2000, K1 UK
Not having too much experience of leg kicks or knees, he jumped into the UK K1 tournament in April of 2000. Weighing in at around 89kg he faced all 118kg of Matt Skelton, Britain's most successful K1 fighter (and now very successful pro-boxer). Gary impressed all with his heart, throwing everything he had at Matt, but as one magazine put it, with all the effect of a fly hitting a truck windscreen!

Gary lost on points, decisively, but then watched as Matt destroyed Mark Russell and Ricky Nicholson, something Matt had not done to Gary. Gary realised he was too light, and too inexperienced at this event, and started Thai Boxing with Woking Thai to improve his skills in leg kicking and knees.