By BRANDON KOCH
When Erik Herbert opened a mixed martial arts training facility in July, the thought of fighting in a professional fight before friends and family was something he could only dream about.
So when promoters from Raging Wolf VI Mayhem in the Mist called with news of an opening on the fight card near his hometown, “it was a no brainer,” he said.
As a result, that dream will come true tonight, as the Tonawanda native will entertain more than 100 friends and family in a light heavyweight bout at the Seneca Niagara Casino at 7 p.m.
“Honestly, it means a lot,” said Herbert, who owns Victory Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness, 102 Broad St. in Tonawanda. “All my other fights were in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., and I had my girlfriend there or a couple buddies from high school drove down for some of the fights.”
Herbert, 23, has spent the majority of the past year recovering from major knee surgery, which was the initial reason for opening his gym this past summer along with manager and co-owner Don Lilly. He said he wanted to remain close to the sport by training and teaching others the skills he had learned over the years. That also gave him the urge to step back into the octagon.
“I’ve been seeing [MMA] everyday, so now all I want to do is fight,” Herbert said.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Tonawanda High School wrestling product will have his hands full against opponent, Oliver Kimmons.
“Talent-wise — from that standpoint — he’s a big, strong guy,” said Herbert of the 42-year-old Kimmons. “He can wrestle a bit, he can punch pretty hard, and that’s what I’m looking to avoid.”
In preparation for the match, Herbert has tutored under veteran trainers, Marty Cacavas, a former world Karate champion, as well as Paul Wielopolski, a five-time Gold Glove winner in New York, Lilly said.
Herbert said he mirrors his attack around mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz, which consists of a “ground and pound” fighting style.
Regardless of what happens, he said he’s looking to end this fight in particular with a bang.
“It’s no secret, I’m looking to knock him out,” Herbert said. “If there’s an opportunity to take him down, I’ll do that, too. I’m not going to limit myself. But for this instance, this fight, I’m looking for the knockout.”
The two fighters have a brief history, Herbert said. Kimmons visited Victory for a one-day training session while Herbert was still on crutches a few months ago, he said.
Subsequently, Kimmons told Herbert the two would fight someday. Tonight, he will get his wish, with an amateur title belt on the line.
“To me, he’s that big, muscular, bar-brawler guy that you’d find out at a bar getting into a fight,” Herbert said. “But me, and the guys in this gym, we’re the athletes. I won’t look at anyone that fights in MMA any different from Trent Edwards, Terrell Owens, Kobe Bryant. To me, no matter what happens, that’s what I am. I’m the athlete and he’s the bar brawler.”
The winner of this fight will become an “accredited pro,” Lilly said, and will fight in the next Raging Wolf Event. But aside from becoming a pro, a win in this event would be a huge boost for Victory as well, according to Herbert.
“It does do positive for the gym,” he said. “MMA is the fastest growing sport in America. It’s awesome that it’s coming to the area.”
Weigh-ins for Raging Wolf VI are slated for 6 p.m. before the fight in the casino lobby.
Fights will start promptly at 7 p.m.
The main event will feature a welterweight bout between Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti and Shane “Low Down Dirty Shane” Primm.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
GAME NIGHT
• WHAT: Raging Wolf VI, Mayhem in the Mist
• WHEN: 7 p.m. today
• WHERE: Seneca Niagara Casino
• NOTES: Cory “The Real Deal” Hill will step back in the octagon for this first time since suffering a devastating leg fracture a year ago in a fight at UFC Fight Night 16. Hill will square-off against WNY product Jason Trzewieczynski.
