MEDICINE HAT, AB — It’s an opportunity Rick Bitz isn’t about to toss up.
He’s waited years to chase this dream.
Now, at the age of 35, the former oil field veteran is ready to make his MMA debut in Fight Night: Medicine Hat 3.
“35 to some people is over the hill,” said Bitz, who will become the first Medicine Hat fighter to ever compete in Z Promotion’s Fight Night series. “Maybe that’s their ‘sitting around and hanging out’ time, but for me I don’t think that’s old at all. I feel like I’m just getting going.”
And his career is “just getting going” as well. The local product brings his 0-0 record into the Canalta Centre against Grande Prairie’s Randy Mahon on June 10th.
The killer instinct for Rick Bitz is alive.
He’s the first local to take the cage in over five years. Watch out for him in #FightNightMH 3. pic.twitter.com/seTyj25Lh4— Mitch Bach (@CHATTVMitchBach) May 12, 2017
But on top of an already monumental life decision to step inside the cage, he’s completely bypassing the amateur circuit and going head first into the professional ranks.
“I like the challenge. I like the challenge of raising that bar a little higher,” added Bitz. “I feel like I can do that. “Mentally at 35 I feel like I can do that. Maybe at 25 I would have been a little more scared… a little more hesitant. But at 35 I feel quick, I feel mentally strong and it can be done.”
If you weren’t already aware, Bitz is defying the odds.
35 years old is a typical age many MMA fighters retire from competing. Having never before stepped into the octagon, skipping amateur and going straight into professional bouts, is unheard of, according to Bitz trainer Bryan Anderson.
“Nothing about that is common at all,” laughed Anderson, who owns and operates the Now & Zen Martial Arts studio in downtown Medicine Hat. “Even his drive and determination… this is not something I would expect someone over the age of 30 to have.”
Anderson has trained alongside some of the best MMA fighters from north of the boarder. He even helped train UFC fighter Georges St. Pierre’s first grappling coach.
But he says Bitz is a special case. He’s been training Bitz for just a few months, but says he has a natural ability to soak in knowledge and technique extremely quickly. Mentally, Bitz could be the strongest competitor he’s ever taken under his wing.
“I think he has a lot of potential,” added Anderson. “Everyday that we train, it floors me how quickly he’s picked it up and how smooth it all fits together.
“I would say his strongest point and what really attracted me to the whole proposition of working with Rick is just passion, determination, and the whole idea of ‘this is to better myself’.”
Away from the cage, is a life more stereotypical for someone in his mid 30’s.
Bitz is working towards becoming a firefighter, having recently passed his written test. He’ll be flying down to Texas in October to do his final testing and to receive his level one and two firefighter certification.
He’s a family man. Married nearly seven years to his loving wife Tracey, and a father of a five year old daughter.
“I am not a fan of fighting, I’ve said that before, but I am a huge fan of my husband and I’m a huge fan of people chasing their dreams,” said Tracey, who sang the national anthem ahead of Fight Night: Medicine Hat 2 last fall. “I’ve done that in my own life and I know how that feels. I want him to have that same feeling.”
Tracey offers a support system that Rick says is vital. Without his wife’s acceptance into helping him pursue a dream, succeeding wouldn’t be possible, let along stepping into the cage.
“My wife is actually in a way, a little bit of a push for me to do it,” said the welterweight scrapper. “She’s my biggest fan really. Outside of giving me the nod and giving me the ‘chasing the dream’ thing, she jumped on board with the food, and everything to do with the diet.”
Adding more reason to support Rick’s decision, the route his earnings will take from the fight. Win or lose, Bitz will receive some sort of pay cut. He’s donating all of his earnings to David Dale’s campaign in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Dale is one of 36 riders who will cycle across the nation over 18 days, raising money for kids cancer research.
When asked about the nerves felt eying up an opponent, Bitz gave a sly smile and said he’d prefer not knowing anything about Mahon’s fighting style.
“It’s my game, it’s for me to do,” he said. “It’s for me to challenge myself and for me to tackle my opponents who come before me.”
