Crown Fighting Championships brings pro MMA and kickboxing back to Southern Utah; tickets on sale now

Fighters battle in the cage at a Crown Fights MMA event, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Crown Fights, St. George News

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Professional MMA and kickboxing will return to the Washington County fairgrounds on Aug. 27. Expect an action-packed night of fights organized by the Southern Utah-based Crown Fighting Championships.

Fighters battle in the cage at a Crown Fights MMA event, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Crown Fights, St. George News

Bellator MMA veteran Nainoa Dung is bringing warriors all the way from Hawaii to do battle in the Crown Fighting Championships cage against competitors from Las Vegas and Utah.

“We have teams from all over getting ready to battle here in Southern Utah,” matchmaker Aaron Reis said. “Don’t miss your chance to see a night full of high-level fights.”

Ian Radford will take on Quran Walker in center cage as the night’s main event. Radford represents the Freestyle MMA team in Las Vegas, while Walker is fighting out of Makaha, Hawaii, as part of Young Boys Incorporated.

Also on the card is Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who made his MMA debut earlier this year. Audiences are likely to recognize local fighters from Fusion MMA & Jiu Jitsu and Hackford Bros. MMA in St. George as well as Empire MMA in Cedar City. Competitors from the Las Vegas-based  Xtreme Couture and 9th Isle BJJ teams also will be fighting.

The event will be held inside the Grafton Building at the fairgrounds. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the first kickboxing fight starts at 5:30 p.m. with MMA bouts immediately following. Tickets cost $30 per person for general admission and are available to purchase online.

Gilbert “Durinho” Burns with the Crown Fights team, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Crown Fights, St. George News

Reis said ticketholders can expect a professionally run, family-oriented event. Snacks and drinks will be available.

“Everyone has a great time,” he added.

Run by Reis, event director Jennifer Reis and promoter Scott Ford, Crown Fighting Championships has brought high-level MMA and kickboxing events to Southern Utah since 2005. Through a series of sold-out fight nights at the Dixie Convention Center, the company created a hub for fighters from Utah and surrounding states to build up their professional records.

Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, already a world champion in Brazilian jiu jitsu, made his professional MMA debut at a Crown Fighting Championships event in 2012 under the tutelage of legendary fighter Vitor Belfort. Today, he’s making waves in the UFC along with Clay Collard. Other fighters who made early appearances in Southern Utah have since been signed by Bellator MMA and the Professional Fighters League, including Danny “Dee1” Davis Jr.

“We’ve been a good launching pad for fighters to start their careers,” Reis said.

Event details

  • What: Crown Fighting Championships: The Return. 
  • When: Saturday, Aug. 27 from 5:30-10 p.m. 
  • Where: Washington County Legacy Park (Grafton Building), 55oo W. 700 South, Hurricane. 
  • Tickets: $30 general admission. 
  • Resources: Website

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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