ROB Barber admits he’s thrilled about the prospect of flying to Oslo to train with his MMA hero Simeon Thoresen.

The 25-year-old from Southend will go on a two-week training camp with the man nicknamed The Grin, who made his name as the UWC welterweight champion at Garon Park before getting his big break with the UFC.

Barber said: “It’s an honour. I first saw him training in Southend about four years ago and he is an inspiration to someone like me.

“He has been there and done it, and he was once where I am now.

“Getting the chance to train with Simeon, Hakon Foss and lots of other top guys in a full-time gym will be an education for me. I’m expecting to come home a little bit beaten up!

“But it’s the kind of experience I need if I want to progress, and hopefully it can be a regular thing for me in the future.

“And I’ve never been to Norway so that will be a good experience in itself.

“It’s all a great opportunity for me and I can’t wait to go now.”

Thoresen is currently recover-ing from a foot injury and last fought competitively in January when he lost on a decision to David Mitchell in front of a 16,000-strong crowd at the UFC on Fox show in Chicago.

The opportunity for Barber came about following his exciting win on his pro MMA debut at the first Heat show at Garon Park last month when he claimed a ground & pound stoppage of dangerous Terror Squad man Aaron Mckearney in front of an expectant home crowd.

His display impressed Heat’s majority owner Tara Brady at ringside, and he has since offered to fund Barber’s trip.

Brady said: “I’ve been impressed by Rob’s commitment and attitude since I met him. We are sending him to Oslo to train so he can be fully focussed on improving his game. “If all goes well he will probably do at least one more session out there before we take him to the States to really up his game. “Investing in talent is one thing, but investing in talent with strong character is money well spent.”

Elite gym fighter Barber will return to action at the second edition of the Heat show at Garon Park on December 7.

Barber said: “There are a couple of guys in the frame for me to fight, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

“It will possibly be an Italian guy who’s had five pro fights, so it will be another step up in class for me.

“But I’ll be ready to put on a show, whoever it is.”