HK33 Estevan featured a light heavyweight bout between Jordan O’Connor and Mike Gaudry. Gaudry definitely came into the fight with the experience edge and it was no secret that he was looking to stand and bang. O’Connor may not have had the experience that Gaudry had, but he was willing to take the fight wherever it went. What happened when these two amateurs met in the ring was fireworks, plain and simple. Head over to GoFightLive to watch the fight!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FIGHT

At HK33 on May 25th, Thomas Richardson – normally a welterweight (170 lbs) fighter – stepped up to fight a middleweight (185 lbs) fighter. Well, that fight fell through and the next thing you know he was scheduled to meet light heavyweight (205 lbs) fighter Mike Geib. Geib, however, was coming in on really late notice, getting the call to fight just two hours before the weigh-ins.

This set up an epic showdown. Would Mike Geib be ready to fight coming in on such late notice, even against someone two weight classes below him? What about Thomas Richardson? Would he be able to deal with the 20-pound weight disadvantage?

This fight has to be seen to be believed and if you want to watch it you can click on the link below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FIGHT

May 25th saw Hard Knocks Fighting returning to Estevan with a whole slew of amateur fighters who were ready to put on a show for those in attendance and watching around the world. The co-main event that night was a women’s fight featuring Victoria “The Vixen” Chadwick taking on Lynell “House of Pain” House. Chadwick was coming into the fight with a lot of praise because she packs a lot of talent for someone still in her teens, but House was no pushover. House was coming into the fight with the definite edge in striking, but would she be able to withstand Chadwick’s resolve?

Head over to GoFightLive to check out the fight between these two female warriors. It was a fight that definitely sets the winner up for future implications in her division.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FIGHT

The HK33 results are in and we think everyone can agree that these amateurs left everything in the cage and showed everyone that they’re ready to take the next step. We’d like to take the time to thank the fighters, our sponsors, and most importantly our fans for showing up and supporting Hard Knocks Fighting! Check out the results below!

Nic Grandbois defeated Jordy Correia, Unanimous Decision, Round 3

Ben Oliviero defeated Landon Powell, Submission (Armbar), Round 1

Bob Macumber defeated Harold Brun, Split Decision, Round 3

Nic Dupasquier defeated Tyrone Halkett, Split Decision, Round 3

Les Bisson defeated John Wapioke, TKO, Round 1

Thomas Richardson defeated Mike Geib, Submission (Reverse Triangle), Round 1

Jordan O’Connor defeated Craig Gaudry, Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1

Steven Arens defeated Ryan Proulx, Majority Decision, Round 3

Lynell House defeated Victoria Chadwick, TKO, Round 2

Phil Towler defeated Kevin Taylor, Unanimous Decision, Round 3

Here are the results from tonight’s weigh-ins for HK33 Estevan!

Nic “Legionaire” Grandbois will be stepping into the cage on Saturday, May 25th to meet Jordy Correia in a lightweight matchup that has the potential to be the fight of the night. We recently sat down with Nic Grandbois to get his thoughts on the fight and learn a bit more about him.

HK: Thank you Nic for taking the time to answer our questions despite your training regimen. First, we have to ask: How did you get into the sport of mixed martial arts?

Nic Grandbois: I’m a judo guy from back in the day who’s done some boxing and kickboxing fights, but about five years ago Jesse Bongfeldt started the United Fighter team. I heard about it, so I joined and have been a part of one of the most talented teams in Ontario.

HK: What about your day job? Do you have a family?

Nic Grandbois: I’m a carpenter by day and a bouncer on the weekends. I have three wonderful kids: Maurice is 9,  Aroura is 7, and Daxtan is 1. A typical day is I get up, run 5K, eat and go to work. If I’m not at work I hang with my youngest boy. At 3 PM I lift weights 4 days a week and at 7 I’m training MMA Tuesdays and Thursdays till 9 then I go home and get some sleep.

HK: Sounds like a busy day. How would you describe your style? Do you have a preference as far as striking or grappling goes? Any favorite moves?

Nic Grandbois: My style is very Budojitsu; that is the style we teach hear in Kenora. It’s a unifying principle that translates into every defence is an offensive tool and vice versa. I prefer to grapple because of my background in judo but I am always game to stand up and bang. My preferred strike is the Superman Punch or spinning back fist and my favorite sub has to be the Peruvian Neck Tie.

HK: Who are your training partners? What’s a typical training day like for you?

Nic Grandbois: I train with Jesse Bongfeldt, Harold Brun, Maddy Mejia, and the whole United Fighter Family. Training is a 6 day-a-week job for me: 4 days of Westside Barbell Powerlifting Routine and 2 to 4 days of MMA, kickboxing, Jits, and wrestling…plus I run 5K every other day and every day before a fight.

HK: Any thoughts about your fight on May 25th? Do you see any holes in your opponent’s game?

Nic Grandbois: My thoughts are always the same for every fight: I’m going in there to fight and my opponent will know he is in a fight within the first 30 seconds. He better bring it. I have never seen my opponent fight, but im uploading some video today. My gameplan will not change regardless; hit ‘em with some hands and feet, take him down and ground and pound, and look for the sub or the finish. Either way, I am coming for this win!

