‘I travelled the world and could have £1m as stripper but now I want MMA glory’

Akonne Wanliss has turned his back on a lucrative career as a stripper in order to pursue his dreams of MMA glory – and is back in action on Saturday evening.

Wanliss, nicknamed Jedi, takes on Giorgi Gogotchuri at OKTAGON 45 in Prague as he looks for a seventh win from nine professional bouts – as he juggles multiple careers.

As well as working as a stripper, the Brit is also a professional model and actor and is also in a relationship with controversial influencer boxer Daniella Hemsley.

Having started MMA as a schoolboy, Wanliss returned to the gym after a five-year absence having studied at the University of Wolverhampton and is now signed to a leading European promoter in the form of OKTAGON.

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He hopes his bout against Gogotchuri will push him towards a lightweight title shot having previously fought under the BAMMA, Bellator and Fusion banners among others.

The 30-year-old, who trains in Birmingham alongside the likes of UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Bellator star brother Fabian Edwards, quit stripping after 10 years to focus on his true passion.

Wanliss even considered himself to be one of the best strippers in Europe during his pomp – and reckons he was on his way to millionaire status because of it, but now wants to be one of the best strikers with a 100% finish rate from his six wins so far.

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Wanliss, who has been in a relationship with Hemsley for two years, like her has an OnlyFans account which offers up saucy content for their fans.

Hemsley's account has been in the news since she flashed after a win on Kingpyn boxing earlier this month, with focus now on her boyfriend's return to the cage.

Speaking ahead of his OKTAGON debut, Wanliss teased fans by saying: "It's going to be a spectacular performance from start to finish.

"I've got something really cool lined up for the walkout of my fight, I feel like it's going to add something really fresh and new to MMA – hopefully the Star Wars fans out there will love it."

Wanliss has predicted an early knockout if his opponent tries to keep it on the feet, promising fans that the fight will not go to the judges.

The rising star will hope to follow in the footsteps of Liverpool's Shem Rock who won by submission during OKTAGON's Friday card in Prague.

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Speaking on her boyfriend, Hemsley told OKTAGON: "Akonne is going to absolutely obliterate his opponent, I believe in Akonne 110%.

"He's got the killer mentality and he's training his absolute ar** off and he's surrounded by the best."

With Edwards saying: "I find it hard to spar him, so if I find it hard to spar him it's going to be hard for his opponent, I'm predicting a knockout for sure."

Watch Wanliss in action against Giorgi Gogotchuri at OKTAGON 45 on the undercard of the featherweight title fight between Matt Sanikidze and Losene Keita live on DAZN.

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