Havoc in Helena

Kalispell's Brandon Olsen fights Saturday

Kalispell's Brandon Olsen returns to the octagon Saturday for his first professional mixed martial arts fight since putting Dominic Bjerke to sleep with a guillotine choke 19 seconds into the first round at Fight Force's The Butte Brawl 2 on July 22.

Olsen (11-6) battles Ohio's Gary Young (4-2) in a 170-pound bout as a main event at Fight Force's "Helena Havoc" at Helena Ice Arena.

The fighters weigh in on Friday, but Olsen doesn't have to count his calories. His natural weight is about 170 and he has fought many bouts at 155.

Young has wrestled for nine years, boxed for five years and has three years of Jiu-Jitsu experience.

Olsen knew almost nothing about Bjerke before agreeing to fight him two days before The Butte Brawl 2, but Young isn't much of a mystery.

"I've seen (Young) fight a couple times, actually," Olsen said. "He's an all-right wrestler, his submissions are OK and he likes to stand and brawl."

Because of his wrestling background and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Olsen's ground attack is world-class, but he's trying to improve his standing attack under Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and former boxer and kickboxer Alfie Alcaraz.

Olsen is sure he's a better wrestler than Young, but he'd like to employ the striking techniques he's honed with Alcaraz.

Alcaraz, 35, has trained and coached Olsen all summer, but he's taken a hands-on approach the last few weeks, sparring with Olsen, 31, at Ultimate Submission Academy in the Creston Center on Montana 35.

Alcaraz will offer plenty of advice and encouragement when he acts as Olsen's corner man for the first time Saturday.

"I am a very vocal individual and when you have good trainers you learn from them," Alcaraz said. "I know Brandon as an individual and I think that's more important than just knowing his athleticism."

Alcaraz knows how to push Olsen's buttons when he thinks a motivational boost is necessary.

"I get in his face and say 'You can't hurt the old man. You're a young kid - come on,'" Alcaraz said.

Olsen was originally slated to fight Alvin Robinson, but Robinson withdrew from the fight when he signed with the International Fight League.

Bobby Johnson was named as Robinson's replacement, but he too signed with the IFL, leaving Olsen to brawl with Young.

The IFL is an eight-team mixed martial arts league featuring fighters who square off one-on-one within team competitions similar to wrestling matches. There are five competitive weight divisions and each team is represented by one fighter in each division. Teams win by claiming three of five fights.

Robinson signed with the Tiger Sharks and Johnson joined the Anacondas.

"I was getting pretty psyched-up for Bobby Johnson, who is a stud," Olsen said. "Now I'm fighting (Young) which will be a good warm-up fight, I think."

Olsen hopes the fight is a tuneup for the UFC's television series "The Ultimate Fighter 5" on Spike TV. Alcaraz already sent video of Olsen's fights to the show and Olsen hopes he is asked to join a cast of lightweight fighters who will compete for a UFC contract.

Olsen's quick demolition of Bjerke was his only fight since he lost to UFC veteran Hermes Franca in June. He hopes Young will test him more than his last opponent.

"I hope it lasts longer than 19 seconds, but you always want to finish it quick," Olsen said. "I've been in three-round fights before and they're grueling."

Alcaraz worked with Olsen for the first time on the night he lost to Franca.

"When I warmed him up for that fight, his standup looked terrible and I was really nervous," Alcaraz said.

According to Alcaraz, Olsen is not only a better striker now than when he fought Franca, but he's learned to elude punched and incur less damage.

Besides winning the fight without getting hurt, Olsen's goal is to beat Young convincingly and to do so without a submission or decision.

"I want to knock him out," Olsen said. "That's what I want, to knock him out - either punch or kick to the head."

Because Young has watched Olsen beat several opponents on the ground via submission, Olsen is confident Young will battle him on his feet, which will give him the opportunity to test his new and improved striking skills.

"I think he'll just stand and trade," Olsen said. "I don't think he's gonna wanna go to the ground, but you never know. When you're hurt you'll try anything to survive."

Alcaraz says he would have loved for Olsen to battle Johnson, but things have worked out nicely.

"I think it's a fabulous situation," Alcaraz said. "I'm looking for a knockout, but in this game you take what you can get. I want him just to win the fight."

Alcaraz is confident Olsen won't suffer a let-down Saturday.

"Being a fighter, I don't ever take anybody lightly," Alcaraz said. "We haven't let up on his training at all."

Olsen also recognizes the inherent risk of trading blows with another determined fighter.

"Anybody can catch anybody," Olsen said. "It only takes one shot, but that's the chance you've gotta take if you're gonna stand and trade."

In undercard action, Tom Krissie (1-0) of Kalispell battles Joe Ritz (1-0) of Missoula in an amateur bout.

The first sanctioned female professional mixed martial arts bout in state history will also take place when Samantha Smith (4-1) fights Adrienna Jenkins (4-1). Both women are from Iowa.

Preliminary fights start at 6 p.m. with the main card commencing at 7. Log onto www.fightforce.tv for ticket information.