I'm a stripper-turned MMA star... performing naked in front of 1,000 women is more nerve-wracking than fighting in cage

MMA fighter Akonne Wanliss revealed fighting in the cage is a breeze compared to his previous career as a stripper.

Wanliss is signed to European promotion Oktagon MMA and has a record of 7-2 in the cage, having started the sport aged 23.

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But for the last decade, he also toured the continent as a male stripper before giving it up last year to focus solely on MMA.

And he sensationally claimed taking his kit off in front of thousands of screaming women is a harder night's work than fighting in the cage.

He said: "I would actually say stripping is more nerve-wracking.

"Stripping will break a man way more than a cage. In cage fighting, you win or you lose.

"Losing is devastating, but in stripping, when you’re bare, you’re naked, you’ve got 1000 women expecting you to pull off something that’s going to make them scream.

"I think it would crumble a lot of men who are world champions in the cage."

Wanliss, 31, was working as a PT until an old friend from his breakdancing days offered him another career route.

And he would go onto tour the country for over ten years as a performer before focusing all his efforts on MMA.

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Now, he returns to the cage this Saturday as part of Oktagon's 16-man €1million lightweight tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Wanliss - who is in a relationship with OnlyFans star and influencer boxer Daniella Hemsley - faces Sahil Siraj with his eyes on the cash prize.

He said: “In 12 months’ time, I want to be a millionaire, recognised as the pound-for-pound number one and officially crowned the best lightweight in Europe - those are my goals!”

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