Ready to Go; Friday Night Fights Get Greenlight for the Rodeo

After months of long work and planning, everything is ready to go for Friday Night Fights at the Rodeo Lounge in Dartmouth. All fighters were able to make weight yesterday except for one fighter. The event is being put together by Kemp Watermen and Jason Mackay. The idea of a professional fight taking place in a bar seems weird but the promoters had the demand for it.

“The Rodeo is a local venue and it’s very central.” says Watermen.

“Its a very intimate venue which its seating capacity suits are needs and yet has a good following from its clientele. We had a lot of people say they wanted the fights to come to the Rodeo.”

Both guys have experience putting on events before. Mackay is the owner of Absolute Fighting Canada and Watermen at one time co owned Phoenix Fight Promotions. The main event was to see Halifax’s Roger Hollett make his debut at heavyweight against Iyla Woronqwski but Hollett had to pull out a few days ago due to injury. The fight will be rescheduled for September and now the main event will be Steven Rogers against Rory Macdonell. Macdonell is happy to take to the opportunity.

“I am really looking forward to this,” says Macdonell.

“He looks like a tough talented kid. I feel no pressure for the main event because it is exciting. It is the same crowd but just switched in the order of the fights

While this will be the first time that Macdonell has been in a main event, it won’t be for his opponent. Steven Rogers won his last fight at Elite 1: First Blood in Moncton last April. He knows with this fight, it could mean some big things ahead.

“I think he is a game fighter because he is also taking this fight on a few weeks notice,” says Rogers.

“I think this should be pretty good, I am coming off four straight wins. His wins are all by submission and my wins are all by submission. It should be a good fight and my goal is to make a good fight for the crowd.”

The fights will be taking place at 7:30pm with the doors opening at 6pm.. One thing is for sure is the Rodeo will be rocking.

Official Weigh in Results
160 lbs fight Steven Rogers (158.6) vs Rory Macdonell (159.4)
215 lbs fight Chris Currie (212.8) vs Jeff Lundberg (218)
170 lbs fight Ricky Goodall (171) vs Tim Skidmore (170.6)
145 lbs fight Justin Steele (143.2) vs Jonathan Williams (143.2)
180 lbs fight Matt Murray (178.6) vs Chris Goguen (178)
145 lbs fight Vincent Cormier (143.8) vs Chris Keledes (146)
135 lbs fight Ryan Vanshick (134.2 vs James Saunders (133.6)
170 lbs fight Kameron Johnson (168.4) vs Stephen Clement (168)

Derek Leblanc is a local sports writer and broadcaster. Email Derek at derekleblanc34@gmail.com.