BUTTE — If Butte likes a good fight, it’s going to love what’s coming April 21.
The Mining City’s own Sam Rauch is fighting for an Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world title in the Sparta Combat League at the Butte Civic Center. It will be the native’s 10th fight in Butte, but this will be the biggest yet.
“It’ll be the highest level of fights that Butte has ever been exposed to,” said Rauch. “There’s just no doubt about it.”
It’s being billed as a fight between the USA and Canada. Rauch is taking on Alberta’s Kolton Menzak, one of the toughest challenges of Rauch’s decade-long professional career.
“He always comes in shape. He always comes tough (and) ready to fight,” said Rauch. “It’s going to be a great fight. He’s tough (but) I don’t want any pushovers at this point in my career.”
Rauch is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and he is known for being solid on the ground in fights. But this will be a different type of bout, as he will be fighting by Muay Thai rules. Rauch and Menzak will basically be limited to standing strikes only — punches, elbows, kicks, and knees. The Butte native says this will make for a much more exciting fight for fans.
“It’s going to be action-packed kickboxing,” he explained. “It’ll be three minutes of nothing but strikes.”
Like most fighters, Rauch is more than assured that he will be the one who takes home the belt.
“I’m very confident that my skills are going to prevail and that I’m on another level than Kolton Menzak,” he said.
There will be several fights leading up to the main event on April 21, but the title bout is tentatively slated for 10 p.m.
