Yellowknife promoter creates N.W.T.'s first MMA fight league
A Yellowknife gym owner has created the Northwest Territories' first mixed martial arts fight league, citing a need for a local promotion to give opportunity to Northern fighters.
The new league, named Warrior Strong Fight League, will host its first event on May 16 in Yellowknife.
"There have been several other leagues up here, and it's simply not economically viable for these companies to come in from other provinces," says John Stanley, the founder and CEO of Warrior Strong.
"It costs a lot of money to ship all their gear up here and bring so many more people up here because they have no local staff. Being a local promotion, I found that we have gotten a lot more support."
Although Stanley plans to use staff from his Yellowknife gym to help host Warrior Strong's first show, referees, judges, and a fight doctor will need to be flown in from Alberta. Alberta-based Fivestar Fight League is also loaning Stanley a ring for his inaugural event, though he says he plans to buy one for future shows.
Warrior Strong's first event is headlined by two local fighters, James Williams and Danny Doig. The rest of the card will be filled with matchups pitting Northern fighters against Southern opponents.
"The pressure is definitely on," says Yellowknife's Grey Patino, who's fought four times, but never in front of a home crowd. "I definitely want to do my gym proud, and actually show what we have up here."
