EDMONTON – Teshay “My House” Gouthro hasn’t had an easy road to the Unified 51 Main Event on Friday.

The 28-year-old Welland, ON product has achieved headlining status only after winning seven of his first eight professional bouts. A victory against UFC vet Eric “Showtime” Shelton on Friday in Niagara Falls, ON, LIVE on UFC Fight Pass, will be Gouthro’s fifth straight win since 2021.

In just a few short years Gouthro has established himself as one of Canada’s brightest prospects in the cage, but he’s been fighting his whole life.

“I saw a lot of violence growing up, so I’ve always been drawn to fighting,” Gouthro says. “I grew up a short, fat, black kid, so I got picked on a lot, and I always ended up fighting.”

Gouthro was heading down a bad path – selling drugs and fighting in the street – so in the 11th grade his vice principal intervened and redirected the straying Gouthro to mixed martial arts.

Gouthro fell in love with MMA immediately, and he had another revelation early in his time on the mat.

“I knew I was going to be the best in the world,” he says matter of factly. “I was overweight when I started, but I had high aspirations and a higher vision for myself.

“Fighting is easy,” he adds. “I enjoy the violence. I thrive in the chaos.”

Gouthro predicts a stoppage victory this weekend over the American Shelton. He hopes an impressive win springs him to the UFC’s Octagon.

“This win is going to put the world on notice.”

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.