MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: Fife fighter Stevie Ray will make his UFC debut in Poland this weekend while girlfriend Natalie tries to hold off giving birth to their third child.
Ray will realise a lifetime dream of fighting in the world's biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion when he takes on Marcin Bandel in Krakow on Saturday, but he will be desperate to get the job done and fly home to his family.
Stevie says: "It's typical that I finally get my chance with the UFC just days before Nat is due to give birth to our wee daughter. She's gutted I'm away, but also very excited that I've been given this opportunity.
"It would be terrible to find out about the birth through pictures or Facebook rather than being there. I hope the wee one holds on until I get back.
Ray, 25, sees a bright side in the situation though. He jokes: "Nat is very crabbit and I'm starving as I'm cutting weight at the minute. And with our wee boy Lyle, who is four, and wee girl Millie, who is two, running around, it might be better that I'm not there!"
Ray vacated his CageWarriors lightweight world title to sign with the UFC and become the third Scot to fight for the organisation after Robert Whiteford and Joanne Calderwood. Calderwood also fights on Saturday's card, against Maryna Moroz.
All three hope to be included on the card when the UFC comes to Glasgow's Hydro on July 18 for its first ever event in Scotland.
Ray, known as 'The Braveheart', says he was close to walking away from the sport last year as he struggled to pay the bills.
He said: "I very nearly gave up on MMA a few months ago as I was really struggling to balance training with being a dad and working a regular day job. I'm really glad I kept going and I hope to pay back everyone who had faith in me by winning in Krakow on Saturday. And to then fight in Glasgow in July would really be the cherry on top."
Watch UFC Fight Night: Krakow on Saturday 11 April on Pick, available on Sky (152), Freeview (11) Freesat (144) and Virgin Media (123).
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