The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LIVE Mixed Martial Arts will return to the country as the Bahamas Open Martial Arts Championship prepares to host the fourth edition of its signature event.

BOMAC will reach another milestone in Mixed Martial Arts when they host BOMAC 4: The Strikers Revenge at 7pm Friday, August 3 at the Melia Resort.

Fighters from Angola, Jamaica, Turkey and the United States will compete alongside top local talent on the card which features five bouts.

Bahamians will headline two of the three main event bouts. Giovanni "MoFire" Johnson will face Pedro Cassoma of Angola and Tyrone Oliver will face Marquez Greer of the United States. In the third, Matthew Calquhon of Jamaica will face Emre Orun of Turkey.

Marcian Tucker takes on Berke Orun of Turkey and Tyson Issacs will fight Kyle Chin of Jamaica.

Fighting styles on the night will include MMA, Muay Thai kickboxing, Chinese kickboxing, boxing and amateur grappling.

Tickets are available at JLine Fitness, Jemi Fitness East, Crave Deli, Cheesecake Heaven, Fitness Connection West, Sammy's Chicken Carmichael and Outdoor Sportsman. Standard tickets are available at $35, VIP - $50 and Ringside - $75. Local hip-hop artist Ton Ash will be performing his new hit single "I Yi" Remix alongside Bodie and Chase Fernander.

Johnson has won both of his previous appearances at BOMAC events. At BOMAC 1 he defeated TJ Miller via Submission and at BOMAC 3 he won by decision over Douglas Wilder.

Isaacs will appear in his fourth BOMAC event, with a 2-1 record thus far. At BOMAC 1 he lost to Colquhon, at BOMAC 2 defeated Rohann Exctain via TKO and at BOMAC 3 he defeated Denez Jones.

The Oruns look to continue their success from BOMAC 3 where they both recorded wins.

Tucker makes his first return to the ring since a KO win over Floyd Moxam at BOMAC 1.

Following BOMC 1, organiser of the event and Empire Mixed Martial Arts founder, Dr Kent Bazard, said that he expects the appeal of cage fighting to grow in the Bahamas.

"This is just the beginning of things to come. We've come a very long way in the sport. I think from here on, BOMAC will have cage events at each of our events," said Bazard. "Cage fighting will make a huge impact because it's a little different from fighting in a ring. We want to push the sport locally.

The cage fight event is billed as a part of the larger BOMAC Championships which began in 2010.

BOMAC traditionally features an open forms and weapons tournament, point and continuous fighting, amateur Sanda/Sanshou, Pankration, grappling and amateur MMA.

BOMAC has hosted over 500 competitors from 11 countries in its history.

In addition, it also hosts various martial art seminars by world-class instructors.

"The Bahamas will be well represented as always. We have been doing very well outside of the Bahamas." Bazard said. "All of the fighters are excited to showcase their skills right here at home. We usually fight in a hostile environment so to have our people here at home encouraging us is huge. We really want Bahamians to come out and support these fighters because it is going to be a fun and exciting show."

In April 2015 BOMAC Cage Fights 1 featured seven bouts at Mario's Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace. BOMAC 2: The Revenge took place in August 2015 at the British Colonial Hilton in August 2015. A total of 11 bouts were featured on the card including the first female MMA cage match in Bahamian history featuring Melanie "Bear Traps" Camden against Gillian "Savage" Robertson. BOMAC 3: King of the Ring was hosted December 2015 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.