LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some up and coming grapplers will be fighting for a name in Louisville this weekend.
It's called the "Future of Fighting presents the Kickoff" and it's a mixed martial arts card. Some of the fighters train at Area 502 gym but the event is coming to a popular west Louisville venue this weekend.
MMA fighter and coach Phillip Perkins said it's a beautiful venue.
An MMA event will be taking place in west Louisville on Dec. 2, 2023. (WDRB photo)
Perkins is bringing a big-time fight card to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage on Saturday that will include the cage and all.
"It's a nice martial arts cage," Perkins said. "It's a 22-foot cage, just like you'd see when you watch the bigger leagues on TV, the UFC and stuff like that."
Perkins owns Area 502 and the walls of his gym are covered with paintings of iconic boxers and MMA fighters and there are several championship belts on display.
But Perkins said, this weekend's fight card could include the next MMA or boxing superstar or champion.
"Yeah, fighting to see who's gonna be the future of fighting and we got a lot of guys, like I said, locally that are really trying to make a name for themselves," Perkins said.
"Boxing, MMA ... if two people are fighting, I want to see it," Benjamin Weatherholt, a MMA and boxing fan, said.
Weatherholt plans to attend the event and is glad to see combat sports making a comeback in Louisville.
"We've had a beautiful underground MMA boxing scene," he said. "And it's really grown into something bigger. I get a feeling we're right on the cusp of something big."
Meanwhile, as crews prepare the venue, Perkins hopes some of the stars of tomorrow will be on display this weekend.
"Hopefully we're gonna be a platform again for them to be able to make it to the next level," Perkins said.
The first fighters will enter the ring at 7 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, click here.
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