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."

On Saturday at UFC London, Riley faces American Michael Aswell Jr in a featherweight bout at O2 Arena.

It is just Riley's second fight in the UFC but the contest serves as the co-main event, illustrating the star power the UFC believes the Liverpudlian can generate.

For many fighters this could bring added pressure, but Riley is already acclimatising to the attention of being a star.

Before his interview with BBC Sport, he jokes around with team-mates at his gym in Liverpool, throwing darts at a board he got a week prior during a social media skit at the PDC World Darts Championship.

During his time in Cage Warriors, he was the face of the promotion, headlining multiple shows for which fans would buy tickets mainly to watch him.

He is already flourishing in the public eye, so performing at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena does not bring added pressure.

"I said to my coaches and people close to me, it feels no different to Cage Warriors in a sense," he says.

"It could be in a park, on a street, in a little social club, in an arena with 20,000 people. Once the cage is shut, it doesn't feel any different."

Riley also does not have to look very far if he wants advice on how to handle the spotlight, with Pimblett being one of his main training partners.

Like Riley, the 31-year-old made a name for himself in Cage Warriors before going on to become arguably Britain's most well-known UFC fighter.

"He's been very important to me. He's always had 100% belief and support in me, and pushed me on way more than he's needed to do," Riley says of Pimblett.

"I'm in the gym with him every day. Just being on the mat with him every single day of the week has pushed me on.

"Mentally and emotionally we click, we're very similar. He doesn't need to help me with that because he's seen the similarities."

Pimblett has not fought on a Fight Night card like UFC London since 2022, with the promotion instead choosing to put him on its more viewed numbered events.

If Riley steals the show against Aswell Jr on Saturday as many fans and pundits are predicting, his career could follow a similar path.