Expectations were high for Rise FC 5, and the card absolutely delivered Saturday night in Chilliwack, B.C.
The main event saw Chad Anheliger (now 10-5) retain his Rise FC bantamweight title for the first time, extending his winning streak to eight with a third-round TKO victory over Brady Hiestand (now 4-1).
Before the finish, both competitors found success at various points during the bout, including a tight d'arce choke that Hiestand secured as the second round wound down.
"I'm pleased with how everything unfolded. I love getting pushed by tough opponents who force me to adjust and think on my feet," Anheliger told MMA Empire following the bout.
"I'm just grateful he treated this fight with the seriousness it deserved. He came to take that belt, and that's exactly what drove me to bring my best."
Anheliger was initially scheduled to meet Jamie Siraj before Siraj withdrew due to injury.
Watching from the sidelines, Siraj remains the clear next contender for the title, and Anheliger expressed no hesitation about facing him.
"The fight's still available. I already put my signature on that contract once, and the matchup fell through, so I'm not sure what else people expect from me," Anheliger remarked.
"If he's next, then he's next and we'll make it happen."
Da Silva Demonstrates Complete Skill Set
The co-main event featured Radley Da Silva (now 2-1), who looked completely sharp despite a six-year absence from competition. Da Silva submitted John Nguyen (now 2-1) in the second round to capture the featherweight championship.
While the matchup pitted two accomplished strikers against each other, the fight ultimately played out on the mat, with Nguyen controlling much of the opening round before Da Silva executed a clean level change to secure a takedown in the second.
Despite his capoeira roots, Da Silva noted that the way the contest unfolded matched his exact expectations.
"It played out exactly as I imagined. I could've won without throwing a single strike because I know how to adapt," Da Silva shared with MMA Empire.
"I take the most efficient route—there's no reason to try and brawl when that's not my style. I've spent my entire life training, I'm disciplined, and I know precisely what needs to happen and when."
Da Silva hails from a family deeply entrenched in combat sports across both local and international scenes.
Having earned his first championship, Da Silva described the achievement as something that will remain etched in his memory forever.
"This belt carries tremendous meaning for me because my family has been part of the Vancouver fight community for more than ten years, and this represents the first pro championship I'm bringing home," Da Silva explained.
"My dad competed professionally, both my cousins went pro, my brother fought as an amateur, and now I'm in the pro ranks myself. This is the first title I'm adding to our family legacy, and I couldn't be prouder."
Ouellet Closes Out the Trilogy
In the amateur lightweight championship trilogy matchup, Raphael Ouellet (now 3-1) emerged victorious via second-round submission of Damon Marlow (now 2-2), earning himself the new Rise FC amateur lightweight crown.
After splitting the first two encounters by decision, Ouellet said he wanted to make a definitive statement in the rubber match—and he did just that.
"It was a solid fight and Damon proved to be a tough challenger. We've now met three times, so I knew exactly what he'd bring," Ouellet told MMA Empire.
"I focused on landing my strikes, and when it hit the mat, I went for the submission."
This championship marks the first title of Ouellet's amateur career, captured on his initial opportunity.
Looking ahead, Ouellet plans to accumulate a few more amateur bouts, defend his newly won title, and prepare for his transition to the professional ranks.
"It's a significant milestone, a stepping stone toward going pro. I'm not doing this to fight for nothing," Ouellet stated.
"It's demanding work, but a handful more amateur fights and I'll definitely turn pro."
Josh Kwiatkowski, Vicente Mabanta, Kieran Davies, Maria Djukic, and Jason Bakes all departed Chilliwack with wins on their record cards, while James Foster and Alex Branom battled to a split draw in what was named fight of the night.
