HE goes by the name of Jabberwocky and Junaid Ebanks has set his sights on becoming a monster hit in the world of mixed martial arts.

While the 34-year-old has yet to make his professional MMA debut, the two weight amateur national champion is aiming to go right to the top.

“Ask anyone who goes in to MMA as a professional what their dream is and they will tell you, making it in UFC. I am no different,” said Blackburn-born Ebanks.

What Ebanks lacks in experience in the paid ranks, he more than makes up in confidence and ability and he has an amateur record to back up his fighting moniker.

“My nickname is Jabberwocky because I am a monster in the cage,” added Ebanks who won all nine of his amateur fights - six of them inside the distance. “I wanted something that stuck out and it certainly makes people remember the name!

“I am very confident in my own ability and I believe I have what it takes to succeed and get to the top.”

The former Beardwood High School pupil, who was national amateur champion at light heavyweight and middleweight, trains out of the Apex MMA in Great Harwood where he is coached by the experienced Jimmy Hey.

He will make his pro debut at ACB Supersonic 54 at what is expected to be a sell-out Manchester Arena on Saturday.

Ebanks has no qualms about stepping in to the cage with the slightly more experienced Mark Prostko from Poland who has six professional fights under his belt.

“I never get nervous in the build up to fights,” said Ebanks. “I feel them a bit on the day but that is just the adrenaline kicking in. As soon as I am in the cage, I feel at home.”

He has felt at home in the sport since making the change from boxing three years ago.

“I first got involved in boxing when I was in my teens but I never really felt the love to be honest,” he said.

“Boxing never really gave me the opportunity to show off my skills to the maximum but as soon as I took up mixed martial arts, I knew it was for me.

“Working with Jimmy has been brilliant and the other guys in the gym have been a great support.”

While 34 could be considered old for someone to embark on a professional career, Ebanks says he is young when it comes to MMA miles in the tank.

“This is a sport where the older you are, the better you are,” said Ebanks who is contracted to ACB, the third biggest MMA promoter in the world.

“You only have to look at someone like Michael Bisping who became a world champion for the first time when he was well in to his 30s.

“I come to the sport in peak condition, I don’t have many MMA miles in the tank so in that respect I am a young man and I can’t wait!”