It's fast approaching twelve months since we last saw Karsten Lenjoint compete in professional MMA. The Nottingham-based fighter had a spell on The Ultimate Fighter 14, but was submitted by Stephen Bass in the elimination round, taking him out of the running for the reality show.

Far from being discouraged by the experience, Lenjoint has taken the positives and intends to use them to fuel a positive 2012. If nothing else, it prompted his drop to bantamweight, where he meets top-ranked UK fighter Dino Gambatesa at Fight UK 6 this weekend.

"Those guys are massive," Lenjoint revealed, when asked whether it was the influence of TUF that made him decide to cut the extra pounds. "Just look how tall Jonny Bedford is, and most of the other bantamweights on the show walked round at the same weight as me, so a drop is a good idea."

Cutting weight isn't easy though, and you'll often hear fighters utter the words, 'worst part of the job'. Lenjoint isn't worried, however, and he's jumping in at the deep end with no test cut:

"I'm an all in, all out kinda guy so we'll see how it goes! I've done the diet side of it though when I was meant to fight Neil Seery on Fight Stars 6, but I got injured before the fight so didn’t do the full cut.. I wanted pizza!"

Despite the light-hearted take on the drop, don't think Lenjoint's intentions are anything other than serious. As a highly regarded featherweight, he immediately puts himself in the fray at the top end of the domestic bantamweight division.

He's not easing himself into 135lbs either, or having a 'tune-up' fight at the weight. That 'all in, all out' attitude rears its head again as he squares off one of the UK's top ten fighters.

Dino Gambatesa has wins over Greg Knapp and David Haggstrom on his resume, and that proves the level of competition he has been up against. Lenjoint feels he has the edge though, and hopes to make that count in the cage.

"Stylistically I think we are very similar... He's a grappler that can wrestle and strike. I'm a grappler than can wrestle and strike; I just think I'm a little better in each area! I also think my size will play a part. I'm going to be a big bantamweight, so if all else fails I'll sit on him."

That doesn't mean to say he thinks he has Gambatesa sussed, but he does have some tricks up his sleeve.

"I've managed to watch some of his fights, not a lot, seen what I need to see and worked my gameplan from that," Lenjoint divulged. "To be honest, I think this is one of them fights where we’re both going to go in there and fight, leave it all in the cage and see what happens! But I have been drilling 100 crescent kicks after each session...."

A win over an established bantam like Welshman Gambatesa would not only set Lenjoint's 2012 up perfectly, but it would also see him shake things up in his new division. Opportunities to start progressing further up the ladder would come knocking.

Karsten hinted at some big things already in the pipeline as he hopes for an active year at 135lbs.

"I'm looking to make tsunami’s in 2012 -- this is going to be a BIG year for me and at a new weight class. I've got some big things coming up and I'm really excited about them but that will have to wait until our next interview."

"I'd like to thank the guys I'm training with, Carl “Bomber” Booth, James “Money” Till, Leon “Rocky” Del Gaudio, Kags and Paul. My sponsors Caged Steel, Fearless Fightwear, www.proteinshack.co.uk, BodyCraft Tattoo Studios Nottingham, Liberty Gym and MMA Pundit. Also Nathan and Rob at Leicester Shootfighters. I haven't been able to get over much during this fight camp but they always help and support!"

Lenjoint vs. Gambatesa takes place at Fight UK 6 this weekend in Leicester. Both men are promising a great battle, so make sure you're following the news via www.fightukmma.com.

The fight also made our UK Fights To Watch In February.

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