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By Peter Carroll

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Danny "Hot Chocolate" Roberts left Merseyside, England, last year to train with the world-renowned Blackzillians team in Florida. After a successful debut where he scored a triangle win over Nathan Coy in December, the former professional boxer is due for his second Octagon outing on Saturday at UFC 197. Roberts’ friends and family in the UK will tune into BT Sport in the early hours of Sunday morning to watch him go about his business against Dominique Steele. 

A marvel of the technological age, it’s easy for people all over the world to follow international sports these days. That being said, Roberts has struggled to keep 
up with the English Premier League since he made his move across the Atlantic. 

“Having the life of a fighter makes it hard to follow everything that’s going on, but I’m definitely a football fan,” Roberts said. “I’m a true Arsenal fan because I was born and raised in London. But I’m a fan of the Reds (Liverpool), too. When I had moved (to Liverpool) it was hard not to follow a team. I’ve got a lot of friends that are Liverpool fans and Everton fans, but I am a Red.”

To add to his woes, Liverpool enjoyed one of their biggest European wins in over a decade when they rallied from behind to beat German powerhouse Dortmund, 4-3, to claim a place in the semifinals of the Europa League last Thursday. After a night that brought grown men to tears and pub owners to the bank, Roberts admitted it was hard not to be home for the dramatic match. 

“I really did feel like I was missing out last week. To be honest, the last 12 months have been a whirlwind moving to the States and everything else. There’s not as much interest in it over here, but people have been telling me stories about the night of the big win against Dortmund," Roberts said. "I only got to see the highlights, but it looked like a crazy game. It just goes to show you the heart and determination that Liverpool have as a team. The players had to really push through; they came back from the death to win the game. It was another historic night in Europe for them.” 

Roberts welcomed a son into the world in the last year. Although he is still very young, Roberts believes a future in sport could lie ahead for his child. As for what he’d like to see him compete in, Roberts thinks soccer would be a good option. 

“I’m over in the States, but he’s still very, very young. That gives me plenty of years to play football and watch a few games with him. I'd like him to be a football player, I think a future in sports would be good for him. He’s going to be naturally athletic anyway—that’s just in his blood. Without a shadow of a doubt, I think he can have a bright future in whatever sport he chooses, but I’d really like him to be a footballer, or "soccer player,' as they say in America!”

The all-important question is, with Roberts supporting both Arsenal and Liverpool, which team would he like to see his son play for? It turns out that the little man already nailed his flag to the mast. 

“It would have to be Liverpool,” Roberts said. “Honestly, I’ve got too many friends back at home that are Liverpool fans to say otherwise. He’s already got a Liverpool kit, so he’s become a Reds fan all by himself. Maybe we’ll see him run out at Anfield some day,” he laughed. 

Despite upping sticks to Boca Raton, Roberts is adamant that he wants to return to England to give his friends, family and fans a show in the future. 

“In terms of weight cuts, I’m eight pounds off welterweight now, and I’m in the best shape of my life. I don’t think that would be an issue if I had to travel back to Europe. In these circumstances, I want to fight all over the world. Everyone I love and the majority of my fans and my home are in England, so it would be a pleasure for me to get home someday and put on a show. These European crowds deserve big shows. They’ve been waiting a long time to get regular events, and they should be rewarded for their loyalty to MMA over the years. At the moment, I’m happy to give America another slice of ‘Hot Chocolate.'” 


@PetesyCarroll