September 10th, 2011, is the day Northern Ontario MMA fans have been waiting for.
That evening, The Shop Harley-Davidson presents Freedom Fight: For Honor and Pride, live at the Sudbury Arena in Sudbury, Ontario, in what promises to be an action packed night of world class MMA.
But the action doesn’t begin when the fights start that night. Over the past few months, Freedom Fight has been all over the Sudbury community with fund raisers for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, various photo shoots, radio promotions and the Freedom Fight Ring Girl search, which were held at Cranky Joes.
First up was the Freedom Fight Ring Girl search, which brought in a great crowd to the local bar/restaurant. That night in front of the fans and judges, which included MMA and Ontario’s own Gary Goodridge, five lucky women were chosen to be the beautiful faces of the promotion. If you weren’t lucky enough to attend the event, you missed a great time.
Next up was an organization close to Freedom Fight owner Pete Rodley, the Big Brother/Big Sisters. A car wash was held and the reception was great. Cars were washed, money was raised, and hopefully, some dreams were reached by the many children associated with the organization. Another wonderful event that day.
Before the fights even begin, Freedom Fights have left a lasting impression in the Sudbury community.
Before the main attraction though, make sure to come out to Sudbury Downs, located in Chelmsford, Ontario, for the cards official weigh ins, which begin at 9 pm on September 9th
A night filled with 9, as of now, world class MMA fights will surely entertain the north in a way no one has seen before. Approval of the 10th bout is expected any day from the OAC.
The main event for the evening is for the Freedom Fight vacant lightweight title, 155 pounds, and will feature Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horedecki taking on Brad “Bonesaw” Cardinal. Former Freedom Fight champion Mark Holst will be on hand to pass the torch, and title belt, to the new champion in a fight fans everywhere should be excited about.
The co-main event will showcase Ontario’s first female MMA match. Contested at 135 pounds, Bethany Marshall takes on Valerie “Trouble” Létourneau in a match that should have fans on the edge of their seats.
Here is a look at the fight card as it stand now:
Lightweight Title Match 155 pound division
Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horedecki vs. Brad “Bonesaw” Cardinal
Fighting out of London, Ontario’s Team Adrenaline, Horedecki is a fighter known worldwide. Fighting in promotions such as the IFL, the WEC, and most recently Bellator, he has amassed a great MMA record of 18-3 and is always a threat to break into the mythical top ten rankings. Horedecki will have UFC star Sam Stout in his corner for that matchup.
His opponent, Cardinal, may not have the pedigree Horedecki has, but make no mistake, Cardinal is a force at 155 for any man. Fighting out of Calgary, Alberta for CMC, Cardinal has tallied a 13-7 record as a professional. He will have Lee Mein, father of Canadian MMA star Jordan, in his corner for the match.
For a title match, this one ranks high on the excitement scale and should be on every fans mind that night.
Women’s 135 pound division
Valerie “Trouble” Létourneau vs. Bethany Marshall
In the evening’s co-main event, Canada’s own Valerie Létourneau headlines Ontario’s first ever female MMA fight. Fighting out of the famed TriStar gym in Montreal, Létourneau brings a 3-2 record as a professional and should being a great fight to her opponent.
That opponent is Bethany Marshall, who is fighting out of Newport, Virginia, and trains with Modern American Mixed Martial Arts. Marshall brings a 4-0 record to the fight, and for Ontario’s first female match, fans could not see a better match.
Men’s 205 pound division
Jason “The Monster” Bissonette vs. Kris Lee
In the sole light heavyweight match of the card, fans are awaiting the return of “The Monster”. Jason Bissonette. He comes out of Ottawa, and is trained at Muay Thai Boxing. Despite only holding a 2-1 professional record, Bissonette will bring the excitement to any card against any opponent.
Kris Lee comes into this fight with a layoff from the professional side of MMA, but the Fowler, New Brunswick fighter is defiantly coming to fight. Sitting with a 1-1 record as a professional, Lee is ready for whatever happens in the cage.
Men’s 135 pound division
Syd Barnier vs. Chucky Mady “The Clash Of The Strikers”
This bout has fight of the night potential!!!
Barnier, fighting out of Sebringville, Ontario and training with Mas-Muay Thai, he brings an experienced Muay Thai game with him. He currently sits with a 3-3 overall record, but don’t let the .500 record fool you, Barnier will come to fight.
His opponent, Mady, is out of Windsor, Ontario, and Mady’s Martial Arts. Mady sits with a 5-4 professional record, but with his highly rated Karate background, he is willing to push any fighter to the limit.
Men’s 155 pound division
Pete Brown vs. Mike Sledzion.
Pete Brown is the second fighter on the card out of Team Adrenaline in London, Ontario, and will also be cornered by Sam Stout. He sits with a 2-3 professional record, but skills overshadow his record and he should be one to keep an eye on during the evening.
Mike Sledzion comes out of Orillia,Ontario and the Dragons Liar. Holding a 2-1 record, like his opponent Brown, his talent is something that records can’t measure and this should be a surefire war, a trademark of Freedom Fight events.
Men’s 170 pound division
Chris St. Jean vs. Igor Caetano
St. Jean is the first local fighter on the card. Fighting out of Sudbury, Ontario, and trained at OAMA, St. Jean brings his 3-2 professional record to his hometown fans for the first time. Former Freedom Fight 155 pound champion Mark Holst will be in St. Jean’s corner in what should certainly be a fan favorite fight.
Caetano, 2-1 as a professional, is from Toronto, and is trained by Franco-Behring MMA. This will be Caetano’s first fight in almost a year, but will defiantly be up to the challenge of the hostile, hometown crowd.
Men’s 155 pound division
Luc Nadeau vs. Steve Simms
The second Sudbury fighter is Nadeau, fighting out of Team Shredder. Sitting with a 2- professional record, Nadeau hopes to emulate St. Jeans’ hometown advantage and continue his winning ways.
Simms is an Extreme Couture trained fight out of Toronto, and also sits with a 2-0 record. He will have current UFC and former Freedom Fight veteran Mark Bocek in his corner and like Nadeau, hopes to continue his winning ways.
Men’s 135 pound division
George Abdallah vs. Eric Montgomery
Abdallah is the third Team Adrenaline fighter on the card, and will also be cornered by Thompkins and Stout. Holding a professional record, Abdallah hopes to help a clean sweep by the London based camp he trains with.
Montgomery hails from Windsor, Ontario, holds a 1-0 record, and is also from Mady’s Martial Arts. This is looking like a 135 pound fight fans won’t want to miss.
Men’s 135 pound division
Jesse Fox vs. Brent Fryia
Fox is another fighter out of Extreme Couture in Toronto, and enter the night with a 4-4 professional record.
Fryia, from Sault St. Marie, is a school teacher that holds a 5-2 professional record, and is trained at Steel City MMA.
So fight fans, from top to bottom, this card should bring everything a MMA fan wants in a card.
The Shop Harley-Davidson presents Freedom Fight: For Honor and Pride is Sudbury’s first mixed martial arts card, but with the support the community has shown Freedom Fight, and the support Freedom Fight has shown the community, a return trip to the Sudbury Arena will hopefully be in the card.
If you haven’t already picked up your tickets, you can head down to the Sudbury Arena box office, call 705.671.3000 or check out the website and order directly from there:
Don’t miss out on what is sure to be something that rocks the city like nothing ever has before.
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