The time for another mixed martial arts (MMA) event is right around the corner in Vernon, and two local fighters will be looking to electrify the crowd.
Ethan Northcott and Riley Huston, who both fight at Vernon's Unity MMA gym, will be competing at the second Okanagan Fighting Championship (OFC) MMA event, taking place on Saturday, June 14 at the Vernon Curling Club.
Northcott fought in OFC's inaugural event last year, and had the home crowd buzzing with a third-round armbar submission.
"It was pretty hard not to hear the crowd," Northcott told The Morning Star. "They were chanting my name, so it was awesome to have that."
Huston, who was raised in the Yukon, but calls Vernon home now, did not compete at last year's competition, but was able to soak in the atmosphere and is ready to prove himself this year.
"There is more pressure for sure to be fighting at home," Huston told The Morning Star. "Sometimes that kind of pressure is good pressure though. MMA is kind of a sport where all the work is done on the back end. When the fight comes around, that is the fun time and I can enjoy it."
As a teenager, Huston discovered the sport and began training. When he moved to Vernon, Unity MMA coach Raja Kler took him in, and showed him the ropes.
"I figured I wasn't getting any younger, so I decided to fully get into the sport," Huston said. "I would rather regret trying it than not trying it."
Huston has two amateur fights to his name, including a knockout win in October. He will be facing off against Arjot Gill, who has a 1-2 amateur record, for the OFC light heavyweight title.
Asked about any nerves heading into the bout, Huston seemed undeterred.
"It might be a little nerve-wracking in moments, but I tend to show up well in pressure situations," he said. "I am able to convince myself that the extra heart rate is just me getting excited, but it is a crazy feeling. You can watch it on TV and be around it, but it is different doing it in person. There is nothing like it."
As for Northcott, the 22-year-old is coming off back-to-back submission wins to start his amateur career. After the armbar at OFC last year, Northcott defeated Elia Faragalla with a first-round rear-naked choke at the Battlefield Fight League in Vancouver in late January.
"I got a really good team to work with and they know what they are doing so they help me get ready," he said. "Last year I broke the ice from my fight career, and it taught me the pressure of the crowd, but it was a great experience."
Northcott will be co-headlining OFC 2, fighting Rob McConnell for the OFC status belt.
"I saw him fight at OFC last year and he was tough as nails," said Northcott of McConnell. "So I think it will be a good fight, but I train to win on my worst day and the nerves are there but so is my confidence. I just have to trust what I do."
Dominic Perry is another Vernon local who will be taking to the cage on June 14, as he won his first-ever amateur event in early February.
The main event fight will pit Calgary's Curtis Anderson against Nova Scotia's Jesse Opper, as 20 total fights are scheduled on the card, including a women's and men's grappling tournament.
Tickets can be purchased at . Kids 10 and under are free. Doors are open at 4 p.m., with jiu-jitsu starting at 5 p.m. and the MMA fights beginning at 6 p.m.
