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'Harry Potter' villain victorious in first MMA fight

Gregory Goyle has graduated from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry using a wand to cage fighting with his hands and feet.

Former Harry Potter actor Josh Herdman.
Former Harry Potter actor Josh Herdman.

Josh Herdman, the actor who played Goyle in eight “Harry Potter” movies, has left his acting career behind for the time being and made his successful MMA amateur debut over the weekend at the City Pavilion outside of London, England.

The 28-year-old, who has been training in Japanese jujitsu for the past five years, defeated Poland’s Janusz Walachowski by unanimous decision. Herdman competed for the recently launched UK promotion Rise of Champions, which was holding its second event since debuting last October.

Herdman impressed with his striking ability and took home the decision and plans to continue fighting in hopes of eventually turning pro.

“It’s raw, exciting and unpredictable,” the buffed-up child-actor-turned-MMA-fighter told The Mirror. “I find it more interesting than boxing although I appreciate the beauty and art in boxing. It also made sense to move onto MMA because of my jujitsu training.”

Herdman, who currently resides in London, is still interested in acting but felt that he should put his MMA training to use. But he still goes out on auditions on occasion and maintains an agent.

“I don’t see it so much as a career change, I am passionate about both acting and fighting,” he said.