A clash of titans awaits Friday night in Vancouver.
Edmonton, Alta.'s Christian Larsen (5-1) meets Vancouver, B.C.'s Caio Machado (4-1-1) in a showdown for BFL heavyweight gold at BFL 67. The bout airs on UFC Fight Pass on June 4.
The Unified MMA titleholder, Larsen, is setting his sights on adding another championship to his collection as he prepares to face Machado on Friday night.
"I haven't dug deep into him. He looked solid against Lee (Mein). I see he eats a fair number of shots, though. He's got a sturdy chin and a knack for brushing off damage," said Larsen in conversation with MMA Empire.
"He'll probably make adjustments for this bout in June since I doubt he'll be smiling through too many of my strikes. He's solid—he's a champ. His record sits at 4-1, so I'm not discounting him, but I haven't watched much of him."
Larsen, 34, arrives on Friday in peak form, having closed out his last three bouts by knockout, two of them inside the opening round.
A remarkable four-fight run that saw Larsen fall to Jared Kilkenny, dispatch Canadian MMA trailblazer Lee Mein, dominate Tyler King, and then redeem himself against Kilkenny to secure the Unified MMA title has transformed the ascending heavyweight contender.
"Those were genuinely pivotal contests. The Kilkenny loss, the win over Lee (Mein), and then immediately following up with the quick strike against Tyler King—that trio really shifted something in me. My confidence inside the cage and my overall experience have grown substantially thanks to those three fights specifically, and turning around that loss to Kilkenny meant everything to me."
"That was a must-win scenario. Going down twice to Kilkenny and surrendering my belt opportunity would have redirected my entire career. That victory carried enormous weight for me."
The UFC Fight Pass broadcast brings undeniable advantages, in certain respects.
Still, Larsen insists he doesn't let the platform generate additional pressure on his performance.
"It's more visibility, a bit more revenue for the promotion, and consequently more for us. That's positive," said Larsen.
"As for altering the fight itself, it changes nothing for me. Whether I'm stepping into a packed arena or an empty venue, the job stays the same."
Larsen trains out of one of Canada's premier facilities, Shaved Bears MMA, whose roster includes Tanner Boser, Teddy Ash, Graham Park and others.
Larsen shares a particular bond with UFC heavyweight Boser. In fact, Boser and Larsen once labored side by side at Diamonds, an experience that helped launch Larsen's fighting career.
"Our gym is stacked with accomplished athletes. Your environment shapes you—you can't drop anyone into that locker room and expect results without putting in the work. Anyone willing to grind will find success. I got lucky landing there," said Larsen.
"Tanner's exceptional. I've lived with him, worked with him, trained with him. He possesses the strongest work ethic of anyone I've encountered. Slacking off becomes impossible when someone beside you is pushing themselves relentlessly every single day. It drives you to go further, and I'm grateful for that."
The atmosphere at the camp transcends typical MMA gym culture—it functions as a genuine fighting family in Sherwood Park.
"This gym, our squad, our coaches—they've poured massive amounts of effort into us. Our head coaches hold full-time jobs. All our coaches do the same, giving up their personal time after hours to come in, train us, and support us," said Larsen.
"There's definitely a family bond here, particularly regarding the gym and maintaining standards. Holding onto championships and similar accomplishments. Nobody wants to disappoint the group. Things worked out beautifully."
Follow Larsen on social media: INSTAGRAM
