(L-R) Local MMA fighter Connor “KryptoKnight” Krebs with his girlfriend Solana Blackmore after winning his first Havoc Fighting Championship featherweight title in December 2022. (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

Tonight @ 8 p.m.

Local MMA fighter Connor Krebs attempts to become Havoc’s first two-way division fighting champion

Apr 21, 2023 | 12:52 PM

Local mixed-martial arts (MMA) fighter Connor “KryptoKnight” Krebs will compete tonight to become the first Havoc fighting champion to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes.

The Red Deerian not only fought his first Havoc title fight in December 2022, but won the amateur 145-pound featherweight belt. There, he set a goal to become a “champ-champ” like his MMA idol, Conor McGregor, who was the first ever double champion in UFC history.

READ: Local MMA fighter Connor “KryptoKnight” Krebs wins first title at Havoc Fighting Championship

Tonight at Westerner Park, he will attempt this goal by competing in the amateur 135-pound bantamweight title fight to become the organization’s first two-way division champ.

Krebs says the fight is particularly special as he made his debut at Havoc in 2014 in the 135-weight category.

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“Now I’m going back to where it all began; same weight, same promotion, same city, trying to fulfill a dream,” he said.

He says many questioned why he did not choose to increase to the 155-pound category as it is easier to gain weight. His response is that he has already competed in that class as well and wanted to challenge himself further.

And it was a challenge indeed, he explained, stating jokingly that his journey began with an unintentional yet helpful stomach flu.

As part of his training camp to lose the weight in a healthy way, he fasted for 18-20 hours a day. He says he would simply have a coffee for breakfast until 12 p.m. where he would then eat roughly three to four meals-worth of clean food until 5 p.m., ending the night with training at Kensei Martial Arts & Fitness alongside long-time coach Kent Brown.

Kensei Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness coach Kent Brown (left) at the gym with Connor Krebs (middle). (Supplied)

But the most important and effective lifestyle change, Krebs says, was abstaining from alcohol.

“When I quit drinking, within a couple of months, I lost 10 pounds and really leaned out. It’s just been an added bonus in every area of my life; work, personal, gym. It’s been a huge help and the right decision for sure,” he said.

Krebs says his competitor, Diego Dejesus, is the toughest fighter Havoc has offered him yet. Fighting out of Toronto, Dejesus has a record of six wins, no losses and one draw. He is currently the Cage Wars Bantamweight Champion from his most recent title fight in New York last July 2022.

For Krebs, his mindset is focused on one task: to perform.

“I truly believe I was born for war and bred to win. I was put on this earth to do this. It’s just what I’m best at. Birds fly, fish swim, and I do this. I’m just going to go out and compete and do what I do best,” he said.

Krebs says he is grateful not only for the support from his sponsors, manager Charmaine Westerlund Porter, friends and family, but in particular, his girlfriend Solana Blackmore who he says has been “an angel through this entire process”.

The Havoc Fighting Championship starts at 8 p.m. on April 21 in the Prairie Pavilion (4847A 19 St).