ULTIMATE fighter Michael Bisping has promised fireworks when he clashes with Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben at UFC 89’s main event next month.

And the Clitheroe dad of two admits it will be his toughest fight in the middleweight division to date.

‘The Count’ has just returned to Lancashire after a six-week family holiday in California. But, unlike most people’s summer breaks, his included rigorous training sessions with former light-heavyweight champion Quinton Rampage Jackson.

And, next week, Rampage and fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship star Cheick Kongo will be among a team heading to the UK to help the Brit prepare for his fight at The National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

Bisping, 29, said: “I was doing training with Rampage in the States and a little bit with some other people – there are some great guys out there.

“But now that I’m back it’s nose to the grind at the Wolf’s Lair in Liverpool.

“I’m in really good shape now and I’m really looking forward to the fight.”

This will be Bisping’s third fight in the middleweight division and he is hoping it will take his mixed martial arts record to 18-1.

Since dropping from 205lb to join the 185lb division in April he has been in devastating form.

His first opponent as a middleweight, Charles ‘Chainsaw’ McCarthy, announced his retirement just days after the referee deemed him unable to continue after the first round.

And Jason ‘Dooms’ Day also met a first round defeat at London’s 02 Arena in June.

But his third opponent in just six months – 28-year-old American brawler Leben who has an 18-4 record - has vowed to become the first man to beat the Brit on his home turf.

The pair were originally scheduled to fight in the London event on June 7 but the fight was postponed when Leben was jailed for a probation violation stemming from an earlier Driving Under the Influence arrest.

Both men – and fans across the world - were disappointed, but anticipation is building once again for when the two top strikers finally collide.

UFC President Dana White said: “This is one of the most exciting fights we could have made in the middleweight division.

“Bisping has looked a monster since dropping down to 185lb and Leben is coming into UFC 89 with a ton of momentum, having just knocked out Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara; two of the biggest wins of his career.”

With six weeks to go, Bisping is definitely 100% focussed on the fight and ready to impress the home crowd once again.

Speaking about his opponent, he said: “He is a very tough fighter. Obviously, he is very experienced. And he has had a lot of one-punch knockouts, so that will be the main thing I have to look out for.

“He is definitely my toughest opponent in the middleweight division.

“And he is an exciting fighter, which I think I am too, so we should put on a very exciting fight for the fans.

“That is our job. We have to give them fireworks, there is no point having a boring fight. There will be fireworks all the way though it.”

And Bisping plans on there being plenty more fireworks in the future - on his way to becoming the first British UFC champion.

There has been a lot of talk recently about Bisping going after reigning champion Anderson Silva’s gold but the Brit says that he’s in no hurry.

“Once I’ve got through Leben there will probably be another two to five fights and then there’s a rumour I could be next (in line for a title shot),” he said.

“I think that would be towards the end of next year and I’m hoping to take my time – but if I keep winning then it will happen and that would be amazing.”