DEAN Stevens was forced to withstand a last minute change of plan to continue his 100 per cent record in the cage.

Stevens had been preparing for what he expected to be a MMA style fight at Clements Hall.

But, just hours before the bout, Stevens discovered his Norwegian opponent only wanted a kickboxing contest.

Yet he was still able to secure a fourth successive victory just two minutes into the fight.

“When I got to the venue I had a call from my coach Dan Burzotta telling me my opponent didn’t want to fight MMA,” said Stevens.

“I had already had the medical and everything by this stage and was told he would only fight K1 kickboxing.

“I had never fought K1 so I knew I’d have a fight on my hands but I decided to take it on and it was a great feeling to get the win.”

Stevens - who lives in Rayleigh - had worked tirelessly at the Westcliff based TSG gym in the build up to his latest fight.

And he was quick to thank his sponsors - Mckagan’s sports massages and Private Ambulance Services - who had enabled him to train closely with Stav Economou.

“As I had been sponsored I could afford extra one to one training with Stav which was a huge help so I’m really grateful for their backing,” said Stevens.

“When I got in the ring I could hear Stav’s voice in my head saying left kick, right hand, left kick, right hand, which is what he was training me to use in the fight.

“When the fight started I had to find my feet and get used to that style of fighting and I had to wait for my moment of left foot, right hand.

“It came two minutes or so into the fight and I put my opponent down with it.

“I felt the right hand connect and could see I had clearly hurt my opponent as his eyes rolled and he didn’t get back up.

“It was a big relief for me and it was good to get my first K1 win in style like that.”

But Stevens will now switch his sights to his next fight, which he hopes will be happening in the summer.

“Coming up next for me is training and preparing myself for the next challenge Dan Burzotta decides to throw at me,” said Stevens.

“He really is a great coach, as well as Tom Sloan, and they know what steps to take next with me.

“I will listen to them and then go from there.

“The next show is in a few months so maybe I’ll be back out there fighting at that one. Who knows?”