Jordan Molinari has wished his opponent good luck before their weekend Cage Warriors meeting in Rome.

The Sheppey MMA fighter meets Italian Kevin Caperna in the flyweight division on a card that is headlined by his stablemate and friend Liam Gittins.

Gittins faces Alessandro Giordano for the bantamweight title but kicking the show off will be Molinari’s match-up against Caperna - an Italian fighter who the Kent man has a fond affinity towards.

Looking ahead to what will be his third professional bout, Molinari said: “I know Kevin because whenever I’d compete abroad at the (International MMA Federation) IMMAFs representing England, he was always in my bracket.

“I did three IMMAFs and he was at every one of them, but we just never ended up meeting. I said I’d always like to fight Kevin and we ended up getting on with him out there.

“I’m of Maltese heritage but Molinari’s an Italian name and we got chatting about that out there and we’ve just always stayed in touch, wishing each other good luck over fights.

“We’ve got a pretty good relationship. When I got offered the fight, I was like, ‘yeah, I’ll definitely fight him’.

“I’ve been messaging him and that saying, ‘good luck mate, we’ll have a scrap and some scran after.’

“There’s no ill will there to him. I’m still wishing him good luck. It’s just competition at the end of the day, we’re both on the same journey, both trying to achieve the same things. Sometimes you’ve just got to meet with people.

“He’s said we’re not enemies for the night, we’re only opponents.

“He’s a very nice guy, Kev, but competition’s competition at the end of the day. I can still be friendly with someone.

“It’s like coming to the gyms to spar every Tuesday and Thursday. They’re my friends, but we’re still going to have a scrap and try and evolve and try and get better. There’s no hard feelings there.”

‘Slick’ Molinari was back in Sheppey over Christmas to see friends and family and revisit his old Sheppey Fight Academy gym before returning to Liverpool, where he’s based himself while training at the Next Generation gym.

Saturday’s fight is the first of five Cage Warriors events that Molinari is signed up for.

He’ll be hoping ‘Nightmare’ Gittens can also win on the night.

He said: “I’m opening the card, so technically I’m the first Cage Warriors fighter competing in 2025!

“Liam is defending his belt and he’s headlining the card. I’m more happy that I’m going out there just for that experience. He’s not just my team-mate, he’s probably my best mate up here (in Liverpool).

“We’re like the Mitchell brothers, except we’re not bald and ugly! We’re on the Xbox every night, we’re playing Call of Duty. Inside and outside the gym, he’s a quality guy. If he wins this we’re all pretty sure he’s going to be going to the UFC after. It would be good for me to share a card with him before that happens, because I might not be able to again.”

Molinari was due to fly out today (Thursday) before taking part in media duties this afternoon, a weigh-in on Friday and fighting on the Saturday. Then he’ll have time for a bit of sightseeing, with the Colosseum top of his priority list.

Ahead of his fight, Molinari wanted to thank some of his sponsors, Kitchen Wraps UK, Goring Flooring, Mike Ross at Signature Jet and the Sheppey Fight Academy for their continue support.

Molinari’s last fight was in September when he beat Mathew Friel by a unanimous decision in Cage Warriors 178 in Manchester. Saturday’s fight is scheduled for three five-minute rounds. Both men have a pro record of one win and one defeat.