Jordan Varney, a 2023 Ravenswood High School graduate, will try to even his career MMA record when he takes on undefeated Caiden Armstrong during Saturday night's Fieldhouse Cage Fights 3/NLC Fight Night 44 set for Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo provided)

PARKERSBURG – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, amateur and pro boxing as well as a title bout and MMA showdowns should give fight fans their money’s worth come Saturday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse for Fieldhouse Cage Fights 3/NLC Fight Night 44.

Two area fighters hoping to come out of the cage with a win are Ravenswood’s Jordan Varney and Parkersburg’s Tonya Hopkins, who is making her MMA debut against Lynsey Hynes.

While Hopkins has been honing not just her boxing skills lately, Varney is heading into his tussle holding a little contempt for undefeated opponent Caiden Armstrong.

“Me and him were supposed to fight prior to this and I got a short notice call to go out to Vegas and I wasn’t going to turn that down,” Varney said. “Then I came back here thinking I was on suspension, but then I learned they didn’t end up suspending me so I was going to fight. I’m not even kidding. The day before weigh-ins I was sparring with one of our bigger guys and he threw a kick and his heel got me right in the ear and it ruptured my eardrum.

“I was like I can’t fight like this. I showered that night not really knowing the full extent because I never had that happen to me prior and I got water in my ear. Let me tell you it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever felt. After I had to pull out of that fight, the guy I was supposed to fight, who I’m fighting this Saturday, he actually texted me, badmouthing me and harassing me. I was going to fight either way, no matter how the outcome in Vegas went.”

The 2023 Ravenswood graduate is currently working out of the Morgantown Laborers Local Union 379, but said he’s entertaining the idea of going to college and wrestling at Rio Grande.

“It was very unfortunate,” Varney added of the mishap. “It was out of my control, but he’s texting me and is like ‘this life isn’t for everyone’ and I’m like ‘man, you don’t even know me’ and it was just a silly accident that happened. I’ve never had a personal problem with anyone I have ever fought. He went out of his way to start harassing me, texting me, running his mouth.

“It’s just uncalled for. He ran his mouth to me a lot about how I’m on a three match losing streak. I’ve never lost an MMA fight at home, at least, and I’m planning on keeping it that way this weekend. I haven’t lost to anyone in this region and I don’t see that happening this weekend either.”

Hopkins noted “we tried to find a fight last year on my card for March and it didn’t end up working out, and so he got me down for this year and I’m really excited to try it out.

“I’ve been training jiu-jitsu for a while and I kind of want to put it all together and see how it goes. I think she’s had a few boxing matches, kind of like me, but this is going to be her MMA debut.”

Although Hopkins is more than familiar with donning the boxing gloves, things are a little different when it comes to MMA.

“There’s a lot more that goes into it,” admitted Hopkins. “A lot more things you have to be aware of and be thinking about, especially whenever you go in for your fight. Boxing is just punching whereas you have to look out for somebody trying to take you down and kicking as well. It’s a whole lot more things to think of. A whole lot more mistakes that can be made, but I’m really excited to try it out. I think it will be fun and interesting to put it all together. I did the jiu-jitsu for a while. I’ve kicked with Mike (Sheppard at Dawghouse Gym) and he teaches his kickboxing classes.

“I’ve done that for a little bit, but I’ve never competed in kickboxing or MMA. It’s a little intimidating, but I’ve been sparring with the MMA sparring gloves. I’ve tried to get used to that. There’s also a difference in your range. That makes a difference as well. I’m just going to get in there and do what I know how to do with the striking and just be aware that I can catch a stray and it could do a lot more damage than if I get caught with one in a boxing glove. I’ve been doing the MMA classes there at the Dawghouse along with boxing and I train jiu-jitsu at Switchback, which is located at the Dawghouse.”

Varney said of Armstrong that “he’s a ground fighter and he likes to go to the ground. Obviously the plan is to not let that go there and if it goes there I’m not worried. I know what to do and have full faith in myself and God.”

Prior to his last fight in Las Vegas, Varney started his career with two wins locally before suffering a pair of setbacks in Maine at New England Fights events.

“The first time I went up there I fought for the 125-pound title against one of the top-ranked fighters in the country. Me and him had a brawl,” Varney said. “I mean no one had touched this guy before and we went in there and left it all out in the cage.

“Then my next time last May I fought for a 135-pound belt coming off of that loss and I lost that fight. I worked hard for it. Those guys, that’s their life, and they’re good. It definitely kept me in a spot where I know I need to get better and work harder.”

Like Hopkins, Varney is expected to have a solid fan base cheering for his corner.

“I got a pretty big family,” quipped Varney. “They are definitely going to show up and show out and come with their full support.

“I got a lot of friends and coworkers coming. I expect to put on a nice show, very respectful and a master class in front of everyone that supports me.”

Hopkins added “I’m ready for the challenge. I think she’ll be a good opponent for that. I think having similar experience levels it will be a good fight.

“I think that boxing is my true passion, but I just wanted to try it out and maybe I’ll fall in love with the MMA part, too, but we’ll see how it goes.”

The event, which is presented by Dawghouse Promotions and New Line Cagefighting and sanctioned by the West Virginia State Athletic Commission, will open doors at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the gate. Grappling starts at 4 p.m. with the fight card set to get underway at 6 p.m.

Fight fans unable to attend the show can go to YouTube and subscribe to New Line Cagefighting for two pay-per-view options. Gold members get live access for $24.99 ($29.99 on Apple devices) or can opt for the $2.99 silver plan and view the event around the middle of next week.

A limited number of first and second row VIP tables are still available. For more information, text 304-483-5503.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Fieldhouse Cage Fights 3/New Line Cage Fight Night 44

Brazilian jiu-jitsu Pre-Lims

Dax Sunset vs. Carter Dunlap

Jeffrey Swain vs. Paul Cochran

Jerome Whitfield vs. Lucas Shafer

Edward Pettway vs.Solomon Harrison

Steven Marshall vs. Matt Hanesworth

Logan Leadingham vs. Evan Pugh

JR Cochran vs. Hunter Sargent

Logan Seabolt vs. Eli Adkins

Main Card

AB: Balin Luft vs. Conner Blessing

AB: Jesse Fuller vs. Eric Workman

AB: Esther Hardy-Sims vs. Kasi Riddle

KB: Evan Sinclair vs. Dalton Huffstetler

MMA: Stone Dixon vs. David Pomeroy

KB: Tyler Ahrens vs. Nicholas Lyons

MMA: Dallas Lazear vs. Destin Lyke

AB: Stevie Allen vs. Sammy Davis

MMA: Grayson Hostetter vs. Preston Starcher

KB: Eric Oden vs. Nick Secreto

MMA: David Farmer vs. Dacota Odell

MMA: Michael Hopson vs. Brice Pomeroy

PB: Zane Fry vs. Justin Taylor

MMA: Jordan Varney vs. Caiden Armstrong

PB: Stephen Dailey, Jr. vs. Anthony Alston, Jr.

MMA: Bobby Johnson vs. Sheldon Starcher

MMA: Tonya Hopkins vs. Lynsey Hynes

*AB: Bekah Robinson vs. Kersten McAbee

*Denotes New Line Cagefighting bantamweight boxing title fight

Notes: Gates open at 3 p.m. with grappling at 4 p.m. and fights starting at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $30 or $35 at the gate. All bouts are subject to change.