Professional mixed martial arts comes to Gary on Friday, Nov. 6, when Elite Fight Night 31: Combat for a Cause takes over Hard Rock Live at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Doors open at 6 p.m. at the venue, located at 5400 West 29th Ave.
The event lands on Veterans Day weekend, and the promotion has billed it as a fundraiser supporting veterans and military families, according to the NWI Times. The specific beneficiary has not been publicly identified.
The main event features Valanti "300" Atsas defending the Elite Fight Night (EFN) Welterweight Championship at 170 pounds. Atsas holds a 10-1-0 professional record, according to Tapology, and the Merrillville High School alumnus is coming off a win in his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut, according to the promotion's Facebook page.
His original opponent, Jesse "JT Money" Taylor, a veteran of the UFC and winner of The Ultimate Fighter 25, pulled out. Javanis Ross stepped in as the replacement challenger. The promotion described Ross as a professional fighter with experience on major combat sports platforms.
The card also includes Tyler McKnight, who fights out of Milwaukee and represents Primal MKE. The promotion said McKnight has made an impression in his first year of MMA competition.
Before the fights, fans can meet MMA veteran Clay "The Carpenter" Guida at a free meet and greet inside the casino. The promotion described Guida as a Hall of Famer and one of the most recognizable names in the sport, according to an EFN Instagram post.
Tickets are available at efntickets.com.
Upcoming:
- Friday, Nov. 6 — EFN 31: Combat for a Cause, Hard Rock Live, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 West 29th Ave., Gary. Doors at 6 p.m. Free Clay Guida meet and greet before the fights. Tickets at efntickets.com.
