Passion for the sport and raw emotion will fill the air when the co-main event takes to the mat at HRMMA 118.
Canadian fighter Adam Assenza (12-6) is set to face off against American Sean Fallon (13-6) in a lightweight matchup in Bowling Green, Ky., on Friday evening.
The bout marks a historic moment for 33-year-old Assenza, as it represents his first outing outside of Canadian soil in his entire professional career.
Even with the larger stage and heightened attention awaiting him Friday, Assenza insists his driving force remains a genuine devotion to the craft itself.
"At the end of the day, I fight because I f**king love this s**t," Assenza told MMA Empire in a recent interview.
"I get restless when I don't have a fight booked. I like to be active, I like to fight as much as I possibly can in a year. At the end of the day, I fight because fighting's fun for me."
Fallon, 35 and approaching the seven-year mark in his pro career, echoes Assenza's sentiment regarding his motivation for stepping inside the octagon.
"I don't fight for fortune and fame. Fighting and martial arts are something I am extremely passionate about and I absolutely embrace the challenges of this lifestyle, which include injury after injury, countless sacrifices, being sore all of the time, and heartbreaking losses that can either motivate or break a person," Fallon explained in an interview with MMA Empire.
"I love the hard training, it keeps me sane. The fights are just one way to put it all together and really test myself."
Assenza looking to return to active ways
Assenza's last appearance inside the cage occurred in February 2020 at BTC 9, following numerous unsuccessful attempts to book another fight during the pandemic-disrupted year.
Like many Canadian competitors seeking to maintain activity during that period, Assenza searched south of the border for opportunities, but circumstances simply did not align in his favor.
"We've been looking since the last fight I had. Since February or March of 2020, we've been looking for another fight. It's just been very difficult," Assenza admitted.
"It's been really frustrating. We've been trying the whole time, I've been staying in shape, and I've been in camp pretty much the whole time and keeping my weight down. When this fight came up, I was jumping at the opportunity."
Heading into Friday's matchup, Assenza sits on impressive momentum, boasting two consecutive victories and three wins across his last four contests, notably including his latest triumph over UFC veteran Cody Pfister.
According to Assenza, his ultimate ambition centers on competing in the UFC, and a victory over another formidable challenger in Fallon would inch him closer to that dream.
"I definitely want to fight in the UFC, that's definitely the goal ahead. After this fight, I'll keep lining the guys up and beating them until I do get the call to the UFC," Assenza declared.
"That's definitely where I want to be, I want to fight the best guys. I think my style's tailor-made for the viewers, and I feel as though that's definitely on the horizon."
Fallon has been on Assenza's radar for some time, and the Canadian says he knows precisely what to anticipate when fight night arrives.
While acknowledging areas where Fallon presents legitimate danger and demands careful attention, Assenza also identifies spots he believes he can take advantage of.
"He's definitely a submission-based fighter, but he uses his length very well. He likes to fight long and he makes certain areas of the fight difficult," Assenza observed.
"I think he's great at what he does, but he also has some undisciplined tendencies. When it comes to me, I'm disciplined all around, so I know that'll put me out on top."
Fallon continues to build on career turnaround
Fallon's path to his current 13-6 record and Strikehard Productions lightweight championship status represented a steep climb after opening his professional career with a 3-5 start. Over 11 fights since his final defeat in 2016, Fallon has suffered just one loss — a result he successfully reversed during his Strikehard Productions title victory.
Fallon reflected on carrying multiple responsibilities during the first few years of his professional journey, acknowledging that he came out too aggressively once he stepped into the pro ranks.
"When I turned pro, I was with a different gym," Fallon explained. "I'd already been cross-training with my current team at that point, but the decision to make the switch full-time definitely played a role."
"School was also in the mix back then—I was attending physiotherapy school—and honestly, I was pushing myself way too hard. I continued accepting fights throughout that period, even while completing my clinical rotations. It was a balancing act: working part-time as a server, training and competing at a full-time level, and putting in roughly 40 hours weekly on unpaid clinical placements. Once I finished my degree and began earning a solid income, everything changed. Being able to dedicate myself entirely to fighting made a world of difference."
Now riding a five-bout winning streak, Fallon feels a UFC opportunity remains very much within reach at this stage of his career.
At 35, Fallon sits toward the upper end of the age bracket the UFC typically considers for new signings, though he maintains he's still squarely in his athletic prime.
"I genuinely don't believe age should play any role in my chances to compete against the elite," Fallon stated. "I've invested more time and commitment into this sport than most people around me, regardless of age, and I haven't shown any indication of slowing down."
"I intentionally work harder than everyone around me—that drive was instilled by my father, though I didn't fully embrace it until adulthood. I want to prove it's never too late to pursue your goals and passions, and I truly feel life has positioned me exactly where I need to be."
On paper, Assenza represents one of the most difficult challenges Fallon has faced, and a victory over him could be the biggest and potentially career-altering win of his career.
Fallon said he anticipates needing to perform at his absolute peak across all fifteen minutes of the bout to defeat a resilient and tough opponent in Assenza.
"He's coming off an impressive win against a quality opponent, and I have a lot of respect for him," Fallon noted. "His record sits at 12-6, but I look at that with some perspective because I know he's faced legitimate competition, and accumulating 12 professional victories isn't something to dismiss in my view."
"I consider him a top-tier opponent."
Follow Assenza on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Fallon's Shoutouts
"I want to give thanks to my sponsors—Phalanx Athletics, Bad Boy Bail Bond, Seven Spencer's Detailing, Indy Boxing and Grappling—as well as my family, friends, teammates, and coaches." Follow Fallon on social media: INSTAGRAM
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