FORMER Malvern schoolboy Oban Elliot will make his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bow on Saturday evening when he takes to the Octagon in California.

Welterweight Elliot, fighting out of Merthyr Tydfil (Wales), takes on Val Woodburn as one of the Early Prelims on the UFC 298 card, which is headlined by a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated challenger Ilia Topuria.

Elliot, of Shore MMA in Abertillery, Wales, attended Dysons Perrins Academy in Malvern during his secondary school days but went on to pursue a career in MMA (mixed martial arts) after university. He has long dreamed of fighting in the UFC and on Saturday evening, he will step into the famous Octagon for the first time. 

"There's a weight lifted off my shoulders, that I'm finally fighting where I belong," said Elliott to BBC Sport Wales.

"It's the first time I've really enjoyed and looked forward to every training session really, I've just tried taking it all in."

"If you set your mind to something you can do it. If it's not given to you and it's hard, you'll find out a way to take it and that's exactly what I've done."

'The Welsh Gangster' (as he is known) progressed through the ranks and gained a UFC contract with a gutsy, majority decision win over Kaik Brito last year on Dana White’s Contender Series, extending his winning streak to five with the victory.

But it will not be an easy contest for Elliot. His opponent, Woodburn, holds a similarly impressive 7-1-0 (seven wins, one defeat) professional record, compared to Elliot's 9-2-0.

Elliot will become the seventh Welshman to compete in the UFC and the fourth to come from Shore MMA gym, following in the footsteps of Brett Johns, Jack Marshman and Jack Shore.

Those wishing to watch the fight in the UK can do so via TNT Sports. Click this link here to get involved.