Ortiz steps in to face Ash in Unified 33 headliner

Apr 20, 2018

EDMONTON — The stage is officially set for Unified 33 on May 11 at beautiful River Cree Resort & Casino, LIVE on FITE.tv.

 

Fort McMurray’s Teddy “Bear” Ash (10-3) will now fight Bellator MMA vet Jacob “Kobe” Ortiz (16-6) for the vacant Unified MMA Light-Heavyweight Championship after Matt Hamill was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.

 

“I don’t care who’s standing across from me in that cage — I’m ready to go and I’m excited to make a statement,” Ash, a winner of four straight, says. “My opponent likes to scrap — he’s a tough, gritty guy — and he’s got heavy hands that he likes to throw. That’s perfect; it’s going to be an awesome fight for the fans.”

 

Now in his 10th year of fighting professionally, Ortiz represent’s Ash’s toughest challenge yet, having shared the cage with fighters like Douglas Lima. Fighting out of the famed Power MMA academy in Arizona, Ortiz has knocked out three of his past four opponents and expects another big finish May 11.

 

“I’m coming for a fight, I’m coming to put on a show,” Ortiz says, smiling. “This fight is going to end with me having my hands raised.”

 

In the co-main event, five-time UFC vet Shane “Shaolin” Campbell defends his Unified MMA Lightweight Championship in a rematch against Stephen Beaumont, who brings an impressive 9-2 record into Unified MMA’s debut at River Cree Resort & Casino.

 

The two first battled in 2012, with Campbell ultimately scoring a submission victory over Beaumont.

 

Campbell says he isn’t one to talk trash leading up to fight; instead, he says, he’ll let his hands and feet do the talking on fight night.

 

“I love it. I love putting on every single time,” Campbell says. “It’s always a good opportunity to test the skills we’ve been working on leading up to this fight, in particular. I’m always trying to grow as a martial artist and this is really my opportunity to do that.”

 

Beaumont, meanwhile, has two straight impressive victories to his credit — and he’s eyeing a third against Campbell.

 

“May 11? Why wait? Let’s (expletive) do it right now,” Beaumont says. “Five long years I’ve waited for this moment. I’m going to break bones and I’m going to take that belt.”

 

Also on the action-packed card is Unified MMA mainstay “Iron” Mike Scarcello, who tries to get back to his winning ways against his most battle-tested opponent yet, Derek Boyle. 

 

Neal Anderson, meanwhile, attempts to improve to 7-3 at the expense of dynamic Bellator vet Behrang Yousefi in a 160-pound catchweight bout.

 

Former Unified MMA lightweight champion Garret “Nasty” Nybakken fights Halifax’s Jeremy Henry in 155-pound action.

 

Unified MMA Vice President of Operations Ed Kapp says fans of the promotion can expect a new level of entertainment value at Unified 33 on May 11.

 

“River Cree Resort & Casino is an amazing venue for professional mixed martial arts,” Kapp says. “This is the fastest tickets have ever been selling for a Unified MMA event, the fighters are ready to put on a show to remember, and our partners at the venue are doing exceptional work to make sure that this is an unforgettable night of action.”

 

VIP passes are sold out. Limited remaining general admission passes may be purchased at TicketMaster.ca.