Fighters ready for a Coastal Combat

They’re on home turf but it’s certainly not going to be an easy battle in the cage for a strong contingent of rising fighters during Coastal Combat.

Getting ready for Coastal Combat 7 this weekend are Jake 'Face Off' Pitfield, Jayden Walsh, Brad 'The Viper' Cowie, Scotty 'The Sting' Nicholson, Brandon 'Weapon X' Walsh, and Dan 'The Danger" Staveley. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

MMA: They’re on home turf but it’s certainly not going to be an easy battle in the cage for a strong contingent of rising fighters during Coastal Combat.

Sunshine Coast talent is again expected to shine when a crowd of up to 800 people pack into the Machjet International hangar at Sunshine Coast Airport on Saturday for the seventh edition of the fight night.

Among the region’s fighters on the 15-bout card is Brad ‘The Viper’ Cowie who will look to defend his amateur lightweight belt for the second time.

The 42-year-old will take on Michael ‘Lionheart’ Tepou in the co-main event of the night.

“I’m just going to stick to my style which is a lot of pressure,” he said.

“I don’t mind where it goes, it could be on the feet, in the clinch, in the wrestle or take it to the ground.”

Coastal Combat promoter Joel Szepesvary said Cowie’s fight would be an entertaining clash, with a strong showing of other local fighters to be tested as well.

“We’ve got four coming from Combat Lab (Coolum), three coming from Ignite Martial Arts (Caloundra) and another three coming from Tribal MMA (Caloundra),” Szepesvary said.

“When they fight at home they never get an easy match...but tough matches brings a good fight and even greater reward.”

The main event of the night will be an international bout between Brazilian Rodolfo Marques and South African Justin Van Heerden for the vacant pro featherweight title.

Van Heerden, 25, is a rising talent with seven pro fights to his name and will take on battle hardened veteran Marques, 36, who has 40 pro fights behind him.

“It’s a fight that’s definitely worth the ticket,” Szepesvary said.

Szepesvary said the night was sponsored by Mcdermott Aviation, with Coastal Combat donating a VIP table to the company to thank its pilots, engineers and ground crews for their help battling the recent devastating bushfires.

The fight night starts from 6pm on Saturday.

See Coastal Combat’s Facebook page to buy tickets.