A BASILDON hospital worker is swapping wards for the ring when he makes is mixed martial arts professional debut.

Connor Hayes, 29, will be battling it out in Cage Warriors 157 at London’s Indigo at the O2 on July 21.

The martial artist, who has been a speech and language therapy assistant at the south Essex hospital for 10 years, will be taking on Angus Hewett for his debut professional fight.

Connor will be representing the Brentwood centre ‘s SX MMA, where he has been training six times a week.

He said: "I'm so excited and ready for the event in September. I'm really looking forward to it because it's been a long time coming.

“Training has gone really well. I think we haven’t rushed things and a lot of people before fights can jump straight into a professional fight.

“The guys at Brentwood SX MMA have been absolutely incredible. Our head coach Alan Packman has been just fantastic. He gives a lot of his time for us on the team. He is really special.”

His wife Catherine, 30, said: “Connor can’t wait for it to happen.

“He has been in fight camp for about ten weeks now, meaning that he is more than prepared for his first professional event.

“I’m so excited for him, and I just know that he’s going to do a great job.”

Connor already boasts a successful 8-0-0 amateur fight record.

Launched in 2002, Cage Warriors is Europe’s longest-running mixed martial arts promotion.

It has staged more than 150 events in 14 countries since its incarnation.

In addition, Cage Warriors is investing in the sport’s future through the Cage Warriors Academy.

Mr Hayes started in mixed martial arts thanks to his dad, who wanted to get him into karate when he was just seven years old.

His wife said: “People often say that him doing mixed martial arts is a big contrast to his full-time job at Basildon hospital.

“He is a speech and language therapy assistant where he helps all adults who have had a stroke get access to therapy and assists them in learning to swallow and speak.”

To find out more information about Cage Warriors 157 London at the Indigo at the O2 and to purchase tickets for Mr Hayes’ fight, please click here.