EDMONTON – Eric “Showtime” Shelton loves traveling, so he’s happy to be in Canada for the first time.

This week’s visit, however, is first and foremost a business trip for the hard-hitting UFC vet from Indianapolis, IN. At stake is the vacant Interim Unified MMA Canadian Bantamweight Championship as the 32-year-old Shelton battles top Canadian prospect Teshay Gouthro (7-1) at Unified 51 on Friday in Niagara Falls, ON, LIVE on UFC Fight Pass.

Gouthro, who hails from nearby Welland, ON, is one of the region’s most popular fighters, so Shelton is ready to be on the receiving end of a lot of boos on fight night. That’s just business as usual for Shelton, who will be entering the cage for the 25th time as a professional this week.

“I’m used to entering hostile territory,” the battle-tested bantamweight says with a smile.

Gouthro predicts he’ll earn a stoppage victory over Shelton on Friday – a win so impressive that it will propel him to the UFC, he says. But Shelton says there’s no way he’s leaving Canada without another belt for his collection.

“I’ve never been finished, so I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Shelton says. “But I love that he’s motivated and feeling good – I want to fight the best Teshay there is. Honestly, to be real, I think I get him out of there by the end of the second round, and my experience is going to play a part in that too.

“That belt is going to mean a lot,” he adds. “I’m excited to make a name for myself among Canadian fans, and this is a fight that I need to win to get back to the UFC.”

ABOUT UNIFIED MMA

Unified MMA is Canada’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, showcasing the country’s top-ranked fighters, LIVE on UFC Fight Pass. The organization has successfully promoted 50 events across Canada since it was founded in 2009, and has propelled several athletes to the UFC’s Octagon.