MMA legend Stevie Ray on why he'll make comeback at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

But this time the former Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar, 36, who runs Braveheart MMA Gym in his home town, will be fighting Englishman Danny Christie in a five-round 79kg Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship contest.

Ray told the Fife Free Press: “I do miss competing in MMA, but it's not really been any secret that I've got bad knees.

"So I struggle to kick, I struggle to wrestle, but I can still punch. I obviously box. And it's not as sore as moving my feet.

"So I can do the bare knuckle boxing without being too injured.

"My coach James Doolan messaged me saying that it was coming to the Hydro.

"It was quite funny because I replied saying: ‘Are you meaning for me?’

"His exact message back was: ‘How's the knees?’ And I just replied: ‘Good enough to do that’. And that's pretty much where it came from.

"I was going to say yes to it straight away, but the next part was how much they were paying me.

"So, I went to there, and they offered me something that I was up for doing.

"I've been training for a while for it, not quite fight camp, just kind of ticking over again, because I'd been out of the game for quite a while.

"I’d been on a holiday to Egypt with my wife and kids and when I came back, I had 13 weeks before this fight. Now I'm pretty much in fight camp, I think we're eight weeks out.

"The training has not been too bad, although in saying that I got a bit of a black eye in the first main sparring session.

"I've got quite bony cheekbones and it wasn't even a hard shot, it just clipped me right in the eye socket.

"I got a wee haematoma, and the next day I had a black eye. It was just part of the job.

"People think the bare knuckle fighting is going to be different getting hit but I don't think it's going to be that different.

"If anybody's seen the UFC glove and the PFL glove, it's like a brick. They are solid, they're four ounces, it's not to protect a guy's face.

"But I know that my face is more likely to get cut now because it's the bone hitting it.

"And obviously it's just boxing now, so the training is obviously different. I'm training to be a pure boxer, rather than kicking and kneeing and all of that.

"But I've been enjoying it. I've been enjoying having someone to focus on and someone different.”

Ray – whose previous fighting record at the Hydro reads as two wins and one loss – has signed a three-fight deal with BKFC. If he beats Christie this autumn and then also wins his second fight, bout number three would be for a title.

Ray added: “When I fight I have quite a big following from Scotland and they’re all supporting me and wanting me to win.

"I almost feel like I'm going on the battlefield and representing my country when I fight.

“I use tennis as an example. I had never watched tennis, but when Andy Murray played at Wimbledon in his prime I was suddenly a massive fan cheering him on.

“So I’m very, very motivated to do well in front of a Scottish crowd.

"There will be another man in front of me punching me in the face bare knuckled. So I'm going to train hard for it and make sure that my chances of winning are as high as they can.

"Christie is actually good in the clinch, good at dirty boxing and clinching.

"But the problem for him is that's where I'm really strong, having an MMA background.

"He gets away with that against boxers because they don't know what to do in the clinch. Because the difference with BKFC and actual boxing is in boxing you're not allowed to grab.

"But in bare knuckle you are allowed to grab. You're allowed to grab at once.

"So for him he's got quite a good style where the boxers or people that aren't any good in the clinch struggle with him.

"He's a bit dirty as well to be honest. He's kind of grabbed the guy's neck so he got a disqualification.

"If he tries to do any of the dirty stuff with me I'll just end up kicking him in the face."

Englishman Christie, 41, who previously gained a local reputation brawling on the streets of his home town of Carlisle as a youngster, has battled back to sobriety after reported alcohol issues which 36-year-old Kirkcaldy star Ray can relate to.

Ray said: “I've watched Christie fight and he’s tough. He's actually similar to myself. We've both got a bit of a back story.

"It sounds like he's had a bit of a tough upbringing and I've heard he's a former addict.

"He does do a lot of media and talking. I've heard him saying he's got over 100 stitches, 100 cuts on his face.

"He's in wars. He's known to be a proper scrappy fighter.”

When asked if he thinks he could use the fact he’s five years younger than Christie to his advantage when they battle at the OVO Hydro, Ray added: “To be honest, I feel older than 41! My body feels 60.

"But it's good knowing he's also old as well. If I start becoming a bit of a bitch during fight camp, if I start moaning about my age, I can't really do that.

"This fight is five two-minute rounds, so it's really short rounds and I'm used to doing three fives.

"Obviously, I'll train and prepare for it, but it's like a sprint, basically. Two minutes go rapidly.

"From the minute the bell goes, I'm looking to spark him right out.

"I'm just going to try and enjoy it, to be honest.”

See https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/360064EB915419D4 to purchase tickets for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship – at which the main card features the light heavyweight contest between Conor Cooke and Sean Weir – at the OVO Hydro on Saturday, November 7.

Tickets on the floor are strictly for over-18s. Under-14s must be accompanied by an adult over 18. It’s a maximum of six tickets per person and household.