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."
WATCH | 'Big Game' Hunter Lee on the challenges of making it to the UFC:
Hunter Lee says reaching the top promotion is challenging when his scheduled opponents in the lower divisions have a habit of dropping out.
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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
42 minutes ago
- National Post
Canada's Shapovalov advances to Mifel Tennis Open final with win over Walton
Article content LOS CABOS — Canada's Denis Shapovalov has a chance to win his second ATP title this year. Article content Shapovalov reached the Mifel Tennis Open final with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Australia's Adam Walton at the ATP 250 event Friday. Article content 'It definitely helps my confidence, it helps my belief a little bit,' Shapovalov told reporters after the match. 'I came into the tournament not trying to focus on results too much, just trying to focus on getting back to my game offensively, trying to go for it. Article content 'It's paying off.' Article content The third-seeded Shapovalov hit seven aces and saved four break points while converting all four of his break-point opportunities. Article content He needed one hour six minutes to win the match over Walton, the tournament's eighth seed. Article content The 26-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., won the Dallas Open in February. The former world No. 10 has won three career ATP titles. Article content Article content
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Young Feildians players took to pitch to train with Portuguese soccer professionals
This isn't your average summer soccer camp. Young soccer players from the Feildians Athletic Association Athletic Association had the chance of a lifetime this week in St. John's, training with elite Portuguese professional soccer club FC Porto as part of its Dragon Force World Camp series. Anticipation for the camp built quickly. Open to Feildians club players, registrations filled up in just 25 minutes, said Feildians coach Sipho Sibiya. "We want to be able to put Newfoundland on the map, especially Feildians Athletic Association, where I'm a part of now," he told CBC News. WATCH | Two young players are getting the chance to train in Portugal: From Porto to St. John's, soccer players are learning from a European powerhouse 20 hours ago FC Porto is a name synonymous with winning in European soccer, and this week players in St. John's got the chance to learn from the best. As the CBC's Madison Taylor reports, two young players are even getting the chance to travel to Portugal for an unforgettable training opportunity. Running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for five days, the players spent the week doing training drills, developing skills and playing games. Two players, William Coughlan and Georgia Cavanagh, have been selected to attend an all-expenses-paid trip to Portugal and train with FC Porto's Youth Academy. Building on history FC Porto's visit to St. John's builds on a long history between Portugal and Newfoundland. Portuguese fishermen who fished on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland were known to play soccer, or futebal, by the St. John's harbour. "Now that I've known the history that Portugal's had with Newfoundland, it's even a greater collaboration to tie that piece together as well," said Sibiya. World Camp coach Guilherme Silva said he's enjoying what the St. John's community has to offer and is interested in the history between the two places. "I've been enjoying it a lot. The culture here — people are really humble," said Silva. "I've been enjoying a lot, working with these people and getting to know the culture itself." 'An entire new perspective on soccer' For the young players, it's been a week of development and a chance to experience a different type of training. "They gave us a new opportunity, and like, an entire new perspective of soccer, you know?" said 11-year-old Alin Ahmad. The opportunity to train abroad is an exciting one for the players, especially those with aspirations to play professionally. "If you could ask one of them, they would tell you they want to play pro," said Sibiya. Sibiya hopes the players chosen for FC Porto's Youth Academy will learn a lot, both on and off the pitch. "I just hope they get the sense of what training is about. You know, the training being day-to-day, eating with the players, getting the coaching that they would get in a pro level." "And just to see what the culture is like," said Sibiya. "Portuguese culture or just football and the culture — it's a way of life over there." Declan Stokes, 10, is already looking forward to the camp returning in the future. "I hope Porto will come back next year to do it again."
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Didn't miss a beat': Savvy veteran Bassitt leads Jays to win in return from break
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) works against the San Francisco Giants during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO — Chris Bassitt doesn't mind leaving his comfort zone. So for the third season in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays veteran pitcher volunteered to start in the first game back from the All-Star break. Bassitt (10-4) came through with 6 1/3 shutout innings to lift the Blue Jays to a series-opening 4-0 win against the San Francisco Giants on Friday. The 36-year-old Bassitt's last start was on July 8, and he even came out of the bullpen against the Athletics last Sunday to pitch an inning and help an overburdened relief corps. 'Chris does weird well,' Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. 'I think coming out of the pen in Sacramento was not easy to do. 'We trusted him to do his thing over the break, and he didn't miss a beat.' Bassitt became the first pitcher in Blue Jays' history to yield 10 hits and earn a shutout. But he didn't issue a walk and struck out five in his 97-pitch outing. He reached the 10-win mark for the fifth straight season. 'I've done it (started the first game out of the break) the last two years, so I'm confident in doing it,' Bassitt said. 'I understand the routine we need to do at home to be sharp out of the break. 'I wasn't the sharpest, but overall it was OK.' While some of his teammates vacationed in exotic locales, Bassitt spent the break at home with his wife and children. 'It makes me happy just seeing them in their element rather than mine,' he said. 'I just enjoy time with them.' The Blue Jays hit the break with a two-game losing streak, but in occupancy of the top spot in the American League East. Toronto's 55 wins were a club record win total before the break, and for only the sixth time in team history, they have the division lead after the league's mid-season showcase. But after back-to-back losses to the Athletics heading into the pause in action, the Blue Jays didn't know how they would emerge. 'You never really know how it's gonna go,' Schneider said. 'But I thought the guys did a good job of coming in (Thursday) to shake the rust off a little bit. But it starts in the mound, and Chris was outstanding.' Third-baseman Will Wagner also enjoyed a sound first game after the break with his two-run double in a four-run second inning that took some pressure off Bassitt. The Blue Jays sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning to make life rough for 42-year-old Giants starter Justin Verlander (0-8). 'It was kind of weird,' Wagner said. 'We want the break, but we're playing so well that you don't want to take the break at the same time. 'I think everyone was just excited to get back and keep going with what we were doing before the break.' At 33-16, the Blue Jays have the best home record in the American League. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press
