Gary, RailCats To Host Action-Packed Fight Night At U.S. Steelyard
City of Gary and Gary SouthShore RailCats officials Wednesday said they’re excited to host a mixed-martial arts fight night that brings a Gary resident back to his hometown.
Mayor Jerome A. Prince said the event is another example of the high quality events being held at the stadium, which is owned by the City of Gary Redevelopment Commission. The event, put on by the Griffith-based Elite Amateur Fight League and Elite Fight Night, is the latest event in Gary’s storied history of professional combat sports.
“We’re excited to join the Gary SouthShore RailCats in providing a venue for these exciting events, and we welcome guests from across Northwest Indiana and the Midwest,” Mayor Prince said. “Everyone knows Gary has had some of the toughest professional fighters over the decades, so this is a great fit for us.”
The hugely popular baseball stadium will host 22 professional and amateur fighters Friday night in a card that is expected to pack the stadium. It will feature two up-and- coming fighters from the region, Payton Brezinski, a pro fighter from Hobart, and Jonathan Appelman, of Crown Point, who is the third ranked amateur MMA fighter in Indiana.
Both fighters are trained by Steve Colon, 46, a competitive MMA trainer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who was born and raised in Gary. The former Wirth High School wrestling coach now owns and operates the Team Colon MMA gym in Merrillville.
“I’m very proud we’re coming out to Gary,” Mr. Colon said. “I speak about Gary all the time. I still have family there, so to come back to my hometown and do something really positive is an honor.”
Jesse Nunez, owner of Elite Amateur Fight League and Elite Fight Night, said he looks forward to holding the second MMA fight night this year at the stadium.
“We had a great experience there earlier this year, so its fantastic to be able to return to Gary,” Mr,. Nunez said. “We have excellent amateurs and a lot of pro fighters on this card, so we’re bringing plenty of talent to Gary.”
Tickets can be purchased at the U.S. Steelyard box office or at the door.
