Distington mixed martial arts star Lee Percival is set for the fight of his life as he takes centre stage on one of the world’s top shows.

Percival, 28, fights out of Workington’s Tapout Knockout club but is now about to go on a bill alongside some of the best MMA fighters on the planet.

He has been given an opportunity to showcase his skills at the highest level and will represent West Cumbria and Tapout Knockout on the second-biggest fighting promotion in the world – Bellator.

Percival will enter the cage for the event in Birmingham, where he will take on Raphael Uchegbu in a bantamweight bout.

The self-employed ground worker holds an MMA record of 6-2 and is the current “Vision MMA” champion, a title he gained in his last fight against a well-travelled and experience Gary Priestly from Glasgow.

His delighted partner Stacey Metcalfe said: “I am so proud to be beside him on this adventure myself and our son Lucas, nine, who always comes and supports and who can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Bellator is a massive martial arts promotion which travels around the globe, selling out arenas with leading MMA fighters.

And Percival, a former serviceman, is now the first Cumbrian to have made it to one of the two mainstream MMA promotions outside of the UFC.

The event will be live on Channel 5 so his supporters can watch the event live.

Tapout Knockout are currently in the process of moving into new premises to continue developing the sport in West Cumbria.