"THE toughest opponent I have ever faced" was how Milford MMA fighter David Round described Shaun Lomas after defeating the Englishman at the 'MMA versus UK' event in Manchester.

Round was originally scheduled to face Brazilian Bruno Carvalho in the main event at Trafford Park, but Lomas stepped in 10 days prior to the fight after the former pulled out with a shoulder injury.

"I knew Shaun was going to be tough. His win record doesn't do him justice - he has fought the best of the best from around the World," said Round, who weighed in for the battle right on the 77.3kg limit.

Remarkably, the Milford man had only taken the fight (originally with Carvalho) at three weeks notice, and admitted his fitness levels were severely tested in an intense opening round.

"We both took each other down early on and he had me in a submission hold for the last 20 seconds of the round but I managed to hold on," he said.

"I think most people would have scored the fight very evenly at that point.

"But in the second I managed to get my jabs and kicks going - and I hit him with a big right left combination."

However, despite admitting he threw 'everything' at Lomas, Round only secured the win when the referee stopped the contest and awarded him a TKO (technical knock out) victory.

"He was such a dangerous opponent and I couldn't knock him out," said the 28-year-old.

"That was only the fifth time he's been stopped in 54 fights which shows how tough he is."

Round, who has since been to hospital for treatment on an elbow injury, said he will now recommence training in January, with a view to a possible fight at the BAMMA event in Wolverhampton in late February.

He was supported in Manchester by his parents, Pam and Steve, and girlfriend Leah Evans, while close friend Sam Clark was again in his corner.

Round added he also wanted to thank current sponsors LPA Impact, JY Nutrition, Granicol Ltd, and L Greggain and Co.