WILTSHIRE mixed martial artist Scott Clist is aiming to grasp a breakout opportunity with both hands when he throws down at Cage Warriors’ comeback show next week.

The UK-based promotion, which helped launch the careers of UFC superstar Conor McGregor and Melksham’s very own Brad Scott, has been on hiatus since November 2014 but returns on Friday, April 15, with Cage Warriors 75, held at Camden Centre, in London, and Trowbridge’s Clist has been handed a call-up.

The 38-year-old (9-2), who won a Total Full Contact European title in his last MMA outing in October last year, takes on Romford’s Brad Wheeler (15-9) in a lightweight bout.

For Clist, who trains under Stu Pike at Melksham’s Dragonslair Gym and Mark Kent at Trowbridge’s Contender Gym, his Cage Warriors bow represents a seminal moment, as well as an almighty comeback after injury robbed him of the chance to fight on a BAMMA show in Birmingham last year.

“In March, I fought in a TFC boxing match in Bridgwater against a guy called David Round, who’s also an MMA fighter, and I won by a unanimous decision,” said the Wiltshire scrapper, who also works as the general manager of Boutique nightclub.

“Just before that, I had a call from Cage Warriors saying I could fight on their upcoming show if I came through that one alright and the answer from myself and my camp was ‘hell yes’.

“Cage Warriors is huge. It’s the biggest promotion in Europe and they’ve done shows in the United States and in Dubai, which is what Brad Scott fought on (Cage Warriors: Fight Night 4 in March 2012) – it’s huge.

“I was gutted when I couldn’t fight on BAMMA but now I’m thinking ‘yes, finally’.”

The Wiltshire man’s 25-year-old opponent Wheeler has previously appeared on 13 Cage Warriors shows and has won his last six outings.

Clist is anticipating his toughest bout to date but is far from perturbed ahead of fight night.

He added: “He’s a very talented fighter.

“It’s my toughest opponent but I’m the best fighter that I ever have been and I’m going there to win next week.”