The “Battle of the Border” — the first BKFC Ice Wars card since Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships partnered with Ice Wars — takes place on Saturday night in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The event features 12 different fights from various weight divisions, pitting Canadian fighters against opponents from the United States. The combatants will will square off in “The Ice Box,” a 900-square foot ice enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting.
Ice Wars fights resemble hockey bouts with touches of boxing and MMA incorporated. The Battle of the Border card features the following “Team USA” vs. “Team Canada” bouts plus a special attraction match.
Heavyweight main event: James Brooks (USA) vs. Will Laporte (CAN)
Leightweight co-Main event: Darrick Gates (USA) vs. Devin Gibson (CAN)
Special cruiserweight attraction: Darin Oler (USA) vs. Roddy Person (USA)
Middleweight: Ryan Snobeck (USA) vs. Alex Marchisello (CAN)
Super Heavyweight: Zach Hughes (UFA) vs. Catlin Big Snake (CAN)
Heavyweight: Elias Thompson (USA) vs. Andre Thibault (CAN)
Heavyweight: Matt Dunne (USA) vs. Nick Laporte (CAN)
Cruiserweight: Nick Willams (USA) vs. Cole Johnson (CAN)
Heavyweight: Anthony Mendoza (USA) vs. Chase Tippen (CAN)
Cruiserweight: Cameron Prouty (USA) vs. Justyce Smoke (CAN)
Most of the competitors in Ice Wars played ice hockey at some level: junior A or major junior, semipro or lower minor league. Some also have MMA experience. For example, the 6-foot-6, 290 pound Big Snake played at the semi pro level this season. Thibault is a rugged forward in LNAH. Meanwhile, King of the Rink heavyweight champion Daniel Aimesbury, who is not fighting on this card, played this season in the ECHL for the Kansas City Mavericks (171 penalty minutes in 33 games.
