When he steps into the octagon on September 28, a local mixed martial artist will be one step closer to achieving his dreams.
"I'm going in there to get the job done and I'm taking out anyone who stands in front of me," said Matt Dawson. "I'm never quitting, I have the heart of a lion and I just keep coming with everything I got."
Nicknamed "The Pitbull", Dawson concluded his amateur career with a record of 9-6, finishing opponents with a mixture of submissions and technical knockouts. During his first 15 fights, the 28-year-old never tapped out, nor was he knocked out.
"I want to see my career go to the UFC," said Dawson. "It's been my long dream to fight, it's something I love to do."
Dawson, who currently lives in Ridgetown, is fighting out of the CK Combat gym in Chatham and said he is excited to take his first pro bout close to home.
He will compete at the Western Fairgrounds in London during the Prospect Fighting Championships. The show is donating all of the proceeds from ticket sales to kidney research.
For his first fight, Dawson will take on Nate Ledger, a flyweight out of Toronto who is looking to rebound from his first pro loss on November 24, 2018.
"He's a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so that's what I'm looking at focusing on in camp," said Dawson. "I plan on using my fighter IQ to adjust to what he's doing and to help me in order to win."
The doors for the event open at 6:30 p.m. on September 28, 2019, at the Metroland Media Agriplex.
