King of the Cage Canada returned to Edmonton last Friday night for its “Infamy” event, which not only featured the promotion’s middleweight champ Elmer Waterhen in action, but several other of the region’s up-and-coming fighters. By the end of the 10 fight card, Waterhen still had the Canadian championship wrapped around his waist, thanks to a first round submission win over challenger Mike Froese.
“Froese was an excellent challenge for Waterhen and they both went at it hard,” said KOTC Canada promoter Ken Kupsch, when asked to reflect on Infamy’s headliner. “Waterhen loves to stand but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a ground game and it is often underestimated.”
The victory was not only the 12th in Waterhen’s extensive career, but it marked the highly regarded vet’s first title defense, after he stopped Brad Stewart last July to lay claim to the middleweight championship.
Heading into the card, Froese had gone undefeated in 3 straight bouts and had not lost since 2010.
“I would like to see Froese take a few more fights and then possibly be back for another shot at it,” Kupsch added.
Another of the night’s more intriguing bouts featured rising middleweight Luke Harris against well traveled veteran Brandon MacArthur. Harris emerged from the fight with his 8th pro win and 7th via submission, as the Judo black belt and BJJ brown belt tapped MacArthur out with a first round armbar.
“Harris was very patient and did what he knows how to do,” Kupsch noted about Harris, who continues to work his way up the nation’s middleweight rankings. “We have a great working relationship and may possibly see more of him in KOTC this year.”
The other winners from the March 9th card included Aleskander Todosov, Evan Cardinal, Daylon Erickson, Yannick Pare, Eric Tevely, Joey Longo and Landon Caldwell.
“We had a packed house thanks to our fighters and all our fans,” Kupsch noted about the event, which was hosted by Edmonton’s Mirage Banquet Hall.
According to Kupsch, the promotion will be back in action next month, as Unified MMA will present King of the Cage Canada in Grande Praire, Alberta on April 28th.
