Both men have tasted championship glory before, and they're gunning for another shot at the top.
Edmonton's Craig Shintani (8-3) takes on Duncan's Corey Gower (7-6) for the Havoc FC lightweight title on Friday night at Havoc FC 14 in Red Deer, Alta.
The 28-year-old Shintani was once slated to clash with Clay Dixon at Unified MMA 35 for the promotion's featherweight championship before Dixon pulled out just moments before the bout for personal reasons. He also captured the XFFC interim featherweight crown after besting Chris Day at XFFC 21.
Shintani noted that while a belt would certainly be rewarding, his focus lies less on the hardware and more on putting together a strong showing.
"I've had it in my mind that, regardless of whether there's a belt involved, I just need to step in there and execute," said Shintani during an interview with MMA Empire. "If I finish the contest and see a belt heading my way, that would make me very happy."
"Ultimately, I just need to step into the cage and perform. That's all there is to it. If I execute what I know I can do, I'll get to celebrate with a shiny belt around my waist."
Gower, 33, arrived at this card riding high after capturing the Havoc FC bantamweight title at Havoc FC 13, where he secured a second-round submission victory over Rick Pfeifer to claim his first career championship.
Aiming to become a two-division champion in Havoc FC, Gower expressed excitement about potentially achieving something uncommon in mixed martial arts by leaping two weight divisions for a shot at a second belt.
"That's really what makes this matchup so intriguing—having the chance to capture a title two weight classes higher than where I currently compete. Not a lot of fighters have done that," said Gower in conversation with MMA Empire.
"It actually fuels me to step in and deliver, and I think it puts added pressure on him too. He's facing someone two weight classes beneath him, and a loss wouldn't look great. That takes some of the burden off me."
Returning to Lightweight for Shintani
Throughout his career, Shintani has moved between featherweight and lightweight, whereas Gower is making a two-division climb for this bout, typically competing at bantamweight.
Shintani is curious to see exactly how much smaller Gower will be relative to his usual opponents, and anticipates holding a significant strength edge when the fight arrives.
"Moving up two divisions, I feel like my strength will stand out," said Shintani.
"I expect I'll feel a lot different against him than he will against me. He'll experience my strength and size advantage, and it'll overwhelm him."
Six of Shintani's eight victories have come inside the distance, demonstrating his capacity to finish bouts and deliver thrilling action.
Whether the bout goes the distance or ends early with a thrilling finish, Shintani anticipates an engaging matchup ahead.
"Corey fights from the left side and relies heavily on striking, so we've tailored our preparation accordingly," explained Shintani.
"I'm anticipating a hard-hitting, high-tempo contest, and I fully expect Corey to deliver."
Gower Anticipates an Exciting Bout
Gower's five stoppage victories demonstrate his capacity to end bouts across his entire professional run.
Given Shintani's own penchant for finishing opponents, Gower believes spectators shouldn't look away from this one.
"This is shaping up to be a must-watch matchup. He never retreats—he advances and trades punches," shared Gower.
"I'd prefer him to stand and exchange strikes. He's a skilled competitor with an impressive record, and I'm genuinely pumped up."
Though he typically trains out of Black Box MMA in Duncan, Gower devoted this camp to Hawaii, splitting time between Gracie Technics and Hawaii Elite MMA, where he sparred with UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and Yancy Medeiros.
Gower noted that immersing himself in a complete training block alongside top-tier talent like Holloway and Medeiros has sharpened his readiness significantly.
"It's been incredibly beneficial. I've spent five weeks training there previously, and they've incorporated several key strategies specifically designed for this upcoming bout," said Gower.
"Holloway's takedown defense is unmatched, so we dedicated substantial time to countering it since I believe Craig will attempt to clinch and push me against the fence for a takedown. We ran some excellent sparring sessions, and I'm confident it'll pay off."
Shintani Acknowledgments
"I want to recognize my sponsors (Clinch Fight Shop, Pierce McAllister), my coaching staff (Aaron Kapiczowski, Julian Fischer), my training partners, and my incredible wife Sara." Connect with Shintani online: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Gower Acknowledgments
"I appreciate my sponsors (Klean Detailz, MAC Concrete, Sticks and Stones), my coaches (Josh Spong, Ron Pearce, Shane Jung, Blake McVittie), Gracie Technics, Hawaii Elite, and Zuma Martial Arts." Find Gower online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
