Fletcher (photo via FX / UFC)

By FCF Staff

Following his unanimous decision win over Tim Newman last month, the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts has announced that UFC vet Colin Fletcher will challenge lightweight champion Mansour Barnaoui on December 14th. The bout will be part of BAMMA 14, which will be hosted by Birmingham’s LG Arena.

Barnaoui (10-2) laid claim to the promotion’s lightweight title at BAMMA 13, by stopping Curt Warburton in the opening round. The 21 year-old, Tunisian fighter is 3-2 in his last 5 fights.

“My next opponent, Colin Fletcher, is one of the most talented fighters in UK. Like Curt Warburton, he is a veteran of the UFC,” the champion was quoted saying in a press release from BAMMA.  “He fought and won bravely in his last fight in BAMMA and now he gets his ticket to a title bout that he was no doubt expecting. I called him out to prove to everyone that I am not afraid of facing the most famous fighters in the UK or the world. Fletcher’s fans expect to see him win the fight. My fans expect to see me back home with the belt. BAMMA fans and MMA fans from all over the world are expecting a totally action-packed fight, as intense as I gave last time I stepped into the BAMMA cage.”

Prior to Fletcher’s aforementioned win over Newman in September, the 30 year-old British fighter dropped consecutive bouts in the UFC and was released by the promotion. “Freakshow” advanced to the finals of TUF: Smashes in 2012 and lost by UD to Norman Parke. In March, Fletcher (9-3) also lost by decision to Mike Ricci at UFC 158.

“Its an honour to be given the chance to fetch the BAMMA world title back home to British soil where it belongs,” Fletcher noted. “Although I respect him as a fighter, I don’t think much of him personally: By calling me out straight after winning a world title shows that he doesn’t see himself as a true champion. Anyone can be a good fighter but it’s something else to be good champion. Fans can expect an angry Freakshow. He’s annoyed me so I’ll be training harder than ever.”