STEVIE RAY has itchy feet. The Kirkcaldy-born mixed martial artist is only hours away from ending an 11-month wait to return to the Octagon, where he will attempt to preserve his perfect record as a UFC fighter.
Given the ease with which he has made the step up to joining the world’s largest MMA promoter, Ray has every reason to be restless for another opportunity to showcase his skills.
The 26-year-old fights in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, at UFC Fight Night 95 on Saturday on the back of a three-fight winning streak in 2015. But the man nicknamed ‘Braveheart’ now has the daunting prospect of facing local favourite Alan Patrick on his home turf with almost a year having passed since he defeated Mickael Lebout in Dublin.
During the summer, the Olympic and Paralympic Games offered a reminder of the fervent atmosphere Brazilian fans can produce when seeing their homegrown heroes in action, but Ray is untroubled by the thought of stepping out in front of Patrick’s devoted followers and is instead channelling his focus into making a name for himself once again.
“It’ll bring out the best in me,” he told Herald Sport. “All these guys will be booing me and they’ll come out and be cheering for him, but I’ll be looking to silence the crowd and hopefully win in devastating fashion.
“It’s horrible watching all these UFC fights, watching [Conor] McGregor and so on, and you’re just getting forgotten about because I’ve not fought for so long.
“I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to the fight, getting back in there after almost a year off and showing everybody how much I’ve improved.
“The whole year I took off I was still training, so although I’ve not fought and haven’t been able to show everybody the results, I’ve improved in all areas of my game.”
For the 26-year-old, motivation comes in two forms. The natural competitive instinct of an athlete has kept him restless for another visit to the Octagon, but 11 months without a competitive fight has also taken its toll on Ray’s bank balance, with a fiancée and three children to think about.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into it to make some money – you only get paid if you fight, so I’ve spent all last year’s wages, put it that way,” he explained.
“I’m in a situation where I probably need to go out and get a bonus as well, so there’s hunger to do that. I can’t wait to get in, fight and make some money – and then have some food after this fight as well!”
Eating may seem a mild form of celebration, but after a brutal three-month training programme in preparation for his bout, the thought of a trip to Kirkcaldy’s finest chippy could be tempting.
Ray’s sacrifice has paid off so far, as the 26-year-old’s 100 per cent win record since stepping into the UFC last year has made him the odds-on favourite to come out on top against an opponent seven years his senior in Brasilia.
The Fife native explained that a warrior mentality has been key to his early success, although he concedes that the wins against Marcin Bandel, Leonardo Mafra and Lebout were more than he could’ve hoped for as he targets a fourth straight UFC victory against Patrick.
“I never expected those fights to end so quickly and be so comfortable,” he admitted.
“I train the same way every time – I’m training because somebody’s going to try to take my head off. It’s one of the most ultimate sports in the world. You’re basically training for eight weeks to go and punch someone in the face and kick them in the face and they’re doing the exact same.
“I train hard as anything, as if this guy is trying to kill me, and I go in with that attitude – kill or be killed.”
Another win could do more than just boost Ray’s statistics, as he warns that he’s considering a headline-grabbing change of character if he continues to dominate in the Octagon.
“I’ve been a wee bit humble so far with my wins, I’ve just kept in my head down and didn’t want to come across too much like I’m arrogant or cocky,” he said.
“But that might change, because they do say ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ – get your mouth talking and that’s when the money will start paying. So I’ll maybe just start speaking my mind a little bit, let them know how I’m feeling.”
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