As part of a new series, BBC Sport attends Oktagon's fight night - the European promotion seeking to attract UK fans with heartfelt fighter stories.
As part of a new series titled Fight Night, BBC Sport shines a light on MMA promotions across the UK and Europe, their fighters and the characteristics which make each one unique.
After coming home one evening from his shift as a mechanic in 2015, Daniel found his five-year-old son Jayden had fallen into the swimming pool in his backyard and drowned."My mum always used to watch my kids when I went to work, but she worked a full-time job being a nurse, and being a nurse is stressful," said Daniel.
While watching UFC with Jayden one night, Daniel had promised his son he would one day see him fight on television."I have a way bigger reason to fight. More than money, more than fame. I made a promise and that promise keeps me alive each and every single day," said Daniel.In the opposite corner is Welshman Aaron Aby, whose team hold a banner up behind him reading "Cystic fibrosis - fighting to breathe".
Their vision is grounded in promoting fighters who have distinctive back stories which an audience can invest in. "We want to promote it's good to achieve your goals and be healthy and work towards something."Familiar faces sprinkle stardust on the show in Newcastle, such as British UFC stars Paddy Pimblett and Lerone Murphy, who are there in support of team-mates, experienced referee Mark Goddard, and reality TV personalities from British series Geordie Shore.The judges' scores appear on the big screens, letting the audience, fighters and coaches know who is winning and losing each fight.
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