ORGANISERS of an ultimate fighting event were dealt a blow when passport officials refused visas for the Ukranian stars of their event.

But they have vowed the show would go ahead at Eldon Leisure, in Newcastle, as planned on Saturday.

Fighting legend Ian "The Machine" Freeman, the director of Pride and Glory, which is organising the event, spoke of his anger after officials at the British Embassy in Kiev turned down the visa applications.

He said: "I had to find another squad at short notice and have gone to great expense to find replacement fighters, some from Germany.

"We are over budget but the show is going to go on. I would sooner lose money than not put on the show."

Mr Freeman said passport officials had granted visas to the team's two coaches, but turned down visas for ten fighters on the grounds that their applications were too late.

He said: "I reject that argument. The team members put in their applications in time and they had all the necessary paperwork.

"We have been trying to contact the embassy repeatedly, but have had no replies."

The event, which will start at 6.30pm, on Saturday will feature 24 fighters.