Greg “The Hitman” Loughran (21-12-0) returns to the Sunshine State on April 3^rd,^, as he travels across the Atlantic to take on the former RFC Champion and EliteXC veteran Edson "Little Tiger" Berto (17-8-1) at Art Of Fighting 7: Payday, which takes place at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, FL, USA.

Greg “The Hitman” Loughran is one of the UK MMA scene's top Lightweight contenders and is currently ranked 8th in the UK 155 lbs rankings.  A veteran of Cage Warriors, Cage Rage, Cage Gladiators and several other top European promotions, this likeable 26 year old from the EFR Fight Team in Ireland has been fighting professionally since he was 16 years old.  During this time he has faced some of the toughest Lightweights in the UK scene and despite a slow start, Loughran soon showed his potential and currently holds wins over the likes of the UFC TUF 9 runner-up Andre Winner, the current BAMMA Lightweight Champion Rob Sinclair, former Cage Rage British Champion Francis Heagney and the current Strike and Submit European Champion Peter Irving.

Known for his all-round skills and powerful striking; Loughran is no stranger to the US market and will be making his forth appearance on US Soil, having previously fought at Cage Warriors USA, Bellator FC and Art of Fighting inside the State of Florida.  However since defeating the now WEC and Bellator FC veteran Jonathan Brookins on his US debut back in March 2008, Loughran has found the step-up in class to be a testing experience.  Despite two domestic wins, Loughran has dropped his last two US bouts against quality opposition such as the Bellator FC Champion Eddie Alvarez and most recently against Eric Reynolds at Art Of Fighting 4 last year

Loughran now returns to the USA and is determined to get back not only to winning ways, but also to show why he is one of Europe's best unsigned talents in a stacked 70.3 kg / 155 lbs division.

When asked for his thoughts on the bout Loughran told Cagewarriors.com “I'm looking forward to getting back in action again,  Edson is a tough fighter and I'm looking forward to the fight.  My last two fights have been on short notice and I didn't get enough time to prepare, but this time I'll be better prepared, and hopefully I will come home with a win”.   Loughran also said  “I want to thank Tommy Gleeson and Warrior Promotions for getting me the fight, plus Pat Scullion and Oakleaf Contracts for sponsoring me.”

Standing in Loughran's way is the EliteXC and Strikeforce veteran Edson Berto, who holds an impressive professional record of (17-8-1).  Berto is a seasoned and tricky campaigner who comes from a family with a well known fighting pedigree.  His brother Andre Berto is an undefeated Professional boxer who represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games and is also the current WBC welterweight champion. Their family's sporting excellence also spreads into wrestling, as his other brother Cleveland Berto is a former Florida Wrestling Champion. Whilst his sister “Nana” Berto is also a professional MMA fighter (and RFC veteran) with an unbeaten 3-0 record.   Whilst Berto's father Dieseul Berto is himself a UFC and Vale Tudo veteran of many years ago

Nevertheless Edson Berto has shown he lives under no-ones shadow and has carved out a solid reputation in his own right with 17 wins in-and-around the Florida area. He is also known for his incredible array of leg lock submissions, which has seen him submit 7 of his opponents with heel hooks. Berto's slick skills have also seen him previously called-up by both EliteXC and Strikeforce to fight on their shows.  Whilst he has also captured the RFC and the Florida State Lightweight title too.

However Berto has suffered two straight losses to the rising English star Jason Ball last year which saw him lose his RFC Title back in November in a gruelling five round war.  With 4 losses in his last 5 bouts, Berto will be looking to reverse the trend which has dented his otherwise solid record when he faces the  talented Irish fighter on April 3^rd.

This event also features a full professional fightcard and is headlined by a Heavyweight clash which sees David "Pay Me" Yost (6-1-0) take on the former UFC veteran and 6 Time World Jiu Jitsu champion Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz (6-2-0).  Whilst the other featured bout sees the 320lbs former K-1 veteran and WWE Wrestler Imani Lee take on the M-1 Challenge veteran Soufian Elgarne in a Super-Heavyweight clash.

Event Details

Art of Fighting 7: Payday

Saturday 3^rd April 2010

USF Sun Dome, Tampa, FL, USA.

Doors open at 6:30 PM.

For more information on this show go to the http://www.artoffighting.tv/