Three years ago, Mat Plant of Power Plant Productions held the first Fight Before Christmas at the Peninsula Center Mall.
Plant said that he had organized fights for others before at the time, but that was the first he did as owner and founder of his new productions company.
For the first Fight Before Christmas, Plant did not have access to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, but he packed the mall with 400 people and gained access to the sports complex soon after.
“I’d like to thank the community,” Plant said. “At the first Fight Before Christmas, we had 400 packed in the Peninsula Center Mall. That was awesome.
“The year after, we had 800 at the sports center, and now we’re hoping for another 800 or 1,000.”
Fight Before Christmas 3 will be Saturday at the Sports Complex, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and fighting starting at 7 p.m.
Plant said not only is he grateful to the community, but he listens to the community as well. For that reason, he has added more mixed martial arts to Saturday’s card. There will be three MMA fights, two boxing matches, two professional wrestling matches and a kickboxing match.
“I’m really excited about this card,” Plant said. “It’s like an old school vs. new school card.”
The main event features kickboxers Lucas Murray and Keyshawn McEnerney, a pair of local fighters.
“Lucas is old school and has quite a few fights under his belt,” Plant said. “For Keyshawn, this will be his fifth fight. He’s young and hungry.”
The MMA fights will be local fighter Sean Whitmore vs. local fighter Harald Nordskov, Juneau’s Michael Pitaro vs. local fighter Nate Grinnell, and Anchorage’s Cole Aquino vs. Anchorage’s Archie Fultze.
Plant said Whitmore is definitely an old-school fighter, and Whitmore announced this will be his last fight on the Facebook page of Power Plant Productions. Nordskov in a younger fighter.
Both Pitaro and Grinnell are relatively new fighters, according to Plant, while Aquino and Fultze are seasoned.
The boxing matches feature local fighter Ronnie Sherbahn against Anchorage’s Alton Prince, and a showdown of area fighters Cody Smith and Colten Goracke.
Plant said both Sherbahn and Prince are old-school fighters, as are Smith and Goracke.
On the Facebook page, Smith said Goracke helped Smith when he got into the sport. Smith took the fight even though he is significantly lighter than Goracke.
One of the professional wrestling matches pits Brody Adams, the New Frontier open weight champion, against Nytronis A’Teo, known as the Somoan predator.
“I’m excited to see that one,” Plant said. “It’s going to be a heavy, hard-hitting match.”
The other match will watch Miracle Mike James and Clas duke it out.
Plant is including several things at the event for charities.
There will be a giving tree for Kenai Peninsula Love INC. The tree will have stockings stuffed with paper having selected items written on it. Those taking the paper then buy the item, for example men’s gloves, then bring that item to Love INC in order to donate the item to the homeless community.
There also will be a Wall of Guns by Sportsman’s Warehouse to raise money for The Bearded Sister in Homer. The Bearded Sister works to end the stigma of addiction, support people suffering from addiction, support the families that love them, and celebrate recovery in all its forms.
All the floor seats will be a beer garden sponsored by the Duck Inn and Budweiser. Fans must be 21 or over, or with their parents at all times, to get into the beer garden.
Tickets are $20 and available at 5150 Vapes, the Duck Inn, and at the door before the show.
