After not having fought in a Mixed Martial Arts bout since last September, International Falls’ Billy “The Kidd” Christianson will be fighting Saturday night at 150 pounds in the “Caged Chaos at Canterbury Park 2” in Shakopee.
Christianson, whose pro record is now 6-3 and trains with Borderland Combat Sports in the Falls area, faces Jason Benson, who has a 3-4 record and trains at the Circle of Discipline gym in Minneapolis.
Saturday night’s bout is the first of two fights scheduled over the next two months for Christianson, who has lost his last two bouts, including his last fight Sept. 22 at Canterbury Park against Zach “Juice” Juusola, who defeated Christianson on a first-round submission hold in their 155-pound bout.
Christianson said he is making the transition from fighting at 155 to 145 pounds, the weight class he plans to be at for his fight next month at the Black Bear Casino in Carlton, and hopes he’ll be able to work his way into a “contender spot.”
“I’m naturally a 145-pounder,” said Christianson, who described that weight class as “more technical” and “higher paced” with not as many knockouts compared to 155 pounds.
Christianson, who had to forego another bout earlier this year after coming down with the flu, said he is “back to 100 percent” as he has been dropping weight in preparation for Saturday’s fight.
He said he has been growing a beard as a fund-raiser for Children’s Hospital and plans to shave it once he raises $1,000.
Another fighter who trains with Borderland Combat Sports, Nick Reece, will be in an amateur fight on the same card Saturday night to face Logan McPadden out of Sioux Falls, S.D.
