Promoting MMA on the regional scene is a different beast. For many promoters, it’s a hobby and a labor of love. Many have tried and very few have been successful. It takes tremendous investment and even more work to put on a show with no guarantee there will be a profit at the end of the show. The only people that actually know and understand what it takes to put on a professional MMA show are those that do it.
The UFC is back in Canada. On September 14, Vancouver will host UFC Fight Night 158 at the Rogers Arena. It’s the third UFC event to be hosted in Canada this year, and it’ll feature 12 fights in total.
One of those fights will be between Kyle Prepolec (12-6-0) and Austin Hubbard (10-3-0). The two men will fight in the 155 lb. weight class, and their preliminary fight will open up the event.
It’s a fight that Prepolec is pumped up for.
“I think for me and him fighting, it’s a great stylistic fight,” he said. “Not only just for both of us, in terms of how fun and exciting it could be and potentially grow to be. But also for the fans and all of the viewers.”
The native of Windsor is coming off of a loss to Nordine Taleb via unanimous decision. The defeat came in his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night Ottawa on May 5. It was Prepolec’s first loss since 2017.
Prepolec has only used the defeat as fuel to better himself. He predicts that he’ll put in a better showing this Saturday.
“I think we’ll see a new-and-improved, better version of myself,” he said.
Our own Jason Hagholm talks to Prepolec about his UFC debut, the growth of MMA leagues in Canada, and how he’s preparing for his UFC Fight Night 158: Vancouver bout against Hubbard.
