By KOTC Staff
King of the Cage Canada is headed to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, this week for the promotion’s October 28th “Gold Mine” card, and fans in attendance will be treated to several noteworthy bouts. Headlining the card is a tilt that many King of the Cage fans will be monitoring, as Canadian Heavyweight Champion Raphael Bergmann will take on rising commodity Ryan Fortin.
“The main event between current KOTC Canadian Champion Raphael Bergmann and challenger Ryan Fortin is one of the most anticipated matches in the heavyweight division in Canada,” said the promotion’s matchmaker, Orest Zmyndak. “Rarely do you see two highly ranked fighters in this division get to settle things.”
“Coming off a big win over Dan Severn makes Ryan the obvious choice for a title shot, and Raphael would like to get back on the winning side after losses to former world champion Tony Lopez and also current world champion Tyler East,” Zmyndak added. “To the younger Fortin, a win would mean a considerable elevation in status and would position him for matches such as Lopez, and Bergmann with a win would show that he belongs with the best of the big boys.”
Fortin’s (5-3) aforementioned win over Severn took place in April, when the 26 year-old-heavyweight stopped the legendary fighter in the third round at KOTC Canada’s “Mile Zero” card.
Bergmann will be competing on Canadian soil for the first time Friday night, since February, 2010, when the 39 year-old-fighter stopped Adriano Bernardo to become the KOTC Canadian champ.
“Gold Mine” has undergone one last minute change to the card, as Zmyndak reports that middleweight contender Brad Stewart will no longer compete as scheduled.
“Unfortunately, Brad Stewart will not be fighting on this card due to work commitments, but his replacement Ian Huskins of Edmonton should give Jayson Peck a tough night. Both like to throw 'em and should make for an exciting fight.”
Aside from the Bergmann vs. Fortin and Huskins vs. Peck bouts, “Gold Mine” will include several other bouts featuring professional MMA talent from Western Canada.
“A bit of a rarity on this show is that there are three matches scheduled in the heavyweight division,” said Zmyndak. “Very few events even have one and fans better not blink, as these big boys usually throw hard and someone is going out.”
“The rest of the card is made up of young up and comers, who always give the fans a good show,” the KOTC matchmaker furthered. “Guys like Behrang Yousefi, Matt Whitten, Teejay Klassen, Kris Miskenack and Duncan Wilson will surely entertain.”
The upcoming event will close out October for King of the Cage Canada, but the promotion’s 2011 campaign isn’t finished just yet.
“As 2011 nearly comes to a close, KOTC will end the year with a bang with "Obsession", November 18th, at the Mirage Banquet Hall in Edmonton,” Zmyndak announced. “It will showcase current Middleweight Champion Elmer Waterhen, the return of Luke Harris and again much more of KOTC's younger talent.”
This Friday’s “Gold Mine” card will be hosted by Dawson Creek’s Encana Events Centre.
