MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: As always when the UFC comes to the UK, hundreds of Scottish fight fans are finalising travel and accommodation plans for a trip south of the border.

This time it's the turn of Nottingham to welcome an army of MMA lovers, and Scots will be well represented in the stands of the city's Capital FM Arena for 'UFC on Fuel TV 5' on Saturday, September 29.

On average, crowds at UFC events in the UK are made up of around 10% Scottish fans.

Starved for so long of a UFC show north of the border, Scots MMA followers are not put off making the jaunt to England.

With the Hydro arena on course for a 2013 opening in Glasgow, there will finally be a venue big enough to host a UFC show right here on our doorstep – and when the time comes, it is guaranteed to sell out.

But while Scotland's MMA enthusiasts can understand the UFC's reasons for staying away, one thing many can't get their heads around is why no Scots fighter has yet made it into the fold of the world's biggest MMA promotion.

Some have come close, but none yet have graced the magical world of the Octagon.

Glasgow-based Paul McVeigh got as near as possible without actually making it onto a UFC card.

Last year he made it into the final 32 of the cast of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), the UFC's reality TV show. That number was to be whittled down to 16 after a round of preliminary fights.

His televised prelim scrap with Louis Gaudinot was easily one of the best ever seen in TUF history and he lost after a war which prompted UFC president Dana White to marvel at the spectacle he had just witnessed.

Gaudinot did not progress very far in the TUF house, but has gone on to make two Octagon appearances and has his UFC future in his own hands.

When the UFC announced this year it was to hold a version of TUF featuring a team from the UK up against another from Australia, Scottish fans felt sure that some of our stars would make the grade.

With the weight classes for the show – cleverly named 'The Smashes' – set at welterweight and lightweight, we could look forward to Stevie Ray, Martin Delaney, Alan Johnston, David Galbraith, Robert Whiteford, Doni Miller and Danny Henry making an impression at the tryouts.

None made it, although Whiteford was seemingly kept on standby in case of any injuries which, in the end, didn't materialise.

Despite being a natural featherweight, the West Lothian star put himself firmly on the UFC's radar with his impressive showing at the tryouts in London.

Still, the show's debut episode airs this week and there won't be a Scot in sight.

It seems all Whiteford has to do is keep winning fights and he will get his UFC chance. He could not have made a bigger statement that he is ready for the big stage when he fought giant Swede Martin Svensson for the Vision featherweight title in Glasgow this month.

Svensson, the world's tallest 145lb MMA fighter, was despatched in under a minute by a fierce flurry of Whiteford punches.

The Swede himself was previously mentioned as a stick-on for a future UFC career. Whiteford's win must surely see him knocking firmly at Dana White's door.

Based at Glasgow's Griphouse Gym and a member of the highly-rated Dinky Ninja Fight Team, his stock was already high. But after a four-week training camp at American Top Team (ATT) in Florida ahead of the Svensson match, Whiteford is now on ATT's roster after impressing their coaches.

The backing of that illustrious gym will instantly see Whiteford's CV jump to the top of the mountainous pile of hopefuls burying UFC matchmaker Joe Silva's desk.

It has long been said, mostly by fighters who have tried and failed to make it through the TUF process, that it's a case of who you know over how good you are. If that's true, it's the fans as well as the fighters who are missing out.

However, Whiteford's approach is admirable. Rather than moan about being overlooked, he worked hard to capture the attention of ATT. When teams like ATT talk, the UFC tends to listen.

Late call-ups have become even more common in recent weeks as UFC cards have been left decimated by injuries.

Should Whiteford, or any other Scot, be offered a last-minute bout at UFC Nottingham, the East Midlands city will have to brace itself for an even bigger influx of fans from Scotland.

The card is already packed with incredible match-ups and we will be treated to seeing the likes of Brits Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett in action – as well as the UFC debut of Tom 'Kong' Watson.

The only thing that could make it better from a Scottish MMA fan's point of view would be one of our own making their mark on the biggest fight stage of them all.

For more information on UFC on Fuel TV 5 and for tickets, visit uk.ufc.com