When Matt Holland returns to the Octagon on Saturday night he will bring with him six months’ of frustration.

A broken hand left him unable to fight for half a year and a move to fight with UCMMA saw him stripped of a welterweight title and facing a long road back to regaining it.

The journey to that eventual goal starts on Saturday when he takes on Barry Ryan at UCMMA 46 in London, and the High Wycombe fighter is clear in what he wants to achieve.

“I lost my title because I changed camp and it is not how you want to lose a title, you want to lose it in a fight,” said Holland.

“I don’t think the person who won the fight for the title really deserved to win the fight either, so it was frustrating to watch.

“I want to get back to the stage I was at before I had the injury where I am fighting regularly and I can compete for a title again.”

Holland was on a 10 fight winning run before getting injured and wants to pick up where he left off when he takes on Ryan.

Physically Holland is ready to do just that, but concedes one of the biggest challenges he may face is the mental side of fighting again after such a long injury layoff.

He explained: “I have got the physical side back but I would say it is 90% mental getting back into the ring after such a long time out.

“You know you are physically fine but you have to learn to deal with the atmosphere again and get used to fighting.”

Ryan will present a good challenge to Holland as he searches for the mental fortitude that he says will stand him in good stead as he goes forward.

However, the 37-year-old, who despite his age says he still has three good years in him due to committing to a healthy lifestyle, feels Ryan’s one dimensional fighting style will offer little to concern him.

He said: “You can never underestimate anyone but he is a wrestler really. He is a big guy and has dropped down a weight division but I have never seen him knock someone out.

“What he does is lays and prays. He always tries to take people down and then lies on top of them throwing a few punches and waiting for a stoppage.

“Again, you can’t underestimate him, but I’m not really fussed about what he has to offer and as long as I avoid getting taken down I should be fine.”