By Mitch Bach

FIGHT NIGHT 3: “Diesel” Riggs unfazed by last-second main card switch

Jun 9, 2017 | 3:05 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Just days ago, Sylvan Lake’s Ryan Machan backed out of fighting Joe Riggs in the main event for Fight Night: Medicine Hat 3.

While many promoters would be scraping the barrel, searching far and wide for any pro fighter to take over his spot, Z Promotions managed to one-up their original plan.

Instead of Machan taking the cage against Riggs, fight fans will be treated to a bout many have waited years to see.

On Saturday night at the Canalta Centre, with eyes from all corners of the globe tuning into The Fight Network, Joe “Diesel” Riggs will square off against 42 year-old Dennis “Superman” Hallman.

“Tom (Fiddler) was able to get me a better opponent, a better name in Dennis Hallman,” said the Phoenix, AZ middleweight. “Dennis is a bit better, a lot better.”

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Both Riggs and Hallman bring several years of UFC experience to the ring. Hallman, who hails from Yelm, Washington, has been out of the game since November of 2015 — his sixth consecutive loss to drop his record to 53-20-2.

But Riggs said he expects a strong opponent to come forth to challenge his 42-17 record on Saturday.

“Dennis beat guys like Matt Hughes twice, he beat BJ Penn who’s a former UFC Champion and is in the Hall of Fame,” he continued. “Dennis has been there, done that. Usually he brings his A game, you’ve got to be careful.”

Riggs will take the Canalta Centre octagon for the second time in his career. Last fall, in Fight Night 2, he tapped out Cody McKenzie early in the first round, giving him the opportunity to fight for the Middleweight Title this Saturday.

According to the MMA website Sherdog, Riggs has fought once since his victory over McKenzie — overhauling Billy Martin with consecutive blows to earn a first round TKO victory in ICF 27 in April.

But Riggs said his fight resume includes several stapled pieces of hardware that will benefit him against Hallman.

“I’m a black belt in jiu jitsu, I’m 10-1 in professional boxing, I just won the World Bare Knuckle Championships in London, I’ve had a bunch of Thai fights, and I’m a two-time all-american wrestler,” he added.

“If there’s a hole, you find it. I can’t.”

Another bout that’s sure to gain attention on Saturday is Matt MacGrath vs. Peter Grajcar, who will square off for the Welterweight Title ahead of Riggs and Hallman.

MacGrath was initially preparing to take on California’s Mike Jasper, but MacGrath says Jasper injured his hamstring in a fight three weeks ago.

“I’m happy (Grajcar) took it,” said MacGrath. “He’s relatively new. 6-0 as an amateur, 4-0 as a pro. He’s going to come in guns-a-blazing, but I think my experience and my technique level will prevail.”

Adding fuel to the fire, MacGrath already holds three middleweight titles with other fight promoters. He says his experience in five-round matches will help him wrap his fourth belt around his waist on Saturday.

“Going five rounds, this will be my eighth five round fight. I think that’s definitely going to help, being used to going the distance. A few of those were decisions, so I definitely think the five-round fight’s in my favour,” he added.

Official weigh-in’s are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Lodge on Friday. Tickets for Fight Night: Medicine Hat 3 are still available and can be bought at the Canalta Centre box office or through ticketmaster.ca.