A JUDO fighter who decided to try out MMA aims to turn professional after recently making an impressive bow in the sport.

Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Lyon is a four-time national champion in judo but decided to try out the world of MMA after initially viewing it on the television and decided that he needed a change in his career.

The former Robins Lane pupil moved down to Camberley, in Surrey late last year to train full time in Aldershot.

“I’d just had enough of the judo for a bit. I’m still involved in judo and don’t feel like I’ve achieved everything I’d wanted to yet. I have got the British open coming up but my priorities are now with MMA,” said the former Warrington Warjukwai fighter.

And Lyon, originally from Sutton, made an impressive debut in March in front of an electrifying atmosphere at the Troxy Arena, in London, picking up a debut victory against the previously unbeaten Joel Salter by a majority decision in seven rounds in the WCMMA14.

“It was the biggest stage that I have fought on by far. The place was packed and everybody was screaming, it was brilliant,” he added.

Lyon will take part in his next MMA event to be held at the Troxy Arena in June, moving towards his long-term ambitions of turning professional by the end of the year.