WALTER Gahadza will be aiming to show he is better than ever before when he steps back into the cage on Friday.

The Westcliff based 29-year-old faces an intriguing tussle with Terry Brazier at the NEC Arena in Birmingham.

But, after suffering the first defeat of his career last time out, Gahadza is desperate to triumph and use the setback - which was suffered in Ireland last December - to his advantage.

“I’m really fired up for this one and people are going to see I’m the best I’ve ever been,” said Gahadza.

“I’ve grown and matured a lot as a fighter. now.

“I’ve learnt a lot more about the game and I’m looking forward to getting the win.”

Gahadza had boasted a 100 per cent record, winning 16 successive fights before suffering defeat to Nathan Jones in Ireland.

His coach at TSG Dan Burzotta now feels Gahadza may not have been in the right kind of shape to take on the fight after spending a year on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.

But Gahadza believes the setback could ultimately improve him as a fighter. and help him to achieve even more in the cage.

“It’s part of the game and MMA is a hard sport,” said the former Belfairs High School pupil.

“A lot of the fighters have niggles and injuries and aren’t 100 per cent fit all the time so it’s just the way it is sometimes.

“But to say I shouldn’t have been there is incorrect because it’s taught me some valuable lessons.

“People lose but you have to learn to pick yourself up from the disappointment and get back out there.

“It was my first loss but it happens.

“You can’t win every fight and I took a lot from it.

“It also reminded me that you have to leave everything you’ve got out there.”

Gahadza will now be aiming to do that on Friday and has been working tirelessly in the build up to the fight.

Gahadza has only recently returned from a three week camp in the USA which saw him training three times a day.

And he believes the gruelling schedule will also be to his advantage.

“It was a good experience for me in America,” said Gahadza.

“The only thing I have to focus on when I’m out there is training and resting so it’s great,” said Gahadza.

“It’s a good regime and I got to train alongside some great fighters as well so I really enjoyed it.

“I’ve been there four or five times now so it’s nothing new for me and it’s like my second home now.

“I’ve been back here about a week and I feel good.

“I’ve been training hard day in, day out and it’s been a real grind so I can’t wait to put all the work to good use.

“I’m ready to fight and it’s time to go out there and enjoy myself now.”