This Saturday evening, Atlantic Canada's Fight League Atlantic promotion delivers its fourth installment from Sackville, New Brunswick.
The FLA 4 head matchup ranks among the finest matchups to grace the Canadian MMA landscape this season, as Ontario's Patrick Connors (4-4) steps into the cage against Justin Bourgeois (7-6) for a 150-pound catchweight contest.
At 27 years old, Connors accepted this bout on short notice following a solid victory over Yohan Salvador at Samourai MMA 2 earlier this past May, a triumph that ended a string of four straight defeats.
"I poured significant effort into that outing, and I'd love to maintain that forward momentum since the grind never lets up," Connors told MMA Empire. "There are moments when the losses make you wonder why you even stay in this game."
When it comes to veteran depth, Bourgeois represents the toughest challenge Connors has faced to date.
Even though Bourgeois returns after a six-year absence, Connors recognizes this matchup will demand his full attention from an adversary who brings just as many weapons to the table.
"I'm aware he's as versatile as I am," Connors noted. "He's been vocal about enjoying his striking and how his foundation came from wrestling. He studied under Wagney Fabiano and Nova Unao, just like I did."
"What I hear about him is that he's rugged and resilient. That's precisely the kind of competitor I want facing me—one I can't finish easily but whose effort looks spectacular. That's the standard I'm chasing. I want to ride out the complete 15 minutes and dominate this opponent, so recognizing his all-around sharpness keeps me equally sharp across the board, and I'm genuinely excited for it."
Keep up with Connors online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
Cover photo: Serge Cloutier/Samourai MMA
