Sask. MMA fighter 'Big Game' Hunter Lee has sights set on UFC
Saskatoon mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter 'Big Game' Hunter Lee is stalking his prey all the way to Florida.
Lee, a former University of Saskatchewan Huskies champion wrestler, is a professional MMA fighter with a 3-0 record since his first bout in 2022. The light heavyweight is aiming for the UFC, the sport's top promotion.
His next fight is Friday night in Tampa, Fla., with regional promoter Cage Fury Fighting Championships, which is streaming the card on UFC Fight Pass.
If Lee stays undefeated, he believes a chance to fight in the UFC is within reach.
"I'm ready right now," Lee said during an interview at the end of his training camp.
"I think two more fights, I'm looking at being 5-0 and beating a lot of tough competition. And if I can get a regional promotion belt on UFC Fight Pass, I think that'll show I'm ready to be in the UFC."
Lee, 25, is originally from Flin Flon, Man., and now lives in Saskatoon where he fights out of the Modern Martial Arts Center gym. He won two national titles and a Canada West gold medal as a university wrestler.
"I rep Saskatoon now," Lee said. "It's home."
Friday's contest pits Lee against Chris Choo, an American with a 4-2 record, in the light heavyweight division. Lee won his last fight by technical knockout.
Jesse Boldt coaches Lee and expects his fighter to easily win, even predicting another knockout victory.
"As far as opponents go, I don't think he has much to offer Hunter," Boldt said before a sparring session with Lee.
"We're not usually too surprised when Hunter comes into the ring and does really well, because we feel him in the gym. He kind of beats on all of us.… He's got crazy work ethic. Yeah, we're excited for this match-up."
More opponents have cancelled fights with Lee than fought him. Lee thinks they sign up mistaking his few fights for inexperience, then see his wrestling record and have second thoughts.
"I've had like three or four of those where guys sign a fight and go through the whole fight camp [but] then they won't get on the plane to come fight, or they cancel with an injury a week before," Lee said.
"I'm like this guy that nobody will fight in Canada."
cbc.ca
