Mixed martial arts: Two title bouts feature of 14-card fight night

Robert Dean
Robert Dean
Two title fights will highlight a 14-card fight night in Dunedin tomorrow.

The main events will be for the South Island International Sport Karate Association super heavyweight and light heavyweight mixed martial arts belts.

Hammerhead Productions spokesman and super heavyweight contender Matt Toa said both fights should be "explosive contests".

Toa, a 31-year-old freezing works foreman, will take on fellow Dunedin man Blaine Stevenson in a fight which shapes as a war of attrition between two massive men.

Toa said even though he had been "dealing with a couple of niggling injuries" in the past couple of weeks, and had been busy promoting the night as well as training his Hammerhead team-mates, he was well prepared.

"I can't wait to get back in the cage and give it my all."

Although it will be Toa's first fight since July 2010, he has been training six days a week and is confident of a good performance.

Stevenson, a 36-year-old alcohol and drug counsellor, fighting out of Pukana mixed martial arts, said he was a little nervous about the fight, but was feeling fit and looking forward to the occasion.

"I have been training with heavier men, mainly my friend and corner coach as he is a 115kg ball of muscle with a vast knowledge and experience in full contact."

Stevenson said he had "huge respect for Toa". They have played against each other several times on the rugby league field, and met once on the grappling mats.

The light heavyweight title contenders are Dunedin man Robert Dean, fighting out of the Hammerhead gym, and Christchurch's Shannon Dillon, from the Strikeforce gym.

Toa said it should be an even contest with both men having fought six professional fights.

Both fights are scheduled for five three-minute rounds. The fight card has eight mixed martial arts bouts and six kickboxing fights.

There will be five Dunedin mixed martial arts clubs competing and other clubs are travelling from Christchurch, Queenstown and Timaru to take part.

ISKA is one of the world's largest sanctioning bodies for the sport. This will be the second time it has been associated with a Hammerhead event after July's fight night, in which Dunedin's Peter Clinch won the South Island ISKA mixed martial arts middleweight title.

Clinch was due to fight for a New Zealand title last month, but an injury to his opponent meant the fight had to be postponed until February.

The fight night is being held at the Caledonian gymnasium.

Doors open at 5.30pm and the first fight starts at 7pm.

 

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