Local fighter readies for UFC 186 in Montreal

KELOWNA – A local MMA fighter is in Montreal this week getting ready for his first match in the UFC.

Shane "Shaolin" Campbell is the fourth Kelowna-based fighter to be called by the biggest promotion in the world. He was asked last minute if he would be willing to fill in on the main card against John Makdessi and never hesitated.

"I'm always confident in myself but anything can happen in there," he says. "It's a huge increase in pay and the exposure is phenomenal. I'm right on the main card which is really nice. It has fight of the night potential."

Campbell, who trains with Toshido MMA, arrived in Montreal earlier this week with coach David Lea and team mate Sarah Moras and a record of 11-2. He is best known for a recent fight in which he hit his opponent with a hadouken fireball, a move made popular in the 1980's video game Street Fighter.

He will fight Makdessi at 160 pound catchweight with a 4" reach advantage.

UFC 186 takes place Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.