Bellator Belfast: Karl Moore's journey from sleeping on a mattress at his gym to fighting for a world title

Three years ago, the future looked bleak for Karl Moore.

After a run of injuries resulting in cancelled fights, the Irishman was released by Bellator as the promotion cut costs during the Coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, Moore was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of his gym in Dublin, while working five nights a week as a security guard.

"If I think too much about it I'll probably start crying, mate," the 32-year-old tells BBC Sport.

"I was making about 200 euros [£170] a week. I was earning just enough to get diesel to fill my car and buy myself food. I had no options, I didn't know where I was going."

Moore says his strongest attribute is his mental strength, and this is what kept him positive during difficult moments. He never slacked and stayed committed to his training, waiting patiently for his next fight opportunity.

Eventually it would come in September 2022 in the form of Bellator's then fifth-ranked light-heavyweight Karl Albrektsson, with Moore triumphing in a contest he says he was "never supposed to win".

"I was just determined to get a fight. I knew getting a couple of good wins can fix everything. In our sport if you keep winning you're going to get recognised, no matter what's going on," said Moore.

The victory would kickstart his career, with two more wins to follow.

On Friday he will face American Corey Anderson for the vacant light-heavyweight title at the Bellator Champions Series at the SSE Arena in his hometown Belfast.

"No matter what happens in this fight, I'm going to be financially secure for a long, long time," said Moore.

"If you'd have told me this two years ago I'd be like 'No, you're full of it, it's impossible'. But it's happened, it's crazy when I think about it, it's a mad story.

"It feels like the stars have aligned for me. I'm not really superstitious but this feels like it's meant to be my night. Taking in everything that's happened, it almost feels too good to be true."

Moore started his professional career in 2011 and has won 12 of 14 fights, including his past four.

If he beats 34-year-old Anderson, he will become the first Irish champion in Bellator history and his nation's first title holder in a global MMA promotion since Conor McGregor captured the UFC lightweight belt in 2016.

Moore says he gets nervous speaking to the media, adding "it's something he'll have to get used to" should he win the title, amid the extra attention champions receive.

"I get more nervous doing this than fighting. You can put me in a cage in front of 20,000 people but if you put me on camera, in front of a microphone, I start to sweat," said Moore.

"It's weird, I just don't like it. But it's something I'll have to get used to because the position I'm in now in my career it's going to be more and more common, so I need to get used to it and keep doing it."

Despite his nerves, Moore appears confident, and is kind and down to earth throughout the interview, citing his father as the biggest influence on his career and personality.

"From a kid, my dad's always gone to the gym. He's always been in shape and watching him train and how he lived is the type of man I wanted to be," said Moore.

"Anyone who knows my dad says he's one of the nicest and best guys you'll ever meet. I just followed in his footsteps, and tried to be like my dad. If I can he half as good as him I'm doing something right.

"And it's not even just fighting but my mannerisms, the way I treat people. Even in the smallest decisions I make I think 'what would my dad do? How would he react'?"

Anderson is a former Bellator light-heavyweight title challenger, suffering a defeat by Vadim Nemkov in 2022.

Before signing with Bellator he was in the UFC, and has won 17 of his 24 professional fights.

Moore's bout with Anderson was set up when former champion Nemkov vacated the title to move up to heavyweight.

Moore glows when he visualises winning the belt in front of his home crowd.

"It'll be amazing. The first Irish guy to be a Bellator world champion. These are things I can show my kids, my grandkids what I was like one day," said Moore.

"When I'm fat and out of shape, that was me one day."