A well known figure on the UK MMA scene, Alex Reid (Pictures) has suffered more than his fair share of disappointments over the last year, most recently receiving a nasty cut to his shin during a short but intense bout with Chute Boxe fighter, Murilo Rua (Pictures).

Back in training, "The Reidenator" took a moment to talk about his injury, recent setbacks in his career and the thirst for success that is seeing him through the hard times.

In the fight with Murilo Rua (Pictures), that must have been a very disappointing end for you.

It's very frustrating, eight weeks and it boils down to 28 seconds -- going without sex, living like a Shaolin Monk. But although I unfortunately went away with a loss, I don't feel I've lost that. I think that he was very lucky in the fact that I was winning all the exchanges, so much so, he tried to take me down three times to which I managed to sprawl.

I felt much more powerful. Energy-wise, I just felt I had it. So that's why I'm so eager, so hungry for a rematch.

When you landed the kick on his knee, did you feel any pain at the time?

Do you know what, when you're in a fight -- for me -- but I think most fighters are like this, but talking from personal experience, you're aware of things that go on, but you don't feel it like pain as such, it's just an awareness. I thought Whoa that hurt a bit. OK, carry on … and when the referee, Grant Waterman, steps in to stop us, I was like "What's going on, why are you stopping it?" and everyone ran in the cage.

Alexis, my trainer, said: "Don't look down, don't look down," so what's the first thing I do? (laughs) I thought, OK, that's not so bad. But then they thought it was an artery because it was absolutely gushing. I actually kicked him so hard I left an inch-deep cut on his knee and lifted him off the ground. It's very frustrating.

How many stitches did it need?

It's five stitches. They were worried that it was broken -- it's not broken. It was very deep; you could see the bone. It looked kind of funky.

But you're back in training, no problem?

I'm still feeling very explosive and powerful -- I didn't have a fight. I was in the hospital rearing, itching to go. I'd envisioned myself winning that fight in so many different ways. I heard in the hospital that James Zikic (Pictures) had won and was celebrating in the changing room. I was a bit jealous. I'm happy for James, very happy. He deserves it.

I noticed that the staredowns between you and Rua were particularly intense.

Absolutely, yeah, you know what, you know what I felt of him -- everyone talks about him being a PRIDE veteran, he is and he's fought some top names. But you know what, fighting at this level, if you didn't believe that you were good enough you shouldn't be in there, so that to me is all bravado, all showmanship.

I bet he was trying to psyche me out, make me think that he's the man: "Look what I've done." I really felt that, but it was getting in his head because I was totally calm. I will beat him. I will fight him again.

What fires you up when you're getting ready for a fight?

"Glory, duty and adulation" -- I feel all of those things and obviously, with that comes rewards, you know, money and things like that. That motivates me and fires me up. And my duty -- I believe it is my duty to become the champion of the world. If it's going to be Cage Rage for the UFC, that's what I'm going to be and I will be the middleweight champion of the world. So facing someone like Murilo Rua (Pictures), it's just an obstacle, he's a bit of a difficult obstacle, but it's more than within my capabilities to climb over it.

Talking on unfinished business, how do you feel about Xavier Foupa-Pokam (Pictures) after your fight with him at Cage Rage 19 finished in such controversial style?

"Poke-'em-in-the-eye-um." Oh yeah, good old, "Poke 'em." I like Poke' em, well, I don't like him that much. I used to love him. You've got to question that, the guy's got that many disqualifications. He's not once, but twice, poked me in both eyes. Hang on, that should have been a No Contest. I don't see how he got away with a win.

Do you feel that you've got unfinished business with him?

Yes, well, now that I've just had this unfortunate incident with Murilo Rua (Pictures), he's on the back burner. He's doing well, Poke' em … Poke-'em-in-the-eye-um … he's doing quite well. So I would have a rematch one day as long as he keeps winning. As long as he keeps winning: excellent. I don't think he beat me at all; I really don't think he beat me.

He came out strong. I've got no excuses. I was cold. I pulled hamstring in the changing room, everyone suffered from the same cold conditions in Earl's Court that day -- he performed better in the first half of the first round. After the first half of the round I felt the whole fight change.

His energy just seemed to go, I zeroed in my guns. I was targeting him, my bombs were landing. At the beginning of the second round I was all over him, my confidence was raging. His was fading, so it was so frustrating when that happened. It was like an electric bolt -- I don't know if you're ever been poked in the eye, he stuck a thumb right in -- it was disgusting.

How are you finding running your own team: "Team Obscene"?

Team Obscene … that started as a big joke, you know, as you may know, my persona is a little bit out there and outrageous. We like to talk about obscene things -- we all have good morals, we're not like bad people, but we like a bit of a joke, talk about naughty things a little bit too much. Now it's got a bit serious, everybody seems to want a t-shirt! (laughs) Have you seen the t-shirt? It's like a lady-boy, or a lady with a big strap-on, depends on your take …

It's a bit of fun. We've got some good fighters now. I run my own classes away from London Shoot I teach my own classes in Woking, Frimley Martial Arts Centre, and I've got about 10 good fighters. I've got some really good up-and-coming welterweights.

How often do you teach there?

I teach classes five times a week. That's busy!

How do you balance that with your own training?

It does get tricky, but I've got it down to a T now. If you're teaching all the time then your energy is going out. It's OK at the moment because I've got no fights, so I can spend a lot more energy on the guys. I learnt over the years how to teach people without expending too much energy, mental as well as physical. It's hard work having to teach the same stuff four times a day.

Have you got any up-coming fights on the horizon?

Murilo Rua (Pictures). (laughs)

Has that been talked about with the Cage Rage people?

Yes, that has been talked about, yes. Also that Poke ‘em. Good old, Poke 'em.

We've got some UK tryouts for the UFC coming up. Is that something that interests you?

Yes, of course it is, yes. I don't know if you know, I was actually selected for TUF 3. The trials were the day before I fought [Daijiro] Matsui. I already had a cut; I got cut two weeks before by my pal, Sol Gilbert (Pictures). Thank you Sol.

It had opened three times so for the trials I didn't have to do anything apart from the video interview because I was fighting the next day. In the fight, the cut opened quite badly. Dana said, "You can come out, but I really don't think the Nevada State Athletic Commission will pass you with that."

I took the advice of three of my trainers and thought I'd rather save myself the trouble, as it was a deep, deep cut. But this time: 100 percent I'm going to be in there.

Have you got anything to say to your fans?

Thank you everybody. I know I've got some people who either love me or hate me but as Chris Eubank used to say; 'That's the best feeling in the world.'