Lucas Neufeld wants a fight.

Lethbridge’s Neufeld (3-1) faces Abbotsford’s Gagan Gill (2-0) in a featherweight bout at Fight Night 9 in Lethbridge, Alta. Friday night.

Neufeld, 25, said he’s going to be opportunistic, take whatever is given to him, and not let Gill utilize his strengths.

“I’m going to turn this into a f—ing fight,” said Neufeld in an interview.

“Yes, I’m a martial artist, but it’s just going to get down and dirty. If Gagan wants to be a stylistic kickboxer, I’m not going to let him do that.”

Neufeld is coming off his first loss as a professional, a unanimous decision loss to Jordan Leavitt at Tuff-N-Uff: Fight Night in Las Vegas, NV in September.

Despite the loss, Neufeld said he learned a lot that night in a bout where he said he just needed to be more patient.

“I should’ve used my footwork. I let him crawl in on me, grab onto me, and drag me down,” said Neufeld.

“I should’ve kept him on the end of my jab, been circling, and just taken two minutes out of a round to just get away from him and jab him up. It hurt for sure. I had my heart in my throat.”

All-Out Training Camp

Much like plenty of other mixed martial artists, Neufeld works a full-time job, on top of his training. But not for this training camp.

Neufeld said he took time off work to focus on this fight and, as a result, has been in the gym training every day in that time.

“I’ve given myself the most time I’ve ever given myself to train,” said Neufeld.

“I’m thrilled. I had a full, real, professional fight camp.”

Neufeld will also be back fighting in his hometown for this one, a place he’s proven to be successful and a place he corals a massive following.

He said fighting at home provides him with a real boost of energy, and believes the amount of supporters in the stands can be intimidating for opponents.

“I have so much support here, they give me so much energy, and it’s seemed to have overwhelmed opponents in the past,” said Neufeld.

“I have the upper hand here. He’s coming straight into the lion’s den.”

Neufeld’s Shoutouts

“I want to thank my gym Progressive Fighting Academy, my coaches and training partners, my sponsors Southern Chiropractic Family Wellness, Lafarge Lethbridge, East Meets West, and the great fans that always come out and support. Go to enmaxcentre.ca, find the Fight Night event and use promo code WILDTHING when you get your tickets.”