Estevan fighters to clash in Prince Albert

Four mixed martial arts fighters from Estevan are tentatively scheduled to fight at Hard Knocks 26 in Prince Albert later this month.

Derek Daku, Mike Geib, Josh Heinz and Greg Alberts are taking their talents to the northern city to fight on the July 19 card.

It will mark the first time since Hard Knocks Fighting Championship's expansion to Estevan last fall that local fighters will be on a card elsewhere.

Hard Knocks marketing director Cord Crowthers said it's a sign of the growth of MMA in Estevan.

"Now they're going on road trips. They're not just fighting here. The first team is going up to Prince Albert July 19 to take a team from Estevan Combat Sports and Fitness to fight with Hard Knocks up there and represent Estevan," said Crowthers.

Daku will be looking to bounce back after losing his first career fight at Hard Knocks 24 on June 1 in Estevan.

He lost that much-anticipated heavyweight title bout to Devon Smith after defeating Justin Schmit and Dusty Shingoose in his previous fights.

This time around, Daku will face Jesse Haywood of Vancouver. Both fighters have 2-1 career records.

Geib is looking for his first win in his second career fight, after losing to Estevan's Craig Gaudry at Hard Knocks 24.

He will fight Jordan O'Connor of Kenora, Ont.

Heinz was scheduled to fight on the June 1 card in Estevan, but it fell through when his opponent, Lee Ruff, was injured in training.

Heinz, who runs Estevan Combat Sports and Fitness, is up against Randy Coyer of Thompson, Man.

Alberts will face James Sanderson of La Ronge in his first career fight.

As for the upcoming Sept. 14 card in Estevan, Crowthers said there isn't much to report yet regarding what the fight card will look like.

He did say that Hard Knocks is "working feverishly" to include a female fight.