Harry Potter star Josh Herdman wrestles with career move as cagefighter

Herdman, who played Gregory Goyle in the Harry potter films, has made his MMA debut

Harry Potter actor Joshua Herdman had made an unorthodox career move from film star to cagefighter.

Herdman still goes for auditions, but was most recently seen making his debut at a mixed martial arts event in Romford, east London, where he bested Polish opponent Janusz Walachowski in the amateur catchweight category.

Herdman played Gregory Goyle, a burly sidekick to Draco Malfoy, in the Harry Potter films and was one of only a handful of actors to appear in all eight films.

Since the franchise came to an end in 2011, Herdsman has appeared in smaller roles in films, but also started taking his martial arts training more seriously.

In an interview with Addicted MMA On The Road he admitted he has been training in juijitsu for nearly five years.

"I chose MMA because I love the sport. It's raw, exciting and unpredictable," he said.

"I find it more interesting than boxing, although I appreciate the beauty and art in boxing.".But he insists he has not given up on acting, saying: "I don’t see it so much as a career change, I still act and am passionate about both acting and fighting."

The move is not entirely out of character - Herdman's father, Martin, was a boxer and professional rugby league player, and two of his brothers have also been involved in boxing.