HK: Thanks for your time Nic!

Nic Grandbois: Thank you!

Coming up on May 25th, Hard Knocks Fighting is bringing you an all-amateur event at HK33 Estevan. The card has changed quite a bit since being announced and in fact looks completely different. So as a result let’s have a look at how the card has shaken out.

The main event at HK33 is now a light heavyweight bout between Phil Towler and Kevin Taylor. Phil Towler has an eye for the submission game and Kevin Taylor has a good gas tank, so this one could be a chess match.

Then there’s our female bout at 130 lbs. between breakout fighter Victoria “The Vixen” Chadwick and Lynell House, who if you’ve seen her video here on the website you know she means business. Both of these women have shown that they have the cardio to go the distance if need be and an ability to adapt and overcome, so no matter what happens it will be an interesting match up.

Next up is a bantamweight fight between Madison Mejia and Matthew Fiddler. Fiddler’s good on the ground, so Mejia may want to be careful and keep this one on the feet. Of course, this is MMA and anything can happen.

Then there’s a heavyweight bout between Steven Arens and Ryan Proulx. The arena is going to shake when these two go at it. Both men have demonstrated a preference for knocking out their opponents, so expect the heavy leather to fly.

Then we have a light heavyweight bout between Jordan O’Connor and Craig Gaudry. O’Connor has shown a propensity for subs, while Gaudry may be looking for the knockout, so keep your eyes peeled; this one could go either way.

Next up is a fight between Evander “The Real Deal” Masuskapoe and Thomas Richardson. Masuskapoe wants a win in the worst way and has the gas tank to go all three rounds, but he’s going to have his hands full with Richardson, who has finished his previous opponents in the first round.

We also have a match up between Tyrone Halkett and Nic Dupasquier. Halkett has knocked out opponents before, so Dupasquier will have to be on his feet. That being said, Dupasquier has some tricks up his sleeve as well.

We also have a rematch between Bob Macumber and Harold Brun. Their first fight ended in a no contest, so these guys undoubtedly want to find out who really is the better fighter in this fight. Both fighters have shown some aptitude on the ground, so that may be where the fight goes down.

Then there’s Ben Oliviero versus Landon Powell taking place at featherweight. Oliviero has some wicked kicks and an edge in experience, but Powell is pretty durable and knows he can go the distance if need be, so this will be one to watch.

Finally, there’s the lightweight matchup between Jordy Correia and Nic Grandbois. Both fighters have the skill to take the fight wherever it goes, but Grandbois has some good subs in his repertoire so look for Correia to stay alert and play the game he wants to play.

These aren’t the only fights on the card; this is just a taste of what’s coming Saturday night. Don’t forget to keep checking the HK33 event page for updates! See you May 25th!

Jordy Correia has a fight coming up with Nic Grandbois on Saturday, May 25th but he took a little time out of training to answer some questions for us. Read on and look for our interview with his opponent later this week!

HK: Thank you Jordy for taking the time to answer our questions; it can’t be easy with a fight coming up so soon. First, we always like to find out how fighters got into the sport of mixed martial arts. What’s your story?

Jordy Correia: I started in the sport to get in shape. After college I weighed 250 lbs, and so I started eating healthier and losing some weight. I started training MMA to do something fun while getting exercise. I then chose to fight because I wanted to challenge myself.

HK: What about your day job? Any family? What’s a typical day like for you?

Jordy Correia: I work at the Vale nickel plating refinery in Thompson, Manitoba as a Plating Tankman. I’m basically a nickel farmer. I work on the plating cells where we make the final product in the mining process that gets shipped out across the world. The nickel is used in plating shops for chrome plating and many other things. My family life is pretty simple; I’m single with no kids except for my St. Bernard, Rufus. He’s 180 lbs but a big baby.

A typical day for me is waking up at 5 AM, making breakfast, packing my lunch, and getting in an intense, quick workout before work at 7 AM. Then after a 11.5-hour shift, I come home, quickly eat, and head to MMA training at night. When I’m not training I can usually be found hanging out with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and just whatever seems fun at the time.

HK: What’s a typical training day like? Any training partners?

Jordy Correia: We don’t have a lot of guys training here in Thompson. We are a relatively small club but the guys we have are all good, hard-working guys with skills. My main training partner here is Tyrone Keeper; he puts in a lot of hard work with me. He should be easy to spot in my corner; he’ll be the guy dressed like it’s the 1940s.

I also train at WAMMA with Curtis Brigham and all the amazing guys there whenever I can get time to get to Winnipeg. I can’t say enough good things about all the guys there; Curtis is an amazing trainer and person in general. All the guys at the club are awesome, talented guys too. I would also like to take a minute to thank Curtis, Tyrone, and all guys I’ve trained with in Thompson and Winnipeg for all their help. I wouldn’t be here without them.

HK: How would you describe your fighting style? Any favorite subs or strikes?

