The Okanagan will be well represented at the Battlefield Fight League 21 mixed martial arts slugfest on Saturday night in Penticton.
Gracie Barra Kelowna fighter Justin Agula-Fieldt will step into the octagon against Toshido MMA scrapper Cleve Bentley for an all-Okanagan tilt, while Gracie Barra Vernon product Ryan Allen will put his BFL amateur middleweight title on the line when he meets Jared Revel at the Trade and Convention Centre.
Also from Kelowna's Toshido MMA is Kevin Kellerman, who is making MMA debut, and Jake MacDonald, who will be competing in the 170-pound pro category.
David Lea of Toshido said MacDonald (2-0) will be sharing the co-main event when he squares off against the larger Jonathon Dubois (2-4).
"Jake is moving up two weight classes," said Lea. "Jake is just a beast. This is going to be a hard fight for anybody."
Toshido has elevated itself to be the premier MMA club in the Okanagan, producing numerous national champions as well as phenom Rory MacDonald, who many expect will fight for the 170-pound UFC title later this year.
Allen steps into the cage with a 4-1 record, and the Salmon Arm resident said he is ready to rumble.
Although Allen started fighting at 205 pounds, the journeyman carpenter has since dropped to the 185-pound division.
"There were tougher fights at 185," Allen said of his weight drop. "I'd rather fight a tougher opponent, so I dropped down a weight class. I think I'm better suited at that weight."
Allen, who holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, got into MMA because he wanted to be tested.
"I just like to compete," he said, adding he has always thought MMA was "cool" so when he got into jiu-jitsu, competing in MMA was "a natural step."
Under the coaching of Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts Mario Deveault and Dave Rothwell, Allen has been working on his stand-up skills as well as his ground game.
"I'm confident that Ryan will be a tough fight," said Deveault. "He's very confident in his stand-up abilities, and so am I. He's comfortable in every area of the fight: On the ground, against the cage, standing up. That makes him a tough opponent. He is very well rounded."
Agula-Fieldt will bring his 1-0 record into the cage and coach Jorden Reichenbach is excited about the all-Okanagan battle.
"It's pretty cool to have two local clubs," said Reichenbach, adding Agula-Fieldt won fight of the night honours for his first cage match last year with BFL.
Agula-Fieldt holds a blue belt in Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu jitsu, and has been training with the Kelowna club's world Muay Thai kickboxing champion, Adolfo Lozano.