Corries founder Ronnie to sing at Auld Enemy Clash cage fight

Ronnie from the Corries will sing the national anthem before the fighting.

But now Corries founder Ronnie Browne hopes the band's most famous folk song will inspire victory in what has been billed the greatest cross- Border conflict since the Battle of Culloden. Hosted at Meadowbank Sports Centre, professional fighters from both sides of Hadrian's Wall will exchange blows in a series of Scotland versus England cage fights dubbed the "Auld Enemy Clash".

The UK's top bruisers will face off in the battle of Britain-style showdown with the overall champion rewarded with a lucrative overseas contract.

Traditional musician Ronnie, who has sung the anthem 13 times before Scotland internationals at Hampden, said he expects a different atmosphere at Meadowbank next month.

"In Hampden you only have to open your mouth and (the fans] take over," he said. "But when (I was singing before ex-boxer] Pat Clinton won the world title in the Kelvin Hall I couldn't hear anything, not even the band. That's how noisy the crowd were and I should think it will be a bit like that.

"I don't know what to expect but I'm sure the audience will be quite enthusiastic . . . and if not I will be down among them."

Although the Auld Enemy Clash will be his first taste of cage fighting, Ronnie says the contest conjures up memories of the now-defunct British wrestling.

"I see this as a very nostalgic thing for me in a way because, although it's mixed martial arts (MMA), it takes me back to the days of watching Mick McManus on a black and white telly when I was a boy," said the 72-year-old.

"On this occasion it will be fantastic because this isn't fake or anything and although I have never seen cage fighting like this before, because it's Scotland versus England I am really looking forward to it."

Bob Munro, a Scottish MMA promoter, said the clash will be the "biggest mixed martial arts" contest ever seen in the Capital and predicts a life-changing outcome for whichever competitor is crowned king of the ring.

"The winner gets a 30,000 contract to fight abroad plus I am going to promote them and basically turn them into superstars," said Mr Munro, a retired mixed martial arts fighter.

"There has never been anything like this, on this scale, before in the UK."

The promoter expects a "great crowd" at Meadowbank and said there could be a few surprises on the bill including a possible debut fight for a "top glamour model".

Three or four thousand fight fans are expected to turn out for the September 18 showdown set in a 27 ft octagonal ring and run by Kudegra Championship Fighting.