Canadian MMA took its long-awaited return last night at Rise FC 6 in Victoria, British Columbia, ending a stretch of more than a year away from the country due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The middleweight main event saw Elias Theodorou (now 18-3) deliver a commanding showing against fellow UFC alum Matt Dwyer (now 11-8), ultimately earning a third-round TKO.
Before Dwyer stepped into the mix, Theodorou struggled to locate a fellow Canadian willing to take the bout, and he expressed genuine appreciation for having Dwyer in the cage with him.
"Fighting Matt Dwyer was truly an honor," Theodorou said during his post-fight remarks. "He's a real vet, a real warrior, and the only guy in Canada willing to step up and face me."
"He came to win, not just to participate. It was a privilege sharing the cage with him, though I've always known I rank among the world's best—and I demonstrate that every time I return."
This bout carried added significance beyond typical competition, as Theodorou became the inaugural athlete to compete using a therapeutic use exemption for cannabis.
Theodorou noted he received numerous offers from larger promotions following his departure from the UFC, yet he felt compelled to continue advocating against cannabis-related stigma.
"I had chances to fight in various leagues with excellent opponents, but I'm someone who finishes what he begins—both inside and outside the octagon," he explained.
"I wanted to make that historic therapeutic use exemption count, something I've fought so hard for within and beyond the cage—not just for me, but for fellow athletes."
Kwiatkowski Extends His Winning Streak
In the co-feature, Josh Kwiatkowski (now 5-2) captured his fourth consecutive victory via first-round TKO over Blake Sigvaldason (now 3-3).
After neutralizing Sigvaldason's takedown efforts, Kwiatkowski rained down elbows to the feet, dropped his opponent, and prompted the referee to intervene as additional strikes landed on the mat.
"The contest unfolded much as I anticipated," Kwiatkowski told MMA Empire. "I figured Blake would look to shoot early, but I sensed he'd circle around and probe a bit more than he actually did."
"I suspected Toshido and Blake believed I had vulnerabilities in my wrestling and grappling, and they never got the chance to find out—they couldn't get me to the ground. I've invested heavily over the past year in refining my takedown defense and grappling, so I wish the next challenger luck."
At 5-2 and riding a four-bout win and finish streak, Kwiatkowski appears well-positioned for a clash with another emerging featherweight contender.
When asked about his next opponent, Kwiatkowski mentioned only one name: Lucas Neufeld.
"Please, God, send me some good news. Let us get matched already. He wants me, I want him—he's tough as nails, I'm tough as nails, so let's do this," Kwiatkowski pleaded.
"Lucas is a solid competitor and one of the top prospects around. Outside of me, he's the next major Canadian white fighter on the rise, and I want to show everyone I can finish him."
McCumber Dominates Pro Debut
Opening the card, Russ McCumber (now 1-0) delivered a professional debut worth remembering, securing a second-round TKO over fellow professional debutant Isaiah Metituk (now 0-1).
Following an evenly matched first round, McCumber landed two sharp knees in the clinch that opened a severe cut above Metituk's eye, prompting the referee to halt the bout on medical advice.
"I felt like I struck a wall or something. It was incredibly powerful, and I thought to myself, yes, that's done some serious damage," McCumber recalled during an MMA Empire interview.
"I caught a good look at his face and saw this enormous cut between his eyes, and I immediately knew there was no way the fight could continue."
Making it to a professional debut was a lengthy road for McCumber, who contested his very first amateur bout as far back as 2010.
MCCUMBER expressed how meaningful it felt to finally achieve a goal dating to his teenage years, particularly given how uncertain the outcome seemed.
"I've been nearly emotional these past couple days because this is something I've pursued since I was 15—fourteen years of dreaming about this moment," McCumber shared.
"When the opportunity arrived, it felt overwhelming because I was trying to turn pro right after my last fight in February 2020, but then the entire world shut down. It genuinely seemed like it might never materialize."
McCumber's Acknowledgments
"TCF Contracting, Nootropics and Supplements, Orca Masonry Ltd., BCRCC, MGM Mechanical, Hilmark Boats."
