms of taking on a fighter with a perfect record, seeking a win that will see him move a step closer to an Oktagon MMA title shot.

“I always want to fight the top competitors,” said the 28-year-old who trains out of North West Fight Academy in Preston. “I don’t want to fight people with negative records, or only a couple of wins.

“I want guys with good records and Max has had six fights and six wins, and all finishes. What better record can you take than that!

“Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll accept the fight, and this is just another undefeated record I need to take.”

Fry is the number nine ranked featherweight in the Oktagon MMA rankings and he steps in to the cage against a fighter who has also competed at the lighter bantamweight category.

“He’s undefeated for a reason but I think I’m just more athletic than him,” added Fry. “And I have far more tools to finish him.

“I’ve fought far better people, and I’m going to beat him in every area and I’m going to beat him up.

“He’s come up from bantamweight, and I heard him say that he’s in a healthy position where he can float between bantamweight and featherweight. I would never make bantamweight, ever!

“So I’m going to have the size advantage, taller, longer reach, and anyone who’s fought me knows that you don’t want me to have the reach advantage.”

Holzer himself was staying pretty tight lipped prior to the pre-fight press conference - although he did suggest Fry had a passing resemblance to a well-known American rapper.

“I am happy to be part of Europe’s biggest event,” he said. “Fight camp has gone really well, I am just working on the last details. I am not losing to Post Malone!”

n Corey Fry would like to thank his local sponsors: Jordan Smith, Ricky Birkbeck (Carters Facilities), Carl Molyneux (Red Rose Insurance Solicitors), Jordan Kelly (UK Stove Installers, Manchester), Satans Slaves MC Lancashire, Chapter, LADS United Blackburn/Darwen (Adam Gardner, Mark Johnson), Grafix Tattoo Studio, Blackburn, Christopher Kirk (Altius Sport Performance).