Newark’s Regis ‘The First’ Sugden is counting down the days to Friday 12 May when he makes his long-awaited return to the cage after a 20-month break.

Fully recovered from last year’s surgery to reattach and repair ligaments in his foot, the Suggy’s Gym striking sensation will be back at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse, where he made his explosive MMA professional debut on BAMMA 17 in December 2014.

Fighting for the first time at Featherweight, Regis will be facing Rossendale’s Declan ‘Kid Dynamite’ Williams on the card of the TANKO Events TFC#4 show.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this and so have all my fans,” said Regis. “Now I’m ready to go and looking forward to showing everyone it’s been worth the wait. Moving up a division, I’ll be even stronger and more dangerous than before – a different weight but as exciting and explosive as ever.”

Doors at the Victoria Warehouse open at 6pm, with the first fight starting at 6.30pm. Tickets are available now from Suggy’s Gym or via the hotline 07816 840920, priced £40 standard, £60 cageside and £75 VIP terrace with private bar.

“This will be a big night, not just for Regis but for everyone travelling up to Manchester to support him,” said Suggy’s Gym head coach Dean Sugden. “Tickets are already selling fast, with cageside and VIP places limited, so anyone who wants to come and join us in celebrating his return needs to get in touch as soon as possible.”