After five long years, mixed martial arts (MMA) is returning to Vernon.

Okanagan Fighting Championships (OFC) will be putting on their first event on Saturday, July 6, out of the Vernon Curling Club.

Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 Alisha Kler is the promoter of the newest MMA outfit.

Kler previously worked for XFC, which organized Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 first MMA event in a decade back in 2019. The sport was banned in 2014 via a city bylaw that prohibited professional and amateur MMA fights within the municipal limits.

Chief among the reasons for banning was the apparent involvement of organized crime in MMA events. However, former Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Supt. Shawna Baher had investigated and found that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the case.

The ban was rescinded in March of 2019, and the XFC event, aptly titled Unbanned, went off without a hitch in August of that year.

香蕉视频直播淭he event went off really well in 2019,香蕉视频直播� Kler told The Morning Star. 香蕉视频直播淚 was not the promoter of that event, but I was involved in the organization of it and we were really excited to do another one and then 2020 happened and that just killed all the momentum.香蕉视频直播�

COVID restraints severely limited any future events within the city, but OFC has been in the works since then. Kler, as the sole promoter, is taking on all responsibility. She is one of just two female promoters across the province that is officially licensed by the B.C. Athletic Commission.

香蕉视频直播淎s a promoter, my job is to make sure that all the licenses, all the staff, paperwork, etc is all in order so it is a lot of work,香蕉视频直播� she explained, as her goal is to have all fights feature at least one athlete from the Okanagan. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be primarily MMA, like UFC style, but we are going to have the focus as much as possible on local athletes.

香蕉视频直播淢y goal is to make it the Okanagan vs. Everybody,香蕉视频直播� she remarked. 香蕉视频直播淥ur event is amateur only, all of the MMA and kickboxing will be amateur and then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) doesn香蕉视频直播檛 really have a pro or amateur ranking, so it香蕉视频直播檒l be amateur as well.香蕉视频直播�

Kler remarked that there has been very little as far as showcasing local MMA talent in the Okanagan community and those athletes typically have to go to the Lower Mainland to get recognition.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important, I think, to acknowledge the different kinds of martial arts that we have in the Okanagan and showcase those and give those athletes an opportunity to compete at that level without having to travel so much,香蕉视频直播� said Kler as her goal is to put on two shows a year, pending success of the first one.

As for the headliner on July 6, Rylie (Coyote) Marchand, out of Unity MMA and Kickboxing in Vernon, will be fighting for the women香蕉视频直播檚 bantamweight (135 pound) championship. Rylie is the cousin of BJJ stalwart Lillian Marchand.

香蕉视频直播淩ylie is going to be fighting Stephanie Lehecka out of Akron, Ohio,香蕉视频直播� said Kler.

The other headliner is Kamloops product (Ruthless) Lucas Taylor who will be scrapping for the men香蕉视频直播檚 bantamweight (135 pound) championship. Other fights are in the works, but Kler hopes for around 15-16 bouts.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. All ages welcome, and tickets can be purchased at . There will also be an online streaming option, through .

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