UFC star Brett Johns: Humans like watching people fight

Welsh fighter Brett Johns is defending Ultimate Fighting Championship [UFC] ahead of its first European event of 2017.

It's after UFC was described as "barbaric" following five deaths in professional Mixed Marital Arts [MMA] bouts in the past 10 years.

"As human beings it's entertaining to watch two people fight," he says.

"If you go back thousands of years, people would sit in stadiums and watch."

Watch Newsbeat's video with Brett Johns

Brett is one of 12 British Fighters on the bill this weekend as the UFC arrives in London.

It's the first UFC event of 2017 to be held in Europe as the sport looks to win more and more fans.

The UFC has exploded in popularity in recent years and 15,000 people are expected at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

"It's the world cup of the MMA world - you can't get better than the UFC," Johns tells Newsbeat.

"My goal was to hit the 2012 Olympics in Judo but I wasn't really good enough.

"That's when I decided to try a different martial art.

"I've had 13 professional fights, I've won all 13 so I must be doing something right."

Brett said he doesn't think too much about the potential risks involved in taking part but does get nervous ahead of a fight.

"I'm not a violent person I am a guy going in there and I am competing.

"I could cross the road tomorrow and I could die.

"You spend your life going 'what if... or I can't do that because of the risks.'

"My family, who have been there every step of the way, they'll take the risks with me as well.

"I start crying my eyes out before every fight - if I'm so scared I'm shaking then I know I've got the right mindset.

"If I went out there and I didn't have any nerves then something would be seriously wrong.

"You only have one life and I'm not spending my lifetime doing something I don't want to do."

Brett says his family have helped him throughout his career

The 25-year-old isn't afraid to let people know about his level of ambition.

"It's no secret I want to be the UFC bantamweight champion of the world.

"I think that will happen within the next two or three years.

"I wouldn't be here right now if i didn't think I could win that belt and I'll be very confident I'll get it."

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