AFTER years of entertaining and scoring knockouts on the British and world mixed martial arts scene, the time has finally arrived – 'Semtex' is entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

I fight at UFC 103 in Texas on September 19.

It is a little complicated, but basically I was due to fight in the USA in August. But the fight was cancelled and the promotion – along with my contract – was bought by the UFC.

As soon as the UFC made their interest known, I knew it was the right deal to take and signed immediately. There was no hesitation and, to be honest, it's a bit of a relief the chance has finally arrived.

I was due to fight another newcomer, Brian Foster. But when Mike Swick pulled out of his title eliminator, I had no hesitation in taking a fight with No.1 contender Martin Kampmann.

It feels like it's been a long time coming and I'm just pleased to be competing in the UFC now. It won't really feel real until I step into the Octagon for the first time, though.

But when I do, I'll make Nottingham – the British capital of mixed martial arts – proud.

Fighting in the UFC is something that has been on my horizon for many years now. I was even offered the chance to enter the UFC a couple of years back, when the organisation first broke into UK territory.

I didn't think the opportunity was right at the time, as I had other things that I wanted to achieve as a mixed martial artist.

I wanted to travel a bit, gain some more experience and basically grow as a mixed martial artist and human being.

However, I now feel the time is perfect to make a splash in MMA's premier league.

As most people know, I'm a character who loves to perform on the big stage. I truly don't think there is a bigger or better stage than the UFC – and I've fought on some of the biggest and best promotions in the world already.

There are lots of exciting aspects to joining the UFC. From the marketing aspect, it's great because my face will always be out there and a wider audience will come to know 'Semtex'.

I also just love to fight in a good production and see things run smoothly.

They also hand out big bonuses – and with a 75% knockout ratio I'm more than confident of picking up a few Knockout of the Night bonuses by the time I'm finished.

Just because I'm entering the UFC doesn't mean I'm planning on changing my style dramatically or doing things differently. I'll now have longer to train in between events, and that will no doubt bring on my game massively.

However, I'm still planning on being the same old 'Semtex' that MMA fans have seen over the years. I'm entering the UFC with the intention of having stand-up wars with all the best welterweights in the world. I now have a far bigger pool of talent to play with and I'm looking to clean up.

There is not one welterweight in the UFC who can compete with me in a pure striking battle. I feel I have the beating of the lot of them.

I'm not some inexperienced fighter looking to build my fighting experience in the UFC. I've had plenty of fights already and have competed all around the world, facing some of the best welterweights on the planet. That will stand me in good stead.

Away from the UFC, I've beaten a lot of top ten-ranked guys and have been consistently competing at a high level. I was unlucky to lose to Jake Shields, who is one of the best welterweights in the world, and felt I could have beaten him if I'd performed to the best of my ability.

I got into the second round with him – a guy ranked at No.3 in the world – and was always competitive.

I know I can live with fighters at the elite level and I'm now prepared to prove it. .

As people know by now, the UFC is the place to go if you want to reach the top of the mountain as a mixed martial artist.

Like many people before me, the UFC was the reason I first got started. The UFC probably started everyone off, except for the Gracies.

At first, the lure of a cheque for fighting was obviously key to me. Then I just started to love the competition side of it and quickly realised I could become good at it.

I'm a huge fan of fighters like Tito Ortiz, Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali and Nottingham's Carl Froch.

I like those kinds of fighters because they're masters in self-promotion. They're confident, brash and know they can back up the talk. I see myself as an extension of them.

My first opportunity to back up the talk in the UFC will arrive on September 19 against Kampmann in Dallas.

It is a better fight for me than the Foster fight. I won't be fighting the best Kampmann, because with so much to lose he will be very nervous and unsettled at the start.

This would have been a No.1 contender fight, but now he's in a position that if he wins he kinda stays where he is. That's tough psychologically for a fighter. I can exploit that in a hurry if it happens.

I've got a lot on the line too. A lot of people have written on the forums that this is a win/win for me, that even a good showing on such short notice is going to be a good result for me. But I could never be happy with a loss, no way. I'd be disgusted with myself if I was ever happy that I lost.

I've been offered a fast-track in the UFC welterweight division here. It's a risk, but fighting is risky. I will be edgy on the night, too, but that will just make me faster and land my bombs even sooner in the fight. This is going to be a war while it lasts, but I will knock Kampmann out.

I've seen enough footage of him I know exactly how I am gonna to spark him out. His flaws are very exploitable for someone with my speed and power. I can KO him with one punch or kick.

My obvious flaw is my submission defence on the ground, I'm working on it but that's my weakness. He's got weaknesses, too, and like I said my strengths will combine with his weaknesses and result in a KO debut for me.