Kingdom MMA catch up with Phil Harris before he meets John Lineker at UFC Manchester on Saturday night
by Ben Heather @benheather
Saturday night marks the UFC's return to the UK, unfortunately the original main event which was Michael Bisping's return to the UK was cancelled when he was forced to pull out due to recurrence of his detached retina injury. But the replacement main event was a fitting replacement as the UK will see Lyoto Machida make his middleweight debut. However the main card kicks off with a flyweight battle in which the UK's own Phil Harris takes on John Lineker. Originally this fight was due to take place in Brazil but Harris got injured and so Manchester will now host the fight and today we got chance to catch up with Phil Harris.
Ben: Hi Phil, Thanks for your time, how has the camp gone for this fight and where have you been preparing for this fight?
Harris: The camp has gone really well I've done all of my camp at gym01 in Portsmouth we have lots of great fighters in the lighter weights to make sure I'm ready also the likes of Vaughan Lee, Mark Handley and Joe Lawerence have been down to help with some sparring.
Ben: How excited are you to get back in the octagon after a spell on the sides due to injury?
Harris: It's not been that long about 6 months but I'm itching to get back in there this is what I love to do.
Ben: This is your first main card slot with the UFC. Does that give you extra motivation to grab people's attention whilst the spotlight is on you?
Harris: It certainly will get me noticed more being on the main card, but it really doesn't affect me to much, I'm here to win no matter what.
Ben: You have pretty much had two full camps preparing for this fight, how motivated are you to get the win?
Harris: I'm mega motivated and 100% focused for this fight.
Ben: How much of an advantage do you think the change of location will have for you. Last time you was due to fight in Brazil and now you have the home country advantage.
Harris: It definitely helps, I've no jet lag, I know what the food is like I have the crowd on my side, all these things help in the build up to the fight and in the fight, its nice to have the crowd cheering for you.
Ben: What did you make to his performance last time out at UFC 163 where he beat Jose Maria Tome?
Harris: He looked good, but Jose Maria tome was a late replacement and probably not in the best shape to fight.
Ben: Lineker has a bit of a reputation for missing weight going in to fights, has this thought crossed your mind at all and what is your opinion on fighters constantly missing weight?
Harris: Not at all I'm sure he will make weight this time. It's not professional missing weight but these things can happen.
Ben: We all know John Lineker hits very hard, how do you prepare for that in sparring without getting cut/hurt?
Harris: It's a matter of sparring cleaver I wear big gloves and head protection. Also it's a case of building up conditioning over weeks of a training camp.
Ben: Obviously you have been given the all clear after fracturing your orbital bone before you were scheduled to fight John the first time in Brazil at UFC 163 but has it caused you any issues in training for this fight?
Harris: No I've got a decent head guard and train cleaver not reckless and I didn't start sparring again till I had the all clear to do so.
Ben: A win over John Lineker is a very big deal. Especially when the division is still finding its feet and is short in numbers. Where do you think a win puts you?
Harris: Beating John will push me a step closer to UFC gold that's all that matters. Keep moving forward.
Thank you for your time and good luck on Saturday night, all of the guys from the site will be there cheering you on along with everyone else in the arena.
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