Canada's fighters had a productive evening in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday night.
Five Canadian competitors took to the Octagon at XFC 43, with hopes of advancing deeper into the lightweight and welterweight tournament brackets.
Scott Hudson (now 12-5-1) of Hamilton, Ont., earned a unanimous decision over D'Juan Owens (now 18-16), combining sharp striking with nonstop ground and pound work to earn identical 30-27 scores across all three judges' cards.
Though Hudson admitted he felt let down at not securing a finish, reviewing the footage afterward left him satisfied with his dominant showing.
🇨🇦 "Handsome" Scott Hudson earns his 12th win at #XFC43 vs. a very game D'Juan Owens & advances to the quarterfinals of the #XFC Lightweight Championship Tournament, LIVE on @FiteTV
WATCH: https://t.co/zuKsBsnDQN pic.twitter.com/wVGfKw7KyS
— XFC MMA (@OfficialXFC) November 12, 2020
"Reviewing it now, I controlled that fight pretty clearly. Those 30-27 scorecards probably undersold it—it felt closer to 30-25," Hudson told MMA Empire during a post-fight interview.
"That opponent showed incredible toughness. I was genuinely impressed by his grit. I landed some heavy shots and threw more elbows in that contest than I have in any previous fight, so there's plenty to build on."
Thanks to the victory, Hudson moves forward to the semi-finals of the XFC lightweight tournament, scheduled for an upcoming date in 2021, where he faces UFC veteran Kurt Holobaugh.
Anticipating Holobaugh as the most demanding challenge of his career, Hudson expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of adding a UFC veteran to his list of defeated opponents.
"A UFC veteran—that's exactly what I'm looking to add to my resume, beating someone of his caliber. I think there are several ways I can create trouble for him," Hudson explained.
"He's absolutely a fighter to respect and take seriously, but I'm confident I possess everything needed to end this fight."
O'Connor's Tactical Approach Paid Off
Tom O'Connor (now 9-1) from Lethbridge, Alta., forced a referee stoppage against Jose Caceres (now 15-11) late in the bout, with officials calling a halt to the action at the two-minute mark of round three due to unanswered strikes.
O'Connor faced an eight-inch height disadvantage against Caceres from the opening bell, which he described as uncomfortable early on, though he eventually found his rhythm.
🇨🇦 @TomBigNasty lives up to his nickname at #XFC43, cruising to 9-1 & the 2nd round of the #XFC Lightweight Championship Tournament, LIVE on @FiteTV
WATCH: https://t.co/zuKsBsnDQN pic.twitter.com/rqiMGQrKCY
— XFC MMA (@OfficialXFC) November 11, 2020
"It's misleading, especially since I'm on the shorter side, but my reach turned out surprisingly long. His span measured around 74.5 to 75 inches, and mine clocked in at 74.5 inches—which was honestly hard to accept. We had them measure it five times because neither of us believed it," O'Connor shared with MMA Empire.
"Those small details matter enormously when it comes to distance control. He was taller and leveraged his reach effectively, but the key was positioning my feet correctly. If I angle myself slightly to his side, my reach becomes more advantageous than his, even if technically shorter. Being in the right spot at the right moment flips that supposed advantage back in my favor."
O'Connor is now slated to face DWCS alumnus Kenny Cross in the lightweight semi-finals, after Cross captured a second-round TKO against Jarel Askew in separate action.
Having spent the week alongside Cross and watched him compete, O'Connor looks ahead to their clash and anticipates an exciting matchup.
"He's a powerful, explosive fighter. It's interesting in this tournament environment—we've been hanging out all weekend, swapping jokes, and he was in the same corner area as me. He comes across as a genuinely nice, charismatic person who loves entertaining crowds," O'Connor remarked.
"I'm thrilled to be competing in this tournament and earning opportunities like this. I think this fight is going to be a blast. I love facing the elite in the sport, and I want to keep adding names to my list of beaten opponents—Cross is next."
Dickson Settles the Score With Hill
Ryan Dickson (now 11-5) of Hamilton, Ont., returned to competition following a five-year absence, dispatching fellow Canadian Michaell Hill (now 11-6-1) inside the opening minute via a first-round rear-naked choke. The bout served as a rematch between the two, who previously met in 2014 with Hill claiming a unanimous decision victory.
Following a brief feeling-out phase, Dickson grabbed the takedown that ultimately produced the submission finish, though ground work was never part of his original strategy.
🇨🇦 @rydmma made a MAJOR statement in the opening round of our Welterweight Championship Tournament at #XFC43, LIVE on @FiteTV
WATCH: https://t.co/zuKsBsnDQN pic.twitter.com/SO6i8azmCh
— XFC MMA (@OfficialXFC) November 11, 2020
"My plan was to trade strikes, but I could almost predict his intentions based on our prior encounter. He was noticeably cautious, and I saw him reaching for that right hand—a punch that previously cut me and knocked me off balance," Dickson explained in an interview with MMA Empire.
"I worked my double jab and right hand combination, and once it connected, I kept launching sequences. When I noticed his hands come up defensively, instead of engaging in a brawl, I spotted the opening for a takedown—and that was game over. With my black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muscle memory took over."
Dickson now prepares to face UFC veteran Bobby Nash in the welterweight tournament semi-finals. Nash eliminated Canadian Spencer Jebb from contention via first-round TKO.
Dickson views Nash as an ideal matchup and foresees a similar outcome to his previous bout.
"I love that fight. He's tough, physically imposing, has UFC experience, a solid record, and he beat Spencer Jebb—a genuine competitor," Dickson stated.
"I intend to execute the same game plan against Bobby Nash. Unless he takes his grappling seriously, I'm submitting him."
