UFC 300: Tom ‘Big Train’ Nolan has huge plans for 2024 as he prepares for his debut

Toowoomba’s own Tom Nolan is ready to make a statement in his UFC debut this weekend and if ‘Big Train’ has his way, it will be just the start of a big 2024.

Toowoomba’s Tom ‘Big Train’ Nolan is ready to make a statement in the UFC. Picture: Al Powers/Zuffa LLC

Put a “savage” beating on Nikolas Motta, then repeat the dose against rising star Chase Hooper at UFC 300.

Those are Toowoomba lightweight Tom Nolan’s huge plans for 2024 as he prepares to make his UFC debut this weekend.

Five months after scoring a stunning first round knockout in his UFC audition on Dana White’s Contender Series, Nolan finally steps into the Octagon for real in Las Vegas in the first card of the year.

Starting this month, Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel will be the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events in Australia.

And after missing out on Christmas and New Years’ with family, he says Motta must pay.

“I’m going to put him away savagely,” Nolan told this masthead. “If you sign that contract, you’re trying to take my dreams away.

“I’ve sacrificed everything for this – it’s my life.

“It might only be a small thing, but the holidays for instance, I was in the gym three times training on Christmas Day, and I didn’t get to see anyone.

“I moved away to pursue this, so I don’t get to see my family much, so when you sign the contract to fight me, it’s life or death.”

Nolan lands a left hand on Bogdan Grad. Picture: Al Powers/Zuffa LLC)

The 13-5 Motta shapes as an interesting opponent for Nolan.

The 30-year-old Brazilian is also a graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, but has since gone 1-2 before a bizarre no contest in his last fight against Trey Ogden in November.

Motta was behind on the cards and in a terrible position when a referee error ended the bout prematurely.

Nolan is adamant there won’t be any similar confusion this weekend though.

“I have a strong feeling I’ll finish this early,” he said. “Motta sits down, he likes to wait for you to come in.

“But my movement is going to be too good for him. I’m going to pull a shot out of him and knock him out.

“He’s been knocked out a few times, so I know that chin’s vulnerable and once I touch it, he’s going to crumble.”

Nikolas Motta (centre) reacts to his bizarre no contest against Trey Ogden in November. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Motta isn’t the only current UFC fighter Nolan has plans on stopping in 2024.

Chase Hooper made his UFC debut at featherweight at just 20 years old in 2019 and has gone 5-3 since then.

Hooper moved up to lightweight last year, but Nolan has never been impressed and plans of proving why on the biggest card of 2024.

“I want Chase Hooper at UFC 300,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to fight that guy.

“He got into the UFC very young and he was choking out dudes who were not very good.

“I remember being bitter about it and thinking he only got in because he was a black belt at 18.

“I would’ve beaten him then, and I think I’ll beat him now. I’d love to knock him out at UFC 300.”

Chase Hooper has taken the UFC by storm, but Nolan isn’t impressed. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

He talks a big game, but Nolan has high-level support in featherweight kingpin Alex Volkanovski, who has also backed the ‘Big Train’ to score a knockout this weekend.

“He’s always looking for a finish, he looks confident and calm in the UFC,” Volkanovski said. “He’s got that confidence that usually takes a few fights, but he’s there already, which makes you dangerous.”

Nolan was stoked to have Volk’s support, but isn’t getting carried away.

“He sent me a message after me last fight as well, which was pretty cool,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest of all time, but I’ll absorb it once this fight’s over.

“I’ll enjoy that and feel proud after the fight, but for now I’m just focused on the fight.”

Originally published as UFC 300: Tom ‘Big Train’ Nolan has huge plans for 2024 as he prepares for his debut