Northwich MMA champion Jordan Barton dreams of reaching UFC

And he hopes his recent success has put him on the path to cracking the elite of mixed martial arts.

The 30-year-old – a former Hartford High School pupil – currently competes in the Fight Nation Championships, an MMA promotion based in Eastern Europe.

He is currently the FNC’s world champion in the featherweight division and defended his title in emphatic style over the Easter weekend.

In beating Israel’s Itay Tratner by first-round knock-out in Llubjana, Slovenia, Barton - nicknamed "The Lord" - picked up his second consecutive first-round finish having beaten Croatia’s Daniel Bazant in similar fashion last May.

Jordan Barton in action against Israel's Itay Tratner on Saturday (Image: Drazen Forgac)

Having also competed in the well-known Bellator and Cage Warriors promotions, his dream remains getting to the most recognised MMA promotion of all – the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

“My goals have always been to reach the pinnacle of the sport, which is the UFC,” he said.

“After two consecutive wins and first-round knockouts, I’m putting myself in a good position to make that happen.

“I’d like to give a big thanks to Northwich Kitchens Cheshire LTD – they have been a long-time sponsor and have helped me so much through my camps and career so far.

“I’d also like to thank Frank Collins at BoxingFit Academy, who has helped me out with boxing training ever since I started.”

The win over Tratner takes Barton’s professional MMA record to nine wins, three defeats and one draw in 13 bouts since turning pro back in 2016 having previously competed as an amateur for two years.

In between fights, he passes his knowledge on to the next generation in teaching MMA sessions at the BTB Fitness Academy in Winsford.

For anyone wishing to sponsor Jordan or follow his journey, he can be found and contacted through his Instagram page @jordankb93