FORMER undefeated boxer Mason Jones makes his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut tonight when the Newport Centre hosts what promises to be an action-packed Cage Warriors 83 promotion.

Blaenavon’s Jones, who won all three of his bouts in boxing’s paid ranks, switched sports after having a number of fights cancelled.

He hasn’t ruled out a return to the ring in the future but for now his focus is on MMA and possibly following Abertillery’s Jack Marshman into the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC).

His maiden outing under the Cage Warriors banner comes on a show headlined by the all-British welterweight battle between Che Mills and Lewis Long.

And Jones is joined on the card by three more Gwent fighters.

Bantamweight Josh Reed, who faces Irishman Gavin Kelly, has started his professional MMA career with six wins on the bounce.

Featherweight Jack Shore boasts a flawless amateur record and has claimed four stoppage victories in as many fights as a pro.

He meets France's Konmon Deh while Kris Edwards locks horns with Damo Weeden in a bantamweight bout.

Explaining his move from ring to cage, Jones said: “I had four or five fights cancelled in the space of about two years – it was just too much.

“MMA is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid and I jumped at the chance to do it.

“Cage Warriors is a massive platform in Wales and hopefully I’ll be able to get four or five fights a year.

“I had two MMA fights as an amateur when I was 16 and won both in 30 seconds but then I got into judo and I’d always wanted to try boxing.”

Jones admits it was hard to relinquish his boxing licence but expects that he will pull on the gloves again.

As for what he wants to achieve in MMA, he added: “The main focus, like it is for anyone in MMA, is to get into the UFC. It’s the biggest platform to perform on.

“I’m planning to get a few fights with Cage Warriors and earn a title shot, win that, and then hopefully earn a place in the UFC.”