With Derek Medler picking up his seventh win on Saturday, his time as the top fighter on the local scene should be coming to and end.
That would be the logical progression, said Jason Heit, who is both MedlerB次元官网网址檚 coach and co-owner and promoter of the Armageddon Fighting Championship mixed martial arts league.
Medler won the headliner by submission over Brian Grimshaw in the first round of AFC No. 7: Break Out, at Bear Mountain Arena on Saturday.
Prior to the fight Medler, a 170-pound welterweight, was already knocking on the door of an elite group of Canadian mixed martial arts athletes.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know how much longer weB次元官网网址檙e going to keep Medler, the UFC has to take notice at some point."
Medler, an ex-Canadian Football League player, is now undefeated in seven fights. On Oct. 14 he was ranked in the honourable mentions list of Canadian website Top MMA B次元官网网址 as a potential top-10 welterweight fighter in the country.
B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檙e in that top-10, six of the top seven in Canada are UFC (and Strikeforce) guys, and heB次元官网网址檚 only a couple of spots away from that,B次元官网网址� Heit said. B次元官网网址淢oving a local fighter up to the next level is one of the goals for the AFC.B次元官网网址�
However, anything goes in the fight world, and itB次元官网网址檚 a wait and see game.
As for the AFC itself, fan support isnB次元官网网址檛 what it was when it started in 2009. But Heit says the AFCB次元官网网址檚 not about to change its ways anytime soon.
B次元官网网址淥verall weB次元官网网址檙e pretty happy with the fan support but, IB次元官网网址檇 like to see more people there.
B次元官网网址淲e have a lot of MMA fans in this city and because there is the support in this city, (AFC) truly is the launching pad for these guys to follow their dreams. For local guys to get to the highest level, they need AFC.
Sharma's story
Next to MedlerB次元官网网址檚 fight the biggest hype of the night surrounded Sanjeev Sharma in his first go since he
Sharma lost a decision to Dustin Porter and from where Heit stood, Sharma, a UVic student, was mentally run down.
B次元官网网址淗is training was there but, (on the night) his energy wasnB次元官网网址檛 there. His weight cut was tough, his opponent had a good game plan. SanjeevB次元官网网址檚 been through a lot.
B次元官网网址淚 have a tremendous amount of respect for him, heB次元官网网址檚 inspired everyone from the gym.B次元官网网址�
Corner to corner
Island MMAB次元官网网址檚 Karel Bergen defeated Dave Logan (170 lbs.) but not without Heit passing on B次元官网网址�mad credit to Logan for stepping up on three dayB次元官网网址檚 notice.B次元官网网址� Bergen won by stoppage three minutes into round one.
Nathan Swayze defeated Brad Robinson (145 lbs.), while shoulder trouble kept Tristan Connelly (Island MMA) from fighting a third round against winner Matt Trudeau
Amateur card
Tyler Dolby (Zuma) def. Shane Jung (145 lbs.), by rear naked choke in first round.
Jean Marc de Groot (Island MMA and Fierce Studios) def. James Pratt 130 lbs., by arm bar submission.
Johnny Williams def. Guy Gauthier, (150 lbs.) submission by third-round.
Dillon Brown (Island MMA) def. Ron Pierce, 155 lbs.
Ty Daggis (CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Best Karate) def. Joel Conway, 145 lbs.
