BTC 14 wrapped up Saturday night, January 25, 2020 at the Westin Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and delivered a night full of exciting finishes and hard-fought decisions. Adam Assenza and Scott Hudson both kept their undefeated momentum alive, while Chris Lee Byrne returned to the cage for the first time since before the global shutdown, securing a win in the process.
Please note that most of the potential matchups outlined below are speculative and haven't been officially confirmed or reported, unless specified otherwise.
We'd love to hear your opinions — drop a comment with who you think should be next for the night's biggest winners and the rest of the card, along with who you'd pick in each hypothetical bout.
Adam Assenza (15-6) vs. Shane Campbell (22-8)
Assenza pushed his current win streak to five straight, earning a decisive unanimous decision against Kazuma Maruyama in a commanding performance. Although a call-up to the UFC, Bellator, or Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) remains possible down the road, an in-country clash with Campbell would be a compelling option for both athletes should top-tier organizations stay away in the near term.
Scott Hudson (13-5-1) vs. Major promotion opponent
Hudson added another victory to his string, edging past Xavier Nash via split decision to extend his own run to six straight wins. He hasn't known a loss since 2018. Predicting exactly when or how a major promotion will reach out is difficult, but Hudson's body of work makes him a strong candidate for a UFC invitation, Bellator contract, or a DWCS opportunity.
Chris Lee Byrne (5-1) vs. Graham Park (8-3)
Returning after a long layoff dating back to 2019, Lee Byrne earned a unanimous decision over seasoned veteran Simon Marini. His next step appears straightforward: Graham Park publicly called out Lee Byrne on Instagram after his own victory. Under either the Unified MMA or BTC banner, a meeting between these two would serve both competitors well, and both sides have expressed interest in making it happen.
Kevin Popowick-Bastien (1-2) vs. Adam De Freitas (1-2)
Popowick-Bastien celebrated his first career professional victory in style, putting Patrick MacInnis away with a second-round arm triangle choke submission. Like Popowick-Bastien, De Freitas' record tells only part of the story — he's drawn against some formidable opposition right out of the gate. This pairing would offer both men a solid measuring stick moving forward.
Jake Geauvreau (2-0) vs. Cody Chovancek (2-0)
Geauvreau kept building momentum at his tender age, dispatching Ryan Hollenbeck with a swift first-round submission, and Chovancek enjoyed a similarly efficient evening, knocking off Nicky Heinrichs inside the opening frame. Both prospects earned straightforward paths forward, with Chovancek publicly challenging Geauvreau during his post-fight interview and the latter accepting the bout. An intriguing clash awaits.
Vinny Dias (3-0) vs. Albaraa Atmeh (2-0)
Dias successfully neutralized Izzudeen Atmeh's potent striking arsenal to secure a commanding unanimous decision in the semi-finals of the BTC $10k bantamweight tournament. The next opponent is crystal clear: he will face Albaraa, Izzudeen's brother, in the June finals for an essentially mirrored stylistic showdown.
Seth Connor (2-4) vs. Isaiah Metituk (1-2)
Connor halted his two-fight skid with a first-round submission of Broderick Rene. After going head-to-head with three consecutive strikers, stepping into the cage against a grappler like Metituk would create a compelling stylistic puzzle. Interestingly, Metituk's latest victory also came via submission of Rene.
Liam Gallagher (1-0) vs. Ariel Zuniga (2-1)
Though Gallagher encountered some early adversity, his professional debut ultimately proved successful as he secured a third-round submission over Dylan McIlvenny. He remains undefeated across both his pro and amateur careers, which should make attracting opponents a challenge. Should Zuniga rise to the occasion, this bout would provide an excellent measuring stick for Gallagher.
Gina Ghalehpardaz (1-1) vs. Binaebi Otoru (1-2)
After agreeing to step in on short notice, Ghalehpardaz captured his inaugural professional victory in emphatic style, submitting Nate Ledger in the opening round. With Ledger already on his résumé, a bout against Otoru would logically follow and promise exciting action.
