With no major MMA events taking place this weekend, it’s a good chance to highlight a handful of Canadian fighters competing in the next month.
Here’s your Canadian watch list for the month of April.
Kalib Starnes (Vancouver) vs. Tim Hague (Calgary)
XFFC heavyweight title fight, XFFC 9 – April 15
A pair of UFC veterans collide in a heavyweight encounter, as former middleweight Starnes takes on Hague in the main event. Starnes (17-10-1) is coming off a submission win over Craig Hudson at XFFC 7, which snapped his two-fight losing streak. Hague (20-12) heads into this matchup coming off three straight losses to Evgeny Erokhin, Tony Lopez and most recently Tanner Boser. Prior to that, the 32-year-old was on a three-fight win streak.
Matt MacGrath (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) vs. Jesse Ronson (London, Ont)
XFFC welterweight title fight, XFFC 9 – April 15
XFFC champ MacGrath defends his title against UFC veteran Ronson in a matchup that initially was slated to take place back in December. MacGrath (17-8) has won seven straight fights including his last bout, a unanimous decision victory over TUF 16 contestant Mike Hill. The 36-year-old trains out of Wulfrun MMA with UFC lightweight Jason Saggo. Ronson (15-6) moves up to welterweight for the first time since 2014 and looks to bounce back from a decision loss to Alexander “Tiger” Sarnavskiy this past October.
Lee Mein (Lethbridge, Alta) vs. Derek Daku (Estevan, Sask)
Rumble In The Cage 52 – Apr. 16
If that last name sounds familiar, Mein is the father of former UFC fighter (and recently retired) Jordan Mein. The 48-year old is 7-13 and earned a first-round submission victory over Lloyd Marshbanks at Hard Knocks 48 in January. He’s facing Derek Daku, who is making his professional MMA debut.
Andrew McInnes (Edmonton) vs. Tom Gallicchio
Triumph FC 1: Inception – Apr. 22
Former UFC fighter and Canadian MMA veteran Victor Valimaki’s new promotion Triumph FC packs a punch with a main event pitting top Canadian McInness against TUF 22 contestant Gallicchio. McInness (6-1) hasn’t seen action since a disqualification victory over Cody McKenzie at WSOF 18. The 30-year-old trains with UFC fighters Mitch Clarke and Sheldon Westcott at Complete Martial Arts and Fitness. Gallicchio (19-8), aside from The Ultimate Fighter, hasn’t competed since a 2014 victory over Kurt Southern at MFC 40. He trains at Team Quest in Temecula, Calif.
Sabah Fadai (Chilliwack, B.C.) vs. Tito Jones
Triumph FC 1: Inception – Apr. 22
Unified featherweight champion Fadai looks for his fourth win in a row as he takes on MFC veteran Jones. Fadai (11-4) was slated to take on UFC vet Marcus Brimage in January, however that event ended up being cancelled the day of the fights. He splits time between Four Directions MMA and Revolution Martial Arts with ONE FC bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes. Jones (11-8) is coming off a decision loss to Timur Valiev at WSOF 23 and has only competed twice since 2014.
Yoni Sherbatov (Laval, Que) vs. Tyson Nam
Triumph FC 1: Inception – Apr. 22
Sherbatov is one the hottest prospects in Canada right now and faces a stiff test in WSOF veteran Nam. Sherbatov (5-0) has won four of his five career bouts by stoppage, while Nam (14-8) is perhaps best known for knocking out former Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas and comes into this fight off back-to-back victories.
Kyle Nelson (Huntsville, Ont) vs. Justin Bourgeois (Halifax, N.S.)
Elite 1 MMA: Meltdown – Apr. 23
Nelson looks to bounce back from his first career loss as he takes on 33-year-old Bourgeois. Nelson (6-1) had won six straight fights – three by stoppage – before suffering a unanimous decision defeat to Bellator veteran Adrian Hadribeaj at TXC Legends 6 last year. Bourgeois (7-5) heads into this matchup off a unanimous decision victory over Tommy Cote over a year ago, but has only competed twice since 2012.
Chris Kelades (Cole Harbor, N.S.) vs. Sergio Pettis
UFC 197: Jones vs. Cormier – Apr. 23
Kelades looks for his first two-fight win streak in the UFC as he takes on Roufusport prospect Pettis. Kelades (9-2) heads into this fight coming off a split decision win over Chris Beal at UFC Fight Night 74, which improved his UFC record to 2-1. Pettis (13-2) bounced back from his knockout loss to Ryan Benoit by defeating former UFC title challenger Chris Cariaso in his last bout at UFC 192.
