MMA competition is gearing up to resume in Canada.
Josh Kwiatkowski of Aldergrove, B.C. (4-2) and Blake Sigvaldason of Kelowna, B.C. (3-2) will lock horns at Rise FC 6. This featherweight matchup adds to a card that signals the comeback of regional mixed martial arts across Canada. All the action takes place at Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria, B.C.
Kwiatkowski has spent his whole life competing in sports, so he's never struggled to stay active. That makes the forced slowdown of the coronavirus pandemic particularly grating—at times unbearable, really. He's gone on record calling 2020 the most difficult year of his life.
"Obviously, it was tough," Kwiatkowski told MMA Empire. "So many changes, and that quarantine I think made or broke a lot of young fighters. You can't afford to skip an entire year of training. You can't lose a year of progression. And I didn't. I kept myself sharp, I kept learning, and I kept grinding through the whole thing, plugging the gaps in my game and constantly tweaking things to squeeze every bit of value out of the time I had."
"I've been a bit frustrated, a bit fired up, itching to compete—and that won't shift anytime soon. I always want to step in and throw hands. So expect me to stay a little spicy until I get what I want."
This fight brings Sigvaldason back to the octagon for the first time since his Rise FC 4 outing in July 2019, and the anticipation is real.
Some adjustments were unavoidable, but Sigvaldason, 27, appears to have adjusted fairly smoothly to the altered training landscape created by a worldwide health crisis.
"Normally I'd hit team practice and then move through all the different classes that Toshido offers. But with the shutdowns during the pandemic, we've basically had to build our own schedule. We still do the group sessions and everything, but we've mostly pieced together the extra work ourselves," Sigvaldason shared with MMA Empire.
"I'm pumped to get back inside and demonstrate what I've been drilling. It's been ages since I've been in the cage, and even in that last outing, it went under a minute or so. I barely got to show any of what I've been working on."
Kwiatkowski arrives well-prepared
Kwiatkowski arrives at this fight riding a second-round TKO win over Randy Mahon at Rise FC 5.
Despite walking away with the decision, Kwiatkowski admitted the road wasn't entirely smooth, notably encountering problems with his weight management.
"To be completely honest, it wasn't ideal. Fighting rarely is, but there were situations leading up to that bout. A lot of fighters get the option to step aside and avoid the fight altogether. Some guys choose to dig deep and show up anyway. I did that. Got the second-round finish. Great result," Kwiatkowski said.
"Stuff happens along this path, and you can either treat it as a lesson or just steam past it and miss the point entirely. That whole camp and that weight cut was supposed to happen—it was supposed to build my professionalism, discipline, and smarts."
Kwiatkowski is coached by Shawn Albrecht and Dan Golkar at Ascension Martial Arts and Scorpion Martial Arts. He also added training time at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Etobicoke with Micah Brakefield, a Submission Underground veteran.
Kwiatkowski noted that having several fighters preparing for upcoming bouts gives the gym a palpable buzz.
"My team is absolutely stacked right now with upcoming fights. Since Keanan (Kellar) and I aren't in the same weight class, we don't get as much live sparring in, but we're always hitting the road together, constantly adjusting our schedules, and putting in serious strength and conditioning work. We share a lot of the same coaches," Kwiatkowski explained.
"Our ambition remains the same—getting signed with the UFC. That's really the only objective. We want to put in the work, train intelligently, stay committed and focused, trust that everything we're putting in will eventually come back around, and enjoy the process along the way."
Having faced off against Sigvaldason on several occasions in previous bouts, Kwiatkowski knows exactly what he's getting into when it comes to his opponent's strengths.
When describing the approach for this matchup, Kwiatkowski painted a straightforward picture.
"Blake's got three victories via rear-naked choke or submission. I've got three wins by knockout. I'm not scared to engage him on the mat. But at the end of the day, when you have the ability to cut someone down or knock them out, I'm going to choose the path of least resistance. I won't force a fight into areas where he's dominant, but I do know he's aware I can finish people," explained Kwiatkowski.
"I know as soon as I make contact with him, there's going to be some anxiety and some wrestling scrambles. I believe people will be blown away by how much my wrestling and grappling have improved because I'm developing into a much more complete fighter. I can't wait to demonstrate what I've added to my toolkit."
Sigvaldason confident in upper hand in certain aspects
Despite being just five bouts into his professional journey, Sigvaldason has already shared the octagon with some of Canada's elite bantamweights, such as Michael Imperato and Jamie Siraj.
Sigvaldason's assessment of Kwiatkowski suggests there's a sense of mutual respect building between these competitors as they prepare for their upcoming match.
"I see him as a solid challenger, a legitimate test. He's a well-rounded fighter, but I genuinely believe I'm superior to him in several specific areas," noted Sigvaldason.
"I'm simply going to work on putting him in positions where he feels uneasy."
While Saturday night's fight is the primary focus, Sigvaldason revealed he has broader objectives for the remainder of the year.
"My main priority is just to secure as many fights as possible this year. Hopefully I'll pick up some championships, and then we'll see what happens after the year wraps up," shared Sigvaldason.
Overcoming setbacks and bouncing back from losses isn't new to Sigvaldason's story.
This is the very same fighter who once rode a Greyhound for 28 hours alone, without a coach or corner support, for an early career bout. He went 0-3 as an amateur, pushed past that, and ultimately claimed a professional title—pushing through adversity even during those formative stages.
"It's something I've always valued—perseverance, you know. I invest way too much time and energy into my craft," reflected Sigvaldason.
"I'm not going to let a few speed bumps derail me. Even if they're major obstacles, I keep pressing ahead."
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