Jordy Correia: I don’t have a style; I’m constantly learning and improving my skill set to be a complete fighter. I wouldn’t say I prefer one or the other – I just like finishing so I’ll take whichever opening I’m given.

HK: Any thoughts about your upcoming fight?

Jordy Correia: It’s going to be a good fight. He’s a tough guy with more experience than me but I’m going to go out there, show my skills, put on a show for the Estevan fans, and come out with my hand raised. I’m excited to get in the cage again and compete and I’m ready to take the fight wherever it goes, standing or on the ground.

HK: Thank you again for your time Jordy!

Jordy Correia: Thank you and get ready to watch an exciting fight on Saturday; Nic and I are gonna put on a show and at the end of the night I’ll be the guy in the center of the cage with my hand raised.

Bob Macumber and Harold Brun have a rematch coming up at HK33 Estevan on May 25th. We already heard from Harold Brun earlier this week and now it’s Bob Macumber’s turn to sound off. Here he talks not only about his upcoming rematch, but also sheds a little light on his background and training regimen.

HK: First, Bob, let’s just say thank you for taking time out of your training to answer our questions. To begin with, how did you get into MMA?

Bob Macumber: Well, it was a slow process getting into MMA. I started as a dreamer. There were no martial arts gyms in my home town, so I studied fights and how-to videos and books. I moved to Brandon, Manitoba and boxed for a few years, nothing serious, and had two fights, but I wasn’t happy doing pure boxing. After a short stint at the now-defunct PFA Brandon, I wound up at the Brandon Academy of Mixed Martial Arts. There I met Chris Kading who broke my game to pieces and rebuilt me. I learn something new everyday.

HK: What about your personal life outside of MMA?

Bob Macumber: I’m attending Brandon University and getting a BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing. During the summers I work construction to pay the bills and my education. My girlfriend and I are expecting our first child this fall, so that is very exciting for me. A typical day for me might bore others. Other than training, I read and write a lot. I love going to the movies and I’m a horror film nerd.

HK: Congratulations! Getting back to mixed martial arts, what would you consider your style to be? Do you have a preferred strike or submission?

Bob Macumber: My style would be MMA. I don’t have a solid background in any one discipline. I learned Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and Muay Thai at about the same pace. That being said, I lean more towards the wrestling/BJJ. I consider myself a grinder who is competent in a striking situation. My preferred strike or submission is the one that wins the fight! I’m not picky. But if I had to choose, I like the Darce Choke and the left hook off a combo.

HK: What’s a typical training day like for you? Who are your training partners?

Bob Macumber: I train out of BAMMA with coach Chris Kading who has a purple belt under Curtis Brigham. We have a good core of guys and girls who have helped me elevate my game. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without them. Even though you’re in the cage alone, MMA is a team sport. You need good coaches and partners to become a better fighter. A typical day of training is always technique- and cardio-based. Chris is always breaking down the basics. You’re never too good at an armbar or a triangle choke. And there are always variations of of these moves. Striking and grappling require constant progress and no ego. That could be BAMMA’s philosophy in a nut shell.

HK: Any thoughts about your upcoming rematch with Harold Brun? Did you see any holes in his game during your last fight?

Bob Macumber: I wanted this rematch the moment our last fight was ruled a NC. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I have no ill feelings towards Harold, but getting this rematch fired me up. We have unfinished business and I want to settle it.
Everybody has holes in their game, including me, but just look at Harold’s last fight. He has a glaring weakness on the ground and puts his neck in bad places. I hope, for his sake, he has improved his submission defence.

HK: Thanks again Bob and we look forward to your fight on May 25th!

Bob Macumber: Thank you.

We recently sat down with Harold Brun and talked about his upcoming rematch with Bob Macumber and what he has in mind for their next meeting at HK33: Estevan on May 25th. Read on!

HK: First, thank you Harold for taking the time out of your training for your upcoming rematch with Bob Macumber and answering our questions today. Let’s start off by finding out how you got into mixed martial arts.

Harold Brun: Like a lot of guys, I got into the sport just to get into shape. Soon enough, though, I fell in love with it and just never stopped.

HK: What about your fighting style? How would you describe it? Do you have a favorite strike or submission?

Harold Brun: My style? I wouldn’t say I have a style. MMA is the only thing I trained under, so I would say I’m a freestyle fighter. I prefer striking but I love wrestling also…but striking for sure tops wrestling for me. My favorite strike would be the Superman punch and my favorite submission would be the leg triangle.

HK: Do you have any thoughts about your upcoming rematch? Did your previous fight reveal any holes in your opponents game to you?

Harold Brun: This fight coming up should be a good one. I don’t know…the last time we fought I had the better striking but we weren’t on our feet long enough to find out if I really did or not. He tried to take me down, I stuffed it, and then outwrestled him and kept control of the fight. So from my point of view I am the better fighter, but I’m most definitely not going to underestimate the guy; I’m sure he fixed up his game a lot. So it should be a great fight.

HK: Thanks again Harold!

Harold Brun: Thank you.