The Calgary Stampede means rodeo and cowboy songs about a Chevy truck pulling out of grandpa’s driveway, but then there’s Aggression Fighting Championship’s AFC Stampede Fight Night and it’s anything but your grandpa’s country tune.
AFC: 20 Stampede Fight Night is set for Friday July 12 at the Telus Convention Centre and will be one of the company’s biggest events, not to mention that Cochrane’s own Trent “Slaughter” House will be fighting in his second pro bout.
House won’t be the main card, but you could bet money the crowd being packed with chants of “House! House! House!” as the 6-foot-1 House takes to the octagon against a much shorter 5-foot-9 Brandon Shorter.
Shorter comes to AFC after a 0-1 record in the Victoria, B.C. pro MMA scene while House is coming off a dominating performance at AFC 15 where he was co-headliner beating Nathan Wilkins by tap-out on March 15.
“I’m feeling good and I’m definitely prepared for this,” said House.
“He’s smaller so the plan is to try and use my range and keep the fight on it’s feet and do what I do best.”
What House does best is to pound his opposition into the grown and do it quick. If his first fight is any indication, there’s no reason this fight should go to three rounds, but anything can happen.
“I just want to have an exciting fight. Whether it goes to the ground or stays standing, I know I can hang in there with the best of them. But as long as it’s exciting, I’ll be happy,” he said.
Doors will open for Stampede Fight Night at 6 p.m. with the fight card starting at 7 p.m.
“There’s going to be some pretty big names this time around so it’s going to be exciting to be a part of and exciting for all the fans that come out,” House said.
The main event will feature a former middleweight title challenger in the UFC, David Loiseau as he gets set to take on Mike Kent. For House, the chance to see this match is too much to pass up.
“When I first got into MMA I looked up to Loiseau, so it’s an honour to get the chance to participate in the same card.”
While this is a Stampede week event, House has been staying away from the cotton candy and deep fried goodies. Those treats, he said, will have to wait until after the fight.
