By KOTC Staff
King of the Cage Canada headed to Dawson Creek’s Encana Centre for the promotion’s latest event on Friday, and provided the region’s MMA fans with ten pro bouts. While the card included several noteworthy results, for KOTC matchmaker Orest Zmyndak, the fact that the event went off without a hitch was just as important.
“For the first sanctioned show ever in Dawson Creek, the event ran very smoothly,” said Zmyndak about the April 29th card. “KOTC personnel is very experienced in working with commissions and all requirements were met and handled professionally from both sides. The fights were outstanding, with comments from officials brought in from Edmonton ranging from very well matched and fights made sense. A few surprises on the card and that only increases the fan interest. Looking forward to next show there in October.”
One of “Mile Zero’s” defining moments was Ryan Fortin’s third round, stoppage of MMA legend Dan Severn, which according to Zmyndak, spoke volumes about the heavyweight’s future with KOTC.
“Fortin probably learned more from the 14 minutes in the cage with Dan than several months of training,” said Zmyndak. “Dan was dominating for two rounds and I guess the long travel day and advanced age caught up to him and Ryan was able to take advantage get the win. Ryan showed good patience, strength and mat skills to overcome the first two rounds and truly belongs in the elite of heavyweights in Canada. With this performance he certainly moves to the head of the line for a shot at KOTC Heavyweight Champion, Raphael Bergman. He has a great future in this sport.”
In another of the card’s feature attractions, Canadian welterweight champ Garett Davis took on American vet Gabe Rivas, and emerged with his 15th pro win via second round submission.
“Garett showed a lot of poise and skill in his fight with Rivas, who has amazing hand speed and demonstrated it throughout the fight with quick jabs and loading dangerously fast rights,” noted Zmyndak. “Garett chose to stand with Gabe for the first round and maybe that was a mistake, as Gabe won the round, but was Garett just playing possum, cause when he decided to take it to the ground in the second , he slipped on a slick armbar.”
With the win, Davis has now gone 4-1 since returning to the promotion in March, 2010, after a year plus layoff from fighting.
“Davis is a very underestimated welterweight,” Zmyndak added. “His last fight with world champion Quinn Mulhern went five rounds and could easily have been fight of the year if it would have been seen by more media. It wasn't Garett who had to go to the hospital after the fight.”
Stay tuned to www.kingofthecage.ca for more news about the promotion’s upcoming events and fights.
