Upton-Greer to fight Lockett for cruiserweight belt at Elphin

The 28-year-old is set to face fellow Launceston fighter Casey Lockett in a cruiserweight Muay Thai bout this weekend at the Elphin Sports Centre as part of Legion 12.

With his MMA welterwight belt already in hand, a victory this weekend would make Upton-Greer the first to have both belts ever.

This will be his 21^st fight - Upton-Greer said he was ready and in great shape.

"I'm feeling great and fit - I don't have any injuries ... usually I have a niggle here and a niggle there but other than some minor bruises, that's it," he said.

A shift to Muay Thai specifically eliminates any ground-related moves such as grappling. In Muay Thai, or the art of eight limbs, fighters are limited to punches, knees, elbows and kicks.

"Your stance and pace are slightly different - there's transferable skills but you do have to fight differently," Upton-Greer said. This will be the first time Upton-Greer will lock horns with Lockett.

"I've trained with him before and I knew he was going to be talented so it's going to be a tough fight but I'm definitely looking forward to it," he said.

But the fight meant more than just a second belt, with Upton-Greer hoping to use the fight as a launchpad for something greater.

"From there, I'd like to use that as a platform to build up MMA in the state," he said.

"Training kids, disabled people ... I want to get registered with the NDIS.

"When I started it was all about competing, now I sort of want to give back and try to build up mixed martial arts in the state because I believe it's the best educator there is as far as sports goes."

"I've played all the usual sports ... I think martial arts teaches you discipline and hard work on a different level."