There’s no questioning the hometown fans went home happy after Unified MMA 34.
Unified MMA 34 delivering two hometown champions is exactly the kind of night that makes regional MMA the engine of the Canadian fight scene — a promotion that consistently produces fighters who go on to bigger stages is doing something right, and a crowd that watched two local boys walk out with belts got their money's worth and then some.
After all was said and done, two local favourites were crowned Unified MMA champions, while multiple others were victorious in their respective bouts at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alta. Friday night.
In the main event, Teddy Ash (now 12-3) became a two-weight champion for Unified MMA, defeating Seth Baczynski (now 21-10) by TKO, waiting till 4:58 of the final round to wrap up one of the most entertaining, back and forth fights in Unified MMA history.
A second title at a second weight class is the kind of achievement that puts a regional fighter in a different conversation entirely — most fighters never hold one belt, and Ash now has three, which at this level means he's done just about everything there is to do outside of a UFC call.
“It was a crazy fight. I really had to face some adversity in there. He was very tough,” said Ash in an interview.
“I didn’t want to burn myself out trying to finish him too quick, so I was trying to be patient, but still put it on him.”
The victory marks six in a row for Ash, as well as a trio of titles in his most recent three fights.
Six straight wins is a legitimate streak at any level — for Ash it's the kind of run that makes him the most accomplished active light heavyweight in Western Canada, and the fact that each title came in a different promotion says he wasn't just beating the same guys over and over.
Regardless of what’s next for him, Ash said he couldn’t be happier to walk out victorious once again.
“Nothing’s better than winning,” said Ash.
Pytlik Becomes Welterweight Champion
In the co-main event slot, Pat Pytlik (now 7-0) and Vyron Phillips (now 7-5-1) treated the fans to another wildly entertaining fight, also stretching into the final round with the Unified MMA welterweight title on the line.
The Pytlik-Phillips co-main was the kind of fight that makes regional MMA worth the price of admission — two welterweights going five full rounds with a title on the line, both landing clean, both hurt, and a finish that came out of nowhere is exactly the kind of drama a headline bout is supposed to deliver.
It would be the local favourite, Pytlik who would emerge victorious via TKO at 0:14 of the fifth round, claiming his first-career title and keeping his undefeated record intact.
A finish that early in a round after being behind on the cards is the kind of reversal that makes MMA the most unpredictable sport in the world — Pytlik spent four rounds losing and needed fourteen seconds to win, which is the kind of thing that only happens to fighters who never stop looking for the opening.
Heading into the final round, Pytlik said he felt he was behind on the scorecards, so he knew he had to let it all loose in the final round.
“I thought I was down on rounds because I kept getting tagged, I kept getting rocked. So, round five I had to go for it. I bit down on my mouthguard and said it’s either him or me,” said Pytlik in an interview.
“I came away with the win and I’m very proud of myself.”
This was the longest fight of Pytlik’s career, having earned the majority of his wins in the first round.
Going the distance for the first time in a title fight is a milestone in itself — a fighter who's always finished early doesn't know what five rounds of damage looks like until he's in it, and the fact that Pytlik's first long fight ended with him still dangerous enough to finish is the kind of composure that separates good prospects from future champions.
He said Phillips was, by far, the toughest test he’s had in his career and was truly surprised at just how tough and durable he was.
“In my mind, that was an equal fight until I landed that punch,” said Pytlik.
“Vyron was definitely the best fighter I’ve ever fought.”
Anderson Continues to Rise
In the lightweight division, Neal Anderson (now 8-3) and Kolton Menzak (now 5-5, 1 NC) also put on a display of striking in their matchup, with Anderson coming out on the right side of a highly-entertaining unanimous decision.
Anderson at lightweight is exactly the kind of veteran the division needs — a fighter who's been in enough wars to know how to win ugly, which in a 155-pound division full of hungry prospects is exactly the kind of experience that matters in the later rounds.
Anderson said although he took more damage than he would’ve liked, he’s just happy it was a good fight.
“It was a tough fight, and I was kind of expecting that,” said Anderson in an interview.
“My last fight was kind of boring and my friends bought a lot of tickets off me, so I wanted to stand and trade, and that’s what we did.”
The victory now marks four in a row for Anderson in the lightweight division, potentially moving him to the top of the list for the next lightweight title challenge.
Four straight wins at lightweight is the kind of momentum that puts Anderson on the short list for a title shot — the division has been looking for a consistent contender, and a fighter who keeps winning the kind of fights he's supposed to win is exactly who a promotion wants to build around.
Coming out of the fight, Anderson said he feels injury-free and wants to get right back at it again as soon as possible.
“I’m down for whatever Unified offers me,” said Anderson.
“I’m not getting any younger, so I want to fight on the December card.”
Nick Hrabec, Matt Klute, Malcolm Tisdale, Sambath Khun, Tyrell Giselbrecht, and Harley King were also victorious on the card.
