Wallhead gutted at call-off

LOUGHBOROUGH UFC fighter ‘Judo’ Jimmy Wallhead was “gutted” to have to pull out of his first fight in 13 years because of a virus.

The Shelthorpe fighter was set to take on Brazillian MMA fighter Warlley Alves in Poland in what would have been his third UFC bout.

He was set to fight at the EMEA Fight Night in Gdansk on Saturday, October 21 but he told the Echo that after advice from his coach he was forced to pull out.

Jimmy said: “I was gutted that I had to pull out, I had been really ill and my coach said to me that he was thinking of pulling me out of the fight.

“I didn’t want to pull out, it’s the first time in 13 years that I’ve had to do this and obviously fighting in the UFC is what I want to do but he has a lot of experience and I had to trust him.

“He told me that he thought I was fighting at five per cent and he thought the best thing to do would be to pull out.

“I was angry at the time but now a few weeks later I can see that it was the right decision - hopefully I will be fighting again in March or April.

“I just want to say sorry to everyone, and to all the fans that had planned to go over and watch me, I hate letting people down and I am looking forward to being back to my fighting best, and I am still hungrier than ever to get that first UFC win.”

Jimmy said that he had spoke to the UFC about the situation and they had told him not to worry and that his contract was safe.

He said that they told him they would honour his five fight contract, and that he would still be given another two chances to get his first UFC victory.