FIGHT Ministry's Mixed Martial Arts prospect Louis Chapman described his stunning 26-second knockout debut victory as the perfect start to his professional career.

The 23-year-old demolished Jay Gilby in Birmingham, his opponent's home town, in an ESPN-televised fight night promoted by Cage Warriors.

Louie Chapman (green shorts), from Neal Lofts' Fight Ministry gym in Humberston, takes on Jay Gilby in his first professional MMA fight at the NEC in Birmingham, in Right to Fight. Chapman won by knockout in just 26 seconds. Submitted picture
CAGE RAGE: Main: James Bateman (left), from Fight Ministry in Humberston, lands a kick to opponent Ronan McKay's face on his way to victory by unanimous decision in Right to Fight, at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. Inset, Louis Chapman (green shorts) pounces on opponent Jay Gilby to win by knockout in 26 seconds. Submitted pictures

Right to Fight – one of the biggest MMA shows seen in Europe this year – was held in a 2,000-seat custom-build arena within the National Exhibition Centre.

James Bateman also cashed in for Neal Lofts' Humberston-based Fight Ministry gym, beating Ronan McKay on a unanimous decision at welterweight.

Chapman's walk-on music – Natasha Bedingfield's hit 'I Bruise Easily' – was a personal joke, but he walked away from this fight without a scratch.

A fierce left-hook from the Grimsby lightweight seconds into the bout was enough to floor his opponent before referee Marc Goddard stepped in as Chapman began to rain down more shots.

"I'm extremely happy," said Chapman. "We spent weeks going over the first phase of the fight and it went exactly how we were hoping.

"I started off slowly to measure him up, and as he came in with a right-hand I slipped the shot and threw my left hook – which landed before he had chance to think about getting his hand back to his chin.

"It couldn't have gone any better.

"It was exactly what we have been working on in training.

"The work Neal and James have put in with me clearly paid off."

Bateman, 25, said he always felt comfortable during the three rounds against experienced Irishman McKay.

He added that he was not too disappointed the knockout eluded him: "I don't like to leave it in the hands of the judges if I can help it, but I think I made a good impression and it was a great fight to watch.

"I knocked Ronan down in the first, nearly finished him off with an arm bar in the second, and managed to sweep him on to his back in the third and control the fight from there."

Fight Ministry coach Lofts said: "It was a solid performance from James after he struggled with a severe head cold only days before the fight.

"It was also a great confidence-boosting debut win for Louis."

The headline fight saw German Pascal 'Panzer' Krauss maintain his undefeated record against Scotland's John Quinn.

Krauss claimed the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship belt left vacant by Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy who has joined the America-based UFC circuit.