Bolton Mixed Martial Arts star Jack Cartwright is hoping to take another step towards becoming Oktagon bantamweight world champion in the new year.

The 29-year-old MMA fighter will take on rival, and former champion, Jonas Magard in Newcastle on January 27 with the winner of that bout becoming first in line to challenge current title holder, Felipe Lima.

Cartwright has a professional record of 11 wins and just one defeat in 12 fights and is a former Cage Warriors world champion.

His last outing saw him win his Oktagon MMA debut with a dominant first-round submission victory over Brazilian, Junior Assis at Oktagon 48, the European promotion’s first UK show earlier this month in Manchester.

And when Europe’s biggest MMA promotion makes its UK return in the North East, Cartwright will again feature on the card, this time in a grudge match against Magard.

The pair met in the cage following Cartwright’s debut, with a heated verbal back-and-forth.

Following his victory at Oktagon 48, Cartwright said: “Obviously I want the title first and foremost.”

As a youngster in Bolton, Cartwright seemed destined for a combat sports career from the word go.

He vividly recalls obsessing over martial arts movies and Ricky Hatton as early as he can remember.

His foray into the world of combat sports started at a remarkably young age as he began Thai boxing at just five years old.

By the age of 10, he was representing Britain in Olympic-style wrestling and his love for boxing also grew.

At the age of 18, faced with a choice between becoming a professional boxer or an MMA fighter, Cartwright made the decision that led him to his current status as a renowned MMA fighter and turned pro in 2017.

His main training base is in Longsight, Manchester, but he occasionally trains in Bolton, and also travels to Burton for sparring sessions.

Following his early success on the European stage, he earned a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he lost for the first ever time to Jose Johnson.

Then, in his comeback fight, Cartwright signed to OKTAGON MMA, and won this month at the AO Arena.

Now his sights are set on more glory in January up in Newcastle.