The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the pending threat of Tropical Storm Erika, the country’s foremost mixed martial arts promotion will continue with its plans to host some of the sport’s best local talent with another marquee event.

BOMAC Cage Fights 2: “The Revenge” is set for Saturday at 7pm and has moved indoors to the British Colonial Hilton.

Dr Kent Bazard, BOMAC co-ordinator, and Empire Mixed Martial Arts founder, said the event will be staged as planned after a few changes in logistics.

“With the storm travelling this weekend, we had to consider changing some things, but so many persons have asked about the show and people are still wanting us to host, so we decided to push forward with the show. We should have named it BOMAC 2: The Storm. It will be a little rain and wind but we are going to fight,” he said.

Headlining the 15 bouts expected on the card will include Bahamian descendant Robert “TQ” Turnquest against Smith “The American Dream” Amisial and Michael Roberts v “Platinum” Mike Perry of the United States.

The card will also feature the first female MMA cage match in Bahamian history featuring Melanie “Bear Traps” Camden against Gillian “Savage” Robertson.

Turnquest, 32, a welterweight, has a 3-0 win-loss record far with one KO and two submissions. His last fight was a submission win over Baraq Hunter via triangle choke at Island Fights 30 in September, 2014.

“I expect a good fight and a really good event, there are a lot of good fighters here. Three of the five fights on the main card are coming from our gym so I know we will have at least three really good fights that people can look forward to. That’s what we’re expecting,” Turnquest said. “Events like this, it gets a lot of exposure for the sport. It gets a lot of new eyes, especially for people who didn't know that the Bahamas had an MMA programme or MMA events. I had no idea there was MMA down here until the event back in April. I know there are a lot of fighters that would love to come down here and fight and the more fighters that want to come down here the more people are going to want to talk about it. The word of mouth is going to get around and everyone is going to hear about it.”

Turnquest would not offer an exact prediction on the bout’s outcome but said he simply expects to win. “I know he’s a tough guy. I know he’s coming to fight and he’s got some striking. But I’ve got something for him,” he said.

Roberts also competes as a welterweight and has compiled a 2-4 pro record thus far with one submission and one decision. He has suffered three consecutive losses and his last win came in June, 2013, with an ankle lock submission on Landon Ackel at Atlas Fights Cage Rage 15.

Perry, 23, is undefeated thus far at 3-0.

Camden said she was eager to get into the ring for the third time in her young career. “I think it'll be a great show. Its my first time being here in the Bahamas. It’s only my second amateur fight but I think it will be great regardless,” she said, “I wouldn't say there's a lot of pressure, I would say its a great opportunity. I tried not to think about it but just approach it like I would any other fight.”

Tickets for the event are still available at Outdoor Sportsman, Seafront Sushi, Club One Fitness Centre and J Line Fitness Bahamas. Standard seating tickets are $25 while ringside (limited) is $35 and VIP (very limited) is $50.

In April, BOMAC Cage Fights 1 featured seven bouts at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace. Fighters from Trinidad, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and United States competed alongside top local talent on the card.

“We can expect an even bigger show than the first time. We will have for the first time, females in the cage. Everyone who knows me knows that I think females are the future of the sport. They are very intense, they train hard and they always have more to show, so their fights tend to be active and more exciting. so, I’m very happy to make history and have females fight here for the first time,” Bazard said.

“The response has been huge. The local fan base has been growing and I’m very happy to bring the sport here for people to see with their own eyes. It’s exciting for people to sit inches from the cage and see action. We’ve also gotten quite a response from international fighters who want to come here and compete just because its the Bahamas. We’re a young promotion and we’ve actually taken some very big steps in a short period of time.”

Full BOMAC 2: The Revenge Fight Card

Robert Turnquest v Smith Amisial - 170 lbs

Mike Perry v Michael Roberts - 170 lbs

Joash Walkins v William Sizemore - 135 lbs

Melanie Camden v Gillian Robertson - 115 lbs

M Miller v T J Miller - 130 lbs

Jawara Pierre v Jeremy Rodulfo - 220 lbs

DiJonnaise Brown v Omar Smith - 140 lbs

Zeke Swain v Gabe Barletta - 170 lbs

Cameron Lewis v Warren Garvey - 155 lbs

Kenny Neymour v Sammy Senuk - 145 lbs

Pierre Simmons v Flloyd Moxam - 165 lbs

Tyson Isaacs v Rohann Exctain - 170 lbs