CAGE fighter Michael Bisping believes he needs to get back his ‘ruthless killer instinct’ as he bids to bounce back from a devastating knockout defeat.

Bisping will take on experienced Denis Kang as the American-based Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Arena in Manchester on Saturday.

The middleweight bout comes four months after Bisping was brutally knocked out by Dan Henderson.

The former St. Augustine’s High School pupil from Clitheroe was promised a title shot if he won that fight.

But now he finds himself matched up against Kang, a well-rounded fighter with a record of 32 wins, 11 defeats and one draw.

The Canadian, of Korean and French descent, is not a household name, but once had a 23-fight unbeaten streak in other promotions and is not to be taken lightly.

Bisping, 30, whose record is 18 wins and two loses, said: “I don’t want to go back down to fighting guys who are on their way up.

“I want to fight guys who are at the top of their game, and Denis Kang is one of those fighters.

“He’s made some comments that he's definitely better than me, but that’s what makes it a fight. I tend to disagree with him, so we’ll see what happens on the night.”

To win, Bisping believes he needs to ‘push the pace’.

He said: “My best performances in the past have been when I’ve come out and been the aggressor. So I’ve got to go back to that and back to my old self, if you will.

“In my first 10 professional fights, I only went past the first round once, so that’s what I’ve got to go back to. I’ve got to find that fire inside me and just get that ruthless killer instinct back.”

The fight, which will be screened live in England on ESPN, also sees Bisping return to the Manchester Arena where he beat Australian Elvis Sinosic in April 2007 when he was an up-and-comer.

He added: “Having the crowd behind me in Manchester is going to be beneficial.”