Teddy Ash repping Fort Mac and Edmonton in Unified 34 Headliner

Sep 10, 2018

EDMONTON — Teddy Ash is a man of two hometowns.

The top Canadian middleweight calls both Edmonton, where he lives and trains, and Fort McMurray, where he was born and until recently lived, home.

“It really is the best of both worlds. I love the support from both communities,” Ash says heading into his Unified 34 main event Middleweight Championship title bout with 11-time UFC vet Seth Baczynski on Sept. 28 at River Cree Resort & Casino.

“I get so much love and support from both cities, so I’m super proud to represent both Fort McMurray and Edmonton in the cage. It’s all just added motivation.”

Ash’s move to Edmonton started in 2016, when he was forced to flee Fort McMurray’s devastating wildfire. The Unified MMA Light-Heavyweight Champion has deep roots in Fort Mac, but he calls his move to Edmonton a necessary one for his career.

“Really it all started with the fire. When I went back to Fort Mac after the fires, I was working. I was getting a little time in Edmonton for training, but I wasn’t getting enough,” Ash says. “I wasn’t progressing and didn’t want to go back to work for another 14 years, so, I said ‘(Expletive) it, I’m doing it full time in Edmonton.’

“It was the best move I ever made.”

On Sept. 28, Ash is looking to add another Unified belt to his collection and cash his ticket to the UFC with his sixth straight impressive win.

Standing in his way is Seth Baczynski, an 11-time UFC vet who competed on two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. Ash has a lot of respect for Baczynski, calling him the toughest task of his career. But, at the end of the day, he’s not coming to River Cree Resort & Casino to lose.

“There’s no doubt in my mind; I’m going to have my hand raised,” Ash says. “I’m looking for the knockout and the submission, but I’m also ready to go five full, hard rounds.”

Unified MMA is sold out, but is available via pay-per-view pre-order now.