Michael Bisping, from Clitheroe, who went to St Augustine's High School in Billington, has become one of the leading stars in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

His last fight was watched by 20,000 fans with another 10 million Americans tuning in on television.

That dwarfs the 9,000 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas who saw Hatton regain the IBF light welterweight championship from Juan Urango on Saturday.

David Beckham will play in front of 22,000 fans when he joins LA Galaxy next season, but soccer does not have the same high profile as UFC.

In America, UFC pulls in bigger viewing figures than any sport other than American football's NFL.

Last June, Michael, a light heavyweight, fought his way to a $1million prize on Ultimate Fighter 3, a reality show in which the winner received a contract with UFC.

It was broadcast on satellite channel Bravo in the UK.

Since then he has split time between his Clitheroe home and competing in the US.

And with wins in his first two bouts, UFC bosses are now using him to market their sport in England.

He has a bout scheduled for April 21 at the Manchester Arena, which will be shown on satellite television.

A UFC spokesman said that in England, Michael is to them what David Beckham is for football bosses in America.

He said: "There are great things waiting to happen for Michael and UFC in England.

"Beckham was brought in to generate interest in soccer in America and we are using someone the people hardly know in England to launch us there."

Michael's ring name is The Count because of his Polish ancestry.

The name also relates to his habit of knocking opponents out quickly, a trait that has seen him win all of his 12 professional fights, eight by way of knock out.

He said: "Fighting out in the States is amazing. The last fight I did was at the MGM Grand on December 30 in front of 20,000 people with another 10m watching at home on TV.

"For me as a fighter to fight there was a dream come true and it will be great fighting here.

"It's full-time. I train three times a day, six days a week.

"The fighting is classed as mixed martial arts and we have to stick within the rules. It's a misconception there are no rules."