XFC 28: Dom O'Grady And Dave Courchaine To Face Off In Lightweight Contender Bout

TAMPA, FL - Just 48 hours after announcing the company’s return to American soil and the Main Event of their upcoming show, the XFC has released the second confirmed bout for XFC 28. In what many will view as a headlining caliber bout, surging Lightweight “Insane” Dave Courchaine will square off against Dom O’Grady. Both Courchaine and O’Grady positioned themselves into title discussions after big wins at XFC 27, this past December in Michigan. While both are deserving of a #1 contender ranking, there can be only one. This fall, a new challenger for the 155 pound title will emerge when the two veterans go toe to toe inside the Sun Dome in sunny Tampa, Florida.

“Insane” Dave Courchaine (18-6) is a man on fire; literally an unstoppable force. Currently on a three fight win streak, the “Insane” one has won 11 of his last 12 bouts. His only hiccup along the way was a 1st round knockout loss to Luis “Sapo” Santos; a fight Courchaine still to this day views as an early stoppage. Sporting an 89% finish rate, the very effective and efficient Lightweight has made his plans clear to XFC brass; he wants to win a title. His determination has paid off, as he is now one fight away from earning that opportunity. In the months since XFC 27, Courchaine has stayed sharp taking two MMA fights and one professional boxing match outside of the promotion; something he felt was necessary to stay focused and ready while waiting for his number to be called. Jason Ellis, Courchaine’s manager from MMA United Sports Entertainment Group, had this to say about his client’s upcoming fight: “We are very excited about this matchup. When Dave signed with the XFC, the goal has simply been to fight whoever they put in front of us and eventually become a champion. The opportunity to fight O’Grady gets us a step closer to achieving his goal of becoming the new Lightweight champ. To be worthy of carrying the title “champion” you have to beat the best, and there is no doubt Dom O’Grady is in that category. We want to personally thank John Prisco and the staff at XFC for giving Dave this opportunity and giving him the stage to prove he belongs at this level.”

While Dom O’Grady’s (16-6) approach to the time off following XFC 27 was a little bit different from Dave Courchaine’s, in his mind it was just as effective. While his opponent stayed busy inside the cage, Dom O’Grady has used his down time to heal his body and enjoy life and a new daughter. “At this point in my career, time off to recharge my batteries and enjoy my family is just as beneficial to me as staying active has been to Dave”, said O’Grady. “I know what I’m doing at this point. I know what needs to be done and when it’s going to be time to go to work. Allowing myself time to let nagging injuries heal up and enjoy being a new dad has been wonderful for me.” A winner of 6 of his last 8, the Michigan native now looks to possibly add another belt to his trophy case, but the former King of the Cage champ knows the road to the XFC belt won’t be an easy one. “Dave Courchaine is a tough dude; he is definitely the type of opponent you can’t afford to overlook.” Boasting a 57% finish rate of his own, O’Grady’s tends to wear down his opponents; either setting them up for submissions or claiming victory on the judge’s scorecards; another contrast to Courchaine’s heavy handed numbers.

XFC President John Prisco’s thoughts on the Courchaine versus O’Grady matchup: “This fight is Main Event material; that’s how epic I feel this matchup will be. Both these guys are red-hot right now, coming off great wins at XFC 27. Courchaine has been on a complete tear for over two years now and Dom is a savvy vet who stepped right into the XFC and cemented his place in the organization, with an impressive finish of Eric Reynolds. Their styles are very different, but both are equally dangerous. Dave is intense and in your face, while O’Grady is laid back and methodical with his approach. Both these fighters have obvious strengths, but their strengths could also cost them the fight in this one. Will Dom be too laid back and get overwhelmed, or will Dave be too aggressive and get himself in a bad spot like Reynolds did? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to see how this one plays out. The winner of this fight will definitely deserve a shot at the title.”

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Article by J. Hobbs

About Xtreme Fighting Championships: The XFC (Xtreme Fighting Championships) is a premier International MMA organization based out of Tampa, Florida with offices in New York, Spring Lake, Ft. Lauderdale, Sao Paulo, & Buenos Aires. The XFC is known for entertaining fans with some of the most action packed professional MMA events in the World! Showcasing both Male & Female fighters, the XFC boasts the signing and building of the next generation of MMA stars. In 2006, founder John Prisco had a vision to seek out, sign, and brand a new generation of Mixed Martial Arts Fighters - XFC Fighters. With the world’s fastest growing sport, Mixed Martial Arts, being only 20 years young, XFC believes the most talented MMA Fighters are just being discovered. In 2014 XFC expanded its international presence and secured a long term contract with the largest Brazilian open network television broadcaster, Rede TV, and is now streaming events Worldwide from both North & South America!