MICHAEL Bisping was ‘completely blown away’ when tickets for Saturday’s fight with Thales Leites in Glasgow sold out in 25 minutes – but he hopes police won’t be needed to contain the excitement this time.

Clitheroe’s Bisping fights in the UK for the first time in five years this weekend as Glasgow hosts a UFC event for the first time.

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Bisping has now arrived in Scotland in the build-up to Saturday’s fight at the SSE Hydro and admits he has been shocked by the levels of support for the sport north of the border.

“I knew the Scottish fans were big on UFC but we sold out in 25 minutes,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was completely blown away.

“There’s always pressure on me as a fan favourite but there is extra pressure with it being the first show in Scotland.”

Bisping previously visited Glasgow for a signing session some years ago and experienced then the level of interest for UFC in Scotland.

“I remember being in Glasgow four or five years ago with Ross Pearson for a signing at a shop and the fans were absolutely wild,” he said.

“The queue stretched all around the block and it ended up so bad, the police turned up to keep order.”

Bisping’s last fight in the UK saw him defeat Yoshihiro Akiyama in London in 2010.

A bout scheduled to take place in Manchester in 2013 had to be cancelled after the East Lancashire ace, who is now based in California, suffered a detached retina in training.

Bisping took his professional record to 26 wins and seven losses after a victory over CB Dollaway in Montreal in April, and none of his defeats have come on home soil.

The 36-year-old’s request to headline the Glasgow bill was accepted by UFC president Dana White.

“I’ve been around the UFC for a very long time, almost a decade,” Bisping said.

“I’m unbeaten when I fight in Britain, but I haven’t fought here for five years “It’s been far too long and as soon as I heard the UFC was finally coming to Scotland, I begged Dana to put me on the bill.

“Once Dana White hears the noise in the Hydro, he’ll know he hasn’t made a mistake in giving the Scottish fans the chance to see the UFC live.

“The Glasgow atmosphere will be incredible. They have made a big statement in snapping up tickets and they will make another in the noise they will generate getting behind their favourite fighters.”