MIXED martial arts fighter Jack Fletcher is heading home to fight for the Battle Arena European middleweight title in Oxford next month.

Fletcher left home-town Wantage when he was a teenager to join the Army – and he’s back in the area for the biggest fight of his cage career on Saturday, July 25.

He’s been matched with Romania’s Attila Hanzel for the European amateur title at the Kassam Stadium – and seems sure of support.

Fletcher, 29, said: “I’ve had a lot of text messages and phone calls from people I went to school with who I haven’t seen for years.

“I haven’t fought at home before and it should be a good night – as long as I win!”

Fletcher started MMA after leaving the Army two years ago and is based in Aylesbury with coach Neil McLeod.

He started at light-heavyweight, but has trimmed down to middleweight and booked his European-title shot with an upset win over Paul Hill in Wolverhampton in March.

Hill went into the fight with an unbeaten record – and Fletcher shattered it in just 52 seconds.

“I was a commando in the Army and I’m always fit enough to fight at a good pace for the whole fight,” he said.

Shane Weller and James Penderville are also in action in front of their home crowd.

Tickets are available from jackfletcher85@hotmail.co.uk.