Mixed Martial Arts

King in the Ring, Friday 7.30pm.

It’s not quite the UFC but there’s always plenty of interest in these bouts. There are eight heavyweights in the 100kg weight division but only one can be king — and he will take home $ 10,000. While fought under international K- 1 rules, the eight contenders go head- to- head in three- round elimination bouts using their skills in kickboxing, boxing, muay thai, kyokushin karate, MMA and other martial arts. The ‘ Style Bender' Israel Adesanya took the first King in the Ring 100kg transtasman event in 2015 but this time local fighters take the spotlight. In three similar events last year, Victor Mechov ( 75kg) won the super- middleweight contest, Joey Baylon ( 62kg) reigned supreme in the lightweights and Davor Matarugic ( 92kg) prevailed in November's supercruiser weight contest. Promoters have catered for another expected big and boisterous crowd, with ringside tables to general admission for a promotion which is backed by a wellmatched undercard promising plenty of action.