Boxell’s heel hook win came midway through the second round at BTC 7. With the awards show going down this past weekend at the Waterfront Hotel in Burlington, Ontario, we had a chance to speak to the fighter out of Medicine Hat, AB.

Colton Boxell (Submission of the Year nominee)

Being at the Awards show: “It’s pretty cool because I get to hang out with the guys. See my co-workers basically…. Seeing friendly faces and having good conversations.”

Being nominated for Submission of the year: “I defeated Jeremiah Curtright at BTC 7 by heel hook. An inside heel hook within two and a half minutes. It was a fairly well-rehearsed heel hook and I think it was deserving of submission of the year.

I went that way out to Montreal and I trained leg locks just repeatedly… What actually wound up happening in the fight is I resorted to my day one heel hook. The very first leg entanglement I was ever shown. I was a white belt just getting into grappling and they showed me this heel hook. That’s the one I wound up going back to. All those endless reps of this advanced thing right? Putting it all together just came back to day one in the most savage fashion I could possibly imagine. Crushed that guy’s heel like I would a soda can. ”

2nd Annual BTC MMA Awards

The Ontario MMA scene being revitalized: “I didn’t know Ottawa years ago. So I only know it now with a pretty good crew and some stuff happening now. Ottawa’s a good scene…..I think it’s coming together pretty well so far. MMA is about the grind and the grind applies to the day to day more than just being in the gym.”

Next fight/ goals for the year: “I fought three times in six months last year. The body’s actually feeling pretty well put together. I took some time off, two months or so at the end of the year…I think if I were to get that same kind of three fights in a year. Even two would be good but three would be enough to actually start building the resume. That’s the kind of work ethic I want to demonstrate.”

The post BTC Welterweight Colton Boxell Discusses Picking Up His First Win, Via Heel Hook appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dave Henry (Best Walkout and Fight of the Year nominee)

Nominations: “Mike McAloon I think is up for submission of the year and Paul Fisher who is also up for fight of the year. I gotta be honest, I’m kind of hoping Paul doesn’t win because I’m up for the same award.”

James Clarke BTC 6 fight: “It was actually probably one of the funnest fights I’ve ever had. If I’m going to be a bit honest here, I remember on the way out to the ring I was like ‘it’s the nerves. This is going to be the last fight I’ve ever done. I’m kind of over this’ Third round in I’m like ‘this is the greatest night of my life. I want to do this every weekend’ So I gotta give credit to James as well because it was an amazing fight for myself.”

Next fight: “It was originally supposed to be in Kitchener but I got an injury I’m kind of dealing with right now. If I can deal with it with physio in time, I’d still like to stay on the Kitchener card. If not I want to compete as soon as possible after that.”

The Ontario MMA scene being revitalized: “It was dead for a long time, you’re right about that. It was really, really hard to get fights here in Ontario. So I had to go to Trinidad for my last two before the BTC. But now with BTC they’re putting on regular shows as well as Prospect and other promotions that are kind of coming along. So the scene’s really coming alive it seems.”

The post BTC Flyweight Dave Henry Dealing with Injury, Wants to Stay on February Card appeared first on Cageside Press.

Over the past few years, BTC has risen to become a bright spot in the Canadian MMA scene, helping bring the sport back to the forefront in their home province of Ontario.

BTC 2nd Annual MMA Awards

Best Walk Out: Dave Henry

MMA Journalist of the Year: Jason Hagholm

Best Nickname: Dave “Machine Gun” Tharm

Best Weigh-In Staredown: Adam Assenza vs Josh Wick

Photograph of the Year: Patrick Duffy

Tough as Nails: Lindsay Garbatt

Break Through Fighter of the Year: Teshay Gouthro

Rookie of the Year: Matt Speciale

Coach of the Year: Paul Jalbert and Lyndon Whitlock

Gym of the Year: Niagara Top Team

Submission of the Year:  Bobby Poulter

People’s Choice Award: Adam Assenza

Knockout of the Year: Serhiy Sidey

Fight of the Year: Adam Assenza vs Hamilton Ash

Fighter of the Year: Scott Hudson

Fighter of the Decade: Scott Hudson

For more information on BTC Fight Promotions, check out their website and social media. Their next show, BTC 9: Rampage goes Saturday, February 29. It emanates from  The Aud in Kitchener, Ontario.

The post BTC’s 2nd Annual MMA Awards Results appeared first on Cageside Press.