Lorain County fight fans got a taste of mixed martial arts during a pair of promotions at Quaker Steak and Lube in Sheffield the past four months. Now the county might witness a battle between MMA fight promotions — which could be a good thing for area fans.
“We’re going to base our operations right here in Lorain County,” Superior Cage Fighting owner Leif Christman said. “Our goal going forward is to build relationships, and we want to start by forming some alliances with a lot of the local fight clubs.”
Nate White served as SCF’s matchmaker for the first four fights of the promotion’s existence, but split with the company after Round 2 of the Quaker Fight Series and has joined a new fight promotion team that also plans on putting a focus on the county.
“We’re definitely going to be coming up in Lorain County,” White said. “I guess there’ll be some competition (with SCF) because that’s business. I wish those guys the best, obviously.
“But two Lorain County promotions … that’s not a problem.”
It should pay dividends for local fight fans, who should get to see twice the number of shows. And at new locales, as well
For one thing, SCF doesn’t intend to hold any more events at Quaker Steak and Lube.
“My thought is that we’re going to probably move on from that venue,” Christman said. “They were gracious hosts and the events there were great, but we had to build the arena at those shows and the overhead killed us.
“We’re looking at some other Lorain County locations.”
Another difference in the shows will be the use of professional fighters, something SCF doesn’t plan to implement for at least a year or so.
“Our hope with the new organization is to have a fight card with all pro fights,” White said. “As it is now, we’re putting fights together here and in Texas — around Dallas and Fort Worth. We also have venues targeted for future shows all between Lansing, Mich., and Erie, Pa.”
White’s aspirations are big, and he hopes his new group will eventually expand across the nation as organizations like Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC) or Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have done. He said the organization is ready to get off the ground.
“We really just have to get the promoter’s license and we’re filing for that next week,” White said. “We do have a company and all the capabilities. We’ve really got some good things going.”
Christman is taking a different approach with SCF, admitting that he wasn’t well-versed on the ins and outs of cage fighting or putting an MMA fight together, but plans on becoming more involved in the planning and promotion of his events.
“I’m going to be more active and more hands-on in every aspect,” Christman said. “In the past, I sort of stood in the background and didn’t have a lot of involvement in the fights. I’d like that to change.”
To help bring that about, Christman has signed Paul Goins — the owner and head trainer of Team Powerhouse fight club in Elyria — as an advisor to his company.
“I’m going to teach him everything about MMA,” Goins said. “I’m going to introduce him to everyone in the fight community and set up meetings with all the local fight clubs.
“My goal is to help make his company profitable.”
Goins’ help with learning the fight game will be invaluable, but Christman — a defense lawyer out of Cleveland — has been trying to educate himself.
“I’ve been going to other promotions’ events and I’ve taken down notes,” Christman said. “We know how to put on a show that’s entertaining and will turn a profit. It’s just a matter of implementing it.”
Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

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