Mixed martial arts (MMA) will take center stage in the country once again as the third installment of the BOMAC Cage Fight series is set for December 5.
BOMAC 3 "King of the Ring" will be held at the Kendall G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium and will kick off at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale today and can be purchased at Outdoor Sportsman (both locations), Seafront Sushi, J-line Fitness Center and Club One Fitness Center. Standard tickets are $15, floor seats are $35, VIP tickets are $75 and platinum tickets are $100.
The main event features local fighter Dewitt "D.C." Pratt against American John Morehouse and the co-main event will feature Team Beastmode fighter Giovanni "Mo Fire" Jonson against Peter Finn. A number of other Bahamian fighters will also be featured on the eight-fight card, including Tyson "Kamikaze" Isaacs and Pierre Simmons.
With the popularity of MMA increasing around the country, BOMAC coordinator Dr. Kent Bazard said he's looking forward to a good showing from all of the local fighters, and expects a large turnout in support of them.
"It really feels like all of the work that we've been putting in for a long time is finally paying off," he said. "MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and it's really catching on here. The people love it and the fan base is growing, so we're expecting a big turnout. We always try to feature local Bahamians at the top of the card and we're really grateful for the way the public is getting behind us."
While the other seven fights feature Chinese Sanda kickboxing, Pratt will take part in the first Muay Thai fight on Bahamian soil. When asked about his opponent, Pratt said he's not too familiar with him, only seeing a few clips of his past fights, but based on what he's seen, he's confident in his ability to go in and secure the win.
"I looked up a few of his fights, but I wasn't really impressed. My coach in Tampa is a bit more familiar with him, and has been preparing me to step into the ring with him," said Pratt, who's currently training in Tampa, Florida. "As far as preparation goes, I decided to come here to get in some real Muay Thai work, and right now I'm just sharpening my skills and trying to perfect my timing.
"This is my first fight back since the injury, and I've got to say that it feels really good to be training again and being able to work on my craft. It's all about getting back into the swing of things for me."
Bazard added that "D.C." has grown substantially as a fighter since he first worked with him and looks forward to seeing what the young fighter will bring to the table on fight night.
After a strong performance at BOMAC 2 this summer, Johnson said he's in even better condition ahead of this fight and will be looking to impress in what will be one of his last amateur fights.
"What's really going to stand out in this fight is my striking, which is much improved thanks in large part to my striking coach Scott Clayton who's here on the island," he said. "As far as my opponent, I don't really know too much about him, but from what I've seen, I think we're about the same height and have similar builds, so we'll be almost evenly matched in that regard."
"Over the course of the next week, it's all going to come down to my diet, trying to make sure I'm only burning fat and not muscle, and although it's only a five-pound cut I have to make, I want to ensure that I remain as sharp as possible."
Dyson Knight will headline the entertainment for the event.
Next up for the BOMAC Cage Fight series will be an all-female fight card in February.
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