Canada's oldest continuously running MMA promotion returns this weekend with a stacked card of amateur and professional bouts.
Rumble in the Cage 64 heads to the Lethbridge Exhibition Park on Saturday evening. Headlining the main card, hometown fighter Colton Boxell (1-4) from Lethbridge will square off against Athabasca's Josh Kitchen (5-3) in middleweight division action.
"My striking is sharp and my confidence has reached new heights," Boxell told MMA Empire during an interview. "For me, this has been relentless growth—a true pursuit of excellence."
"I feel incredibly strong about the striking system we've developed here and the dedication I've poured into it. The framework the Mein's built is outstanding, and what makes CMAC so special is that it runs around the clock. If you're struggling late at night, you can just head to the gym and work through it."
Training out of the Canadian Martial Arts Centre (CMAC), Boxell enjoyed a standout amateur career before making the jump to professional competition.
While he's dealt with some losses as a pro, Boxell views those experiences as valuable lessons along his path toward minimizing distractions and sharpening his skills as a fighter.
"I've learned to keep life outside the cage from weighing too heavily on me. The cage will always be there, and I'll always find my way back," Boxell shared.
"After some of those recent fights, there was a ton of noise going on. I just need to step in and compete. We all have the same 24 hours each day—if I don't dedicate myself to this, what else am I doing? This is what I live for. I love fighting, so I'm pouring everything into it. I'm bringing more tactical preparation to this bout. I add a new technique every camp, and I'm eager to demonstrate what I've been working on and secure a solid victory."
This weekend, Boxell returns to the middleweight limit of 185 pounds for his upcoming bout. Although he previously competed at 165 pounds and took a tough defeat to Jett Grande in May 2022, Boxell says he feels more comfortable with a lighter weight cut.
"Being at middleweight definitely helps. I didn't struggle as much cutting to 170, but 165 was difficult," Boxell admitted.
"Toward the end of that fight, I just didn't have the same power and explosiveness I'd shown in the opening two rounds. I used to be a swimmer before I started training, and you can't pack on muscle mass as a swimmer without something extraordinary happening. When I left swimming for muay thai, I began building muscle and reached my current size—and I haven't looked back since."
True to form, Boxell has thoroughly studied his opponent ahead of this weekend's fight. Acknowledging Kitchen's impressive Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials as a black belt, Boxell is eager to prove his own elite-level abilities.
"He trains under Luke Harris. I found one video of him, and he showed a forward-rushing style. I definitely can't let him get the top position," Boxell noted.
"If he does get on top, I have to stay active in my escapes and keep moving. I need urgency—gotta get out from underneath him. There's a real risk of being pinned and ground-and-pounded, so I need to prepare for that scenario. I'm naturally an escape artist, so I thrive in difficult positions."
With confidence high, Boxell welcomes whatever game plan Kitchen brings. He expects a dominant performance and is hunting for a highlight-reel finish on Saturday night.
"I know he recently earned his black belt, but he hasn't fought in eight years. His last bout was a boxing match that he lost by TKO in round two. I'm not a boxer, but I know my striking is sharp, and if he senses even a flicker of fear, he'll start chasing takedowns—which means my wrestling will be ready," Boxell laid out.
"I expect him to throw a few punches and shoot for a takedown. I'll give him the room, land one strike, defend the shot. I'll force him to grapple and burn his energy, then when he's fatigued, I'll pick my shots and take him down in the third round. I'll finish with ground and pound or a submission—whichever route he chooses for me to break him."
Boxell's shoutouts
"Everyone around the gym at CMAC, I love the entire team." Follow Boxell on social media: INSTAGRAM
