MMA star Cartwright wants Bolton to win

The 30-year-old former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion is looking to take a step toward OKTAGON MMA world championship when he takes on former titleholder Mate Sanikidze in Brno on September 21

His 25-year-old Georgian opponent is the former OKTAGON MMA featherweight champion, who moved up to bantamweight earlier this year.

But following his defeat to arch-rival Jonas Magard in Newcastle in January, Cartwright is more determined than ever to be the one to take a step towards the vacant bantamweight title.

He said: “I’m happy to be back and ready to give a true display of my skills against a good fighter.

“I think the styles fit well together and I’m looking forward to the fight.”

OKTAGON MMA has proven itself in the European MMA scene, with high-quality production value combined with competitive and exciting matchmaking, which has made them one of the leading MMA organizations in the world.

And Cartwright hopes the next generation of fighters will be inspired by his achievements.

He added: “Young fighters in the UK should 100 per cent consider joining OKTAGON.

“It has really done me good and the fans all over Europe have been absolutely amazing.

“The production is really good, the show itself runs very smoothly, the shows don’t get held up or anything like that and as a fighter you don’t want to sit around waiting.

“It’s a good place to fight, there are tough fights and even match-ups and the attention and travel you get is just phenomenal.

“I would recommend any young fighter, or even someone who is further along in their career, to come to OKTAGON and give it a try if they want to experience good fights.”

Cartwright hopes to win in the Czech Republic for Bolton and his native North West England, as he is proud of the place where he grew up.

He added: “The North West produces the best footballers, the best musicians and the best fighters in the UK.

“I think it’s just the best place in the UK, in my opinion. All the best football teams, all the best music, all the best fighters, all come from the North West.

“Boxers, fighters, musicians, you name it, we have it.

“Manchester, Liverpool and all those places up there have always produced world class. You’ve got a few from Birmingham and a few from London and that’s about it. The North West is just the best.

“I don’t know why, maybe because it’s cold and miserable, so what else is there to do here? It’s horrible, so you just go to the gym and have a fight with your mates.

“I said to one of the guys at the gym today, we can’t be halfway normal? We’ll just turn up, have a fight, hug each other and tell our mates we’ll see them tomorrow.”