Matthew Clempner is a World Sambo Championship bronze medallist ©FIAS

British sambo athlete Matthew Clempner has signed a contract with mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company M-1 Global.

The World Sambo Championships bronze medallist has become the first British fighter to sign a professional deal with the company.

M-1 Global are based in Russian city Saint Petersburg, which organises between 10 to 20 competitions per year.

Matthew Clempner will compete in six fights for M-1 Global ©FIAS
Matthew Clempner will compete in six fights for M-1 Global ©FIAS

Clempner began his MMA career in October 2016 and has a record of two wins and no losses under his belt, with victories in the first round of both of his fights.

His new contract with M-1 Global ties him down to six fights with the first set to take place in China on May 12.

Clempner, who competes in the light heavyweight class in MMA, is the son of Matthew Clempner, who competed for Great Britain in freestyle wrestling at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.