Alliss won 13 of his 16 fights as a professional boxer

Former professional boxer-turned-mixed martial arts fighter Leigh Alliss is through to the final of Fighting Hurts.

The 32-year-old from Gloucestershire's semi-final went to the last round until he knocked opponent Ben Craggy out.

"His corner told him in the final round to fight standing on his feet, but that played into my hands," Alliss said.

"I caught him with an overhand right, then I came in with a knee which winded him and I carried on with a flurry of punches and the ref had to stop it."

"Every fight is nerve-wracking, the venue was a right bear pit - there was gangster characters there and there was pit bull dogs there.

"Coming down from Stroud and being used to the countryside it was a bit different but feeling that I was up against it as an outsider gave me that drive and determination to win the fight."

Alliss turned his back on boxing after finding he lost power when making the 12-and-a-half stone weight limit for light-heavyweight.

A step up to cruiserweight was ruled out when the upper limit for the division was increased.

Alliss therefore made the switch mixed martial arts fighting and is now one win away from a the prize of a one-year professional cage fighting contract which goes with the Fighting Hurts championship.

He meets Dyson Roberts in the final on Saturday, 1 November.

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