Following Pimblett's footsteps - but Riley is 'different animal'

Luke Riley joined the UFC last year with a big reputation. A team-mate of Paddy Pimblett, the 26-year-old signed with the promotion after winning the first 11 fights of his career, eight by knockout. Like some of the UFC's biggest stars before him - such as Pimblett, Conor McGregor and Tom Aspinall - Riley compiled his unbeaten record in Cage Warriors.

Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan has overseen the development of each one of those stars, and in Riley he saw something different. Speaking to BBC Sport last year, Boylan described Riley as a "different animal" and "already a polished athlete", whereas "Paddy and Conor were still on their way up" while in Cage Warriors. It came as little surprise then, when faced with adversity after being out-grappled in the first round of his UFC debut against Bogdan Grad in November, Riley responded with a thundering left hook to claim victory.

Many fighters have crumbled in similar situations, joining the UFC with big reputations and finding the step up in competition too big - but not Riley. "I went through a lot of adversity in Cage Warriors. I feel like with some fighters it takes maybe 10 to 15 fights to get a bit of adversity.

I had it three fights in, where I'd been fighting the best," Riley tells BBC Sport. "So when that moment came against Grad it was nothing new, I've felt this before, it was easy work. " Riley and Pimblett train at Liverpool's Next Generation gym On Saturday at UFC London, Riley faces American Michael Aswell Jr in a featherweight bout at O2 Arena.