Like many Canadian prospects, Tyler Wilson will be heading down to the United States for his next fight as he battles DWCS veteran Jose Johnson at Strikehard Promotions 57.
The Tristar MMA product credits Jeremy Rubin, a manager within the gym for helping him secure this opportunity.
“I was looking to get my own fight for a good little while,” Wilson told Cageside Press. “And then I was talking to Jeremy Rubin and he actually ended up being able to get it for me. It was like probably like three or four months maybe to try to do it on my own and then, Jeremy ended up hooking me up.”
Wilson (6-3) will be dropping down to his natural weight class of 135 pounds after suffering a decision loss at BTC 8 to Matthew DiMarcantonio at featherweight. The Kingston, Ontario native likes his chances against Johnson, especially if the fight hits the mat.
“So he has like a lot of tape, obviously he’s coming off the Contender Series in September,” Wilson explained. “If you watch that fight it’s pretty clear he’s got a hole in his grappling. So he’s a really good striker but when it comes to the ground and comes to takedown defense, stuff like that he’s not the best.”
Johnson (11-6) lost a decision to Ronnie Lawrence on DWCS: Week 5 which snapped his five-fight win streak. The 25-year-old has never lost back-to-back fights and boasts nine wins by stoppage.
Wilson thinks this bantamweight fight will be a feeling-out process in the early going, but believes it’s only a matter of time before he submits him.
“I mean, he’s good the first round. So I’ll probably gonna have to weather that for a couple of minutes in the first round. But then soon, by the second or third, I’m gonna get a sub.”
Picking up a victory over a DWCS veteran would be huge for the Canadian, and Wilson knows the implications that would follow should he emerge victorious on Saturday.
“‘I’m hoping that if I beat him and get out of it uninjured, I could (be a replacement) on Contender Series. Maybe if someone gets injured like a 35er and then I can get on something like that at the end of the Contender Series (season). If not, then next summer and I’ll take another fight. And hopefully, I can get on there.”
Strikehard Productions 57 tasks place Saturday at Faucett Brothers Activity Center in Northport, Alabama.
