Call of the Wilde

A Bellator MMA veteran and longtime representative of the mixed martial arts scene in the United Kingdom, Tim Wilde wants to put himself in title contention before Father Time turns against him.

The 37-year-old lightweight will take on Marc Diakiese in a featured Bellator Champions Series 5 attraction this Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. Wilde believes the matchup—Diakiese spent more than seven years in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he compiled an 8-7 record—could open more doors and thinks it puts him in position to showcase the best version of himself. Back in London for the first time since 2022, Wilde admits the ability to fight close to home adds another layer to the assignment.

“It means a lot getting to fight in your home country,” he told Sherdog.com. “There’s massive benefits to that. I’m local. It’s only a two-hour drive down the road from me. It’s nice to know that you’ve got solid support and a fanbase behind you. I know I’ll have a big crowd behind me. I love fighting in England. I love having a big crowd there.”

Prior to his loss to the unbeaten Manoel Sousa on March 22, Wilde was on a five-fight winning streak that included an incredible knockout of Mike Hamel. It was the seventh such finish of his career.

“This is the entertainment business at the end of the day,” he said. “I like to entertain, and I like to do that in my fights. For me, to get that finish in my fights, it just puts the clear stamp on the win. I’ve never lost a decision in my pro career. It sounds animalistic and pure alpha, but getting a man to submit or knocking him out is the purest way to beat him.”

Facing a fellow countryman in Diakiese, Wilde expects the bout to be a treat for those in attendance. Both men carry a significant amount of pride in representing England on the MMA stage.

“The fact that I’m getting in there is excitement guaranteed,” he said. “If you add Marc, as well, it’s like double the excitement. He’s an extremely flamboyant, skillful, athletic striker. He can wrestle. He’s fought the who’s who. I think fans can expect fireworks. I look forward to the challenge. I respect Marc. I can’t wait to get in there.”

Wilde thinks Diakiese—a former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion with wins over Joseph Duffy, Lando Vannata, Viacheslav Borshchev and Damir Hadzovic—can bring out the best in him.

“I really appreciate his skills as a professional fighter and how he’s evolved throughout his career,” Wilde said. “I think we nearly got matched up in BAMMA for a title shot early, but he went to the UFC so the fight never happened. I knew of him then, and I watched his progression. I know he’s seen mine. If you don’t get motivated to fight a guy like Marc, you’re not going to get motivated for anyone.

“You got to be motivated to fight absolutely anybody,” he added. “You’ve got another man across the cage who wants to take your head off, so what more motivation do you need?”