Blake Oswald's professional MMA debut isn't going to follow the typical script.
Oswald (0-0) steps into the octagon for the first time as the FLA 5 headliner, facing local hero Jerico MacPhee (2-1) in a lightweight clash Saturday night in Pictou, N.S.
Oswald embraced the chance Fight League Atlantic handed him, setting his sights on ruining MacPhee's hometown celebration.
"My manager Brad (Da Silva) put this one together," Oswald told MMA Empire. "We dug the matchup, I'm down for anything, and when they pitched it to me, I was all in."
"Somehow we landed the main event, and with him being the hometown guy, they're flying me in hoping he gets to enjoy the after-party afterward. Our plan? We're crashing it."
A victory at FLA 5 would give Oswald's fledgling career a massive boost, and he's thrilled to have the chance.
"He's coming in 2-1 on paper, and I'm making my debut," Oswald said. "He's got a winning record behind him, which means I've got zero pressure. I'm just ready to put on a good show."
Oswald approaches this bout with a fearless mindset. He admits he hasn't spent hours studying MacPhee, but he has respect for what the Nova Scotia native brings to the table.
"I know he's solid on the mat with wrestling and has respectable stand-up skills, plus he holds a brown belt in BJJ," Oswald noted.
"In his last outing, he caught a head-and-arm triangle with only three seconds left in the fight despite having the entire first round go against him. I think I just need to attack and stay aggressive. He's definitely tough, but I don't believe he's prepared for what I'm bringing to the table. I doubt he's dealt with anyone quite like me before."
The hostile environment plays right into Oswald's excitement.
"That's the best part — being the underdog," Oswald said.
"I've been flown in from five or six hours away for most of my fights to face someone else's home crowd, and now I'm doing it again. Only difference this time, we're catching a flight."
Keep up with Oswald online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
