Tom ‘Big Train’ Nolan lands in Las Vegas to test the waters before biggest fight of career

The 23-year-old MMA champ flown to Las Vegas to test the waters before his biggest world fight yet. See how he went:

Toowoomba’s rising MMA fighter star Tom “Big Train” Nolan has taken a giant leap toward a career in the UFC with a visit to Las Vegas last week.

The 23-year-old is scheduled for his US debut with a fight under the Dana White Contenders Series in Las Vegas which, should he win, will put him in the mix for a UFC contract, a dream of his since he entered the sport just four years ago.

Nolan was a promising rugby league player in his teenage years and only took up MMA fighting as a way to keep fit in the rugby league off-season.

Toowoomba MMA fighter Tom "Big Train" Nolan applies pressure to Trevor Sinclair during their bout at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast.

However, he soon took to cage fighting and has gone from strength to strength and his record in MMA currently stands at five wins from as many fights, among those being the defeat of the very experienced Trevor Sinclair who had previously held the lightweight title.

That fight was on the undercard of Eternal MMA 63 and was live streamed around the world and viewed by more than one million people.

Nolan was flown to Las Vegas last week to film promotion videos for his upcoming fight in the city of gamblers.

He was welcomed on arrival at Las Vegas Airport by a large black limousine in which he was taken to his hotel before being fitted out for attire for the video.

The video was filmed over two days.

Tom "Big Train" Nolan about to fight in Las Vegas.

On his arrival home, the 23-year-old was still excited about the trip but looking forward to going back to the US next month for pre-fight training.

“It was an awesome experience to flown over there,” he told The Chronicle.

“My first time being under that level of spotlight was next level, in the highest quality facility in the world.

“I felt right at home.”

The all important first fight in Las Vegas is scheduled for early August.