Johnson’s opponent, Morales, trains in the Boise area, but graduated from Orofino High School.
Lapwai High School alum Marcisio Noriega has taken his talents from the hardwood to the cage.
“He’s picked up things really quick, works really hard,” Arnett said of Noriega. “He’s been one of the more disciplined students that I’ve had in a long time.”
The former Wildcats basketball player will be making his amateur MMA debut opposite Jeremiah Seaver, a Grangeville resident who brings a boxing background to his own amateur debut.
Lewiston’s Jamison Hunt (3-1) trains at Underdog Martial Arts. He will challenge Jacob Guertin of Moses Lake, Wash.
Arnett said that his focus when creating the event is to match the fighters up as evenly as possible.
“It’s always a sold-out crowd, 1,600 people,” Arnett said. “The crowd is always electric. It’s super loud. I always say it’s the best crowd in the Northwest. I go to all these events all over the Northwest, and I really believe that there’s not a better crowd than Lewiston, that nobody gets as loud and excited.”
Arnett’s late father, Frank Arnett, began hosting fights at the local casino beginning in 2008. Austin Arnett took over in 2021, with a dedicated team behind him.
With fighters and fans from across the Pacific Northwest and into Canada, the event has grown over the years, Arnett said.
“It’s the explosion in the valley with MMA. … Ever since coming out of COVID, it seems like it’s just been a very, very hot commodity and an event that people love coming to,” Arnett said. “We’ve sold out every time, every event since COVID, and we’re on track to sell out this one as well.”
Tickets were available as of Friday night on the Clearwater River Casino website.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.