MMA star who fought Anderson Silva and ‘KO’d’ Tito Ortiz before £53million bank robbery vows to become UFC champion when he’s released from prison

MMA fighter Lee Murray plans to become the oldest UFC champion ever when he’s released from jail in 2035.

During his 12-fight career in MMA, Murray went three rounds with Anderson Silva, beat future Michael Bisping opponent Jorge Rivera and is believed to have knocked out former UFC champion Tito Ortiz in a street fight.

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In 2006, Murray and a group of men ransacked Securitas and walked away with £53million in the largest heist in British history and the second largest globally.

The now-45-year-old was sentenced to 25 years for his role in the crime but some of his accomplices are still at large and £32million of the stolen money is still unaccounted for.

Seventeen years on, Murray has spoken about his involvement in the bank robbery for the first time in a new four-part Showtime documentary called ‘Catching Lightning.’

As well as reflecting on the infamous heist, the Englishman revealed he is planning to continue his MMA career when he’s released from prison in 2035.

At that point, he’ll be 57 years old but he insists that will not stop him from becoming a UFC champion after previously competing in MMA’s premier promotion in 2004.

Murray said: "My plan is to open up my own gym.

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“It depends obviously when I get out of here. If I can’t fight, then I’m obviously going to still be involved in MMA. There is no way I could live outside and not be involved in MMA.

"Fighting’s my life. Fighting’s in my blood. If I’m not in there fighting myself, I’m going to be taking people in there. One way or another I need to win that UFC title. My story isn’t finished. This isn’t the end."

Randy Couture is the oldest champion in UFC history following his heavyweight title win over Tim Sylvia when he was 43 years old in 2007.

This makes Murray’s championship goal extremely far-fetched and he’s much more likely to find a route to MMA glory by coaching the next generation of fighters in the gym he plans to open upon release.