It was a memorable evening for the latest champions to join XFFC's ranks.
XFFC 19 took place Saturday night in Grande Prairie, Alta., showcasing nine bouts total, with three of them carrying championship stakes.
In the evening's main event, Michael Hill and Matt Krayco (now 7-8-1) delivered a thrilling five-round showcase for fans at the Entrec Centre, with Hill emerging as the new XFFC welterweight champion via unanimous decision.
"It means the world to me to show my dad, my daughter, everyone who backs me, and all the dreamers out there that when you put in the work, commit fully, and push through life's highs and lows, becoming a champion is possible," Hill shared during an interview.
"I hold that title now, and nothing can strip it away."
The win extends Hill's winning streak to three consecutive bouts, pushing his professional record to 11-4-1.
The 31-year-old expressed eagerness to step onto the bigger stage, naming Sheldon Westcott as the fighter occupying a UFC roster spot that Hill believes belongs in his hands.
"My target is Sheldon Westcott. This guy is sitting on a UFC position without even fighting," Hill stated.
"I want to fight on the big show. I produce exciting fights, and that's exactly why fans buy tickets."
Rising Talent
The amateur main event and featherweight championship presented the traditional striker-versus-grappler clash, with the striker prevailing in this matchup.
Albaraa Atmeh (now 4-1) leveraged sharp striking, punishing leg kicks, and reliable takedown defense to systematically dismantle Isaiah Metituk (now 4-3), securing a third-round TKO victory.
"What mattered most going into this fight was maintaining composure. I stayed extremely calm throughout," Atmeh reflected in a post-fight interview.
"There were nerves early on, but once I stepped into the arena, it felt like being at home. I've been competing since I was four, and this place is my second home. I intend to carry this success to the highest level of competition."
As Atmeh, 20, continued landing clean strikes to Metituk's head, it was ultimately those leg kicks that brought the stoppage.
Once Atmeh spotted Metituk favoring his leg after the initial kicks, he recognized he could neutralize his opponent's mobility.
"Leg kicks are such an underrated weapon in MMA. You damage the leg, destroy their footwork, they can't evade your strikes, and they can't defend against takedowns," Atmeh explained.
"Every punch and that wheel kick were all established through the leg work."
Atmeh heads to Bahrain in November for the Amateur MMA World Championships, where he will represent Team Canada.
The Unbeaten Continue
Opening the night's amateur title action, Jett Grande (now 7-0) deployed his wrestling prowess and relentless pressure to capture the XFFC amateur lightweight championship from Neal Gottzmann (now 3-1) through a hard-fought unanimous decision.
The 20-year-old Grande described Gottzmann as the most demanding challenge of his fledgling career, refusing to yield an inch and offering no openings for a finish.
"He's hands-down the hardest opponent I've faced. He's incredibly crafty and a slick grappler, so I had to stay sharp, and his conditioning was elite," Grande noted in an interview.
"I went for the finish in round one but couldn't close it out. He handled the pressure beautifully, which made it a fantastic war."
Grande joins Atmeh in training for the World Championships, where he hopes to protect his flawless record and return to Red Deer with gold.
Despite Gottzmann's well-rounded arsenal, Grande viewed the bout as ideal preparation for November.
"This was the perfect tune-up ahead of Worlds. I got to prove my abilities across the board," Grande said.
"He pushed me in standup exchanges, I had to battle in the clinch, I took him down to test my wrestling, and I worked my ground game."
On the rest of the card, William Carriere, Randy Mahon, Jordan Roberts, Daryl St. Rose, Grey Patino, and Harley King each secured victories in their respective matchups.
