Saturday night is fight night in Orillia.
Kyle Vivian, the driving force behind the Orillia Fight Team, a grass-roots mixed martial arts club, is organizing an action-packed Muay Thai kickboxing event slated for Saturday night.
“We’ve never had anything like this before in Orillia,” said Vivian. “Back in the 1970s, Walter Henry did some boxing events at the Community Centre … but that was a long time ago.”
Vivian said since he started putting up posters and advertising the event on social media, interest has been growing quickly. “I think a lot of people want this in their town,” Vivian told OrilliaMatters. “People are very excited about it.”
He believes fight fans will love the unique sport. “Muay Thai is more like kickboxing, but it’s, I guess you’d say, more traditional, more spiritual,” said Vivian. “It’s stand-up striking, using knees and elbows – there’s no ground game like you’d see in mixed martial arts (MMA).”
The other difference compared to MMA is that the action is confined to a wrestling ring – not a cage.
Vivian has nine bouts lined up, although he said another could be added and last-minute alterations to the card could occur. Many of the fighters are local lads; some will be representing Orillia’s Black Lotus Kickboxing Club, some are from the Orillia Fight Team and others are from out of town.
The lineup includes the following matches: Branson Khemraj vs. Hunter Snider, Lonnie Herrington vs. Omar Waddell, Jayden Simcoe against Cooper Brindle, Ryan Gardy vs. Kurtis Alston, Derek McMaster vs. Shea Moran, Justin Li against Mathieu Herbert, TJ Windsor will clash with Seth Richmond, Josh Whamond will battle Derek Badgerow and Chester Flores will fight Anatoly Ryabokon.
“They are mostly local fighters and they are really excited to have a live public event in Orillia,” said Vivian of Saturday night’s fight, which is sanctioned by Muay Thai Ontario.
While Vivian is looking forward to this inaugural event, he is also hopeful this is just the beginning of a resurgence in local ring sports. “I’m hoping it’s the first of many,” said Vivian, who hopes the province will soon pave the way for amateur MMA events. “I’d love to do a local MMA event.”
Saturday’s event will be held at ODAS Park on Fairgrounds Road. Tickets, at the door, will cost $40. You can purchase tickets in advance for $35 by calling Vivian at 705-345-8611 or via email: [email protected]
There will be a licensed bar and the event is open to all ages. The combatants will begin medicals and weigh-ins at 5 p.m. Doors open to the public at 7 p.m. with the action beginning at 8 p.m.
