CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 31 -- The upcoming weekend is a telling example of how the MMA floodgates have broken wide open. UFC, Bodog Fight, Cage Rage and a myriad of smaller shows are happening over the next few days, keeping fighters employed and fans entertained.
Kicking the weekend off on Friday is Hardcore Championship Fighting. The Canadian promotion has scheduled a compelling lineup that will treat fans to a show of international proportions.
The weigh-ins had a few minor hitches Thursday, though. One fight was cancelled due to Solomon Hutcherson's lack of a passport, leaving Amir Rahnavardi (Pictures) without an opponent. Fabian Cortez and Juan Barrantes, scheduled to fight at 145, both weighed in at 147.5.
Keith Crawford, CEO of HCF, in an aggressive and humorous display of quick thinking, negotiated with both managers and the commission on the spot, allowing the fight to happen without delay.
Gegard Mousasi (Pictures), scheduled to fight Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, initially failed to make weight, believing the fights were scheduled for Saturday. At 6:45 p.m. he was still weighing 199.5, but he made weight exactly at the 8 p.m. cutoff, coming in at 194.5.
In the main event, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) fights the relatively unknown Todd Gouwenberg (Pictures).
A native of Langley, British Columbia, Gouwenberg approaches this fight with the optimistic mindset that a victory in Calgary will propel him into the elite 205-pound fighters.
"That's where I want to be," he said in a post-weigh-in interview. "I want to fight the best guys in the world."
Gouwenberg is currently on a one-fight deal with the HCF, but expects that a win will result in an offer of a three-fight contract.
With the bulk of his fighting experience in TKO and Bodog Fights, Gouwenberg is coming off four straight wins. Although his training hasn't changed drastically, he's not taking Nogueira's jiu-jitsu lightly.
"I always train a certain way," he said. "I like to keep it standing. But if you're fighting Nogueira, with the jujitsu he has, you have to take that into consideration. My training is very well rounded."
Gouwenberg trains out of Revolution Fight team in B.C.
One of the most interesting things about the 33-year-old Gouwenberg is instantly apparent: he carries an intimidating physical presence, sporting a tattoo that reads "last of a dying breed."
His demeanor heading into the most important fight of his life says the same thing.
Full card:
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) (206) vs. Todd Gouwenberg (Pictures) (204.5)
Gegard Mousasi (Pictures) (194.5) vs. Evangelista Santos (Pictures) (188.5) - Catch-weight 194 lbs.
Thomas Schulte (Pictures) (155) vs. Garett Davis (Pictures) (155)
David Loiseau (Pictures) (193) vs. Jason Day (194.5)
Brendan Seguin (Pictures) (170) vs. Derrick Noble (Pictures) (170)
Damir Mirenic (169) vs. Mike Pyle (Pictures) (171)
Andrew Buckland (185) vs. Dan Chambers (Pictures) (185)
Myles Merola (156) vs. Ariel Sexton (155.5)
Tim Hague (262.5) vs. Miodrag Petkovic (253)
Nabil Khatib (Pictures) (185.5) vs. Lucas Rota (184.5)
Fabian Cortez (147.5) vs. Juan Barrantes (147.5)
