{"id":585194,"date":"2026-04-06T05:13:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/585194\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T05:13:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:13:09","slug":"whats-good-in-the-valley-renfrew-muay-thai-head-coach-brings-unified-mma-championship-belt-to-the-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/585194\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s good in the Valley? Renfrew Muay Thai head coach brings Unified MMA championship belt to the Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/moy-tie-hero.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On Friday, March 27, head coach of Renfrew Muay Thai (RMT), Kru Mirza Hopovac, stepped into the ring at Unified MMA 68 to battle for the Light Heavyweight championship belt.<\/p>\n<p>Hopovac would be sizing up with former champion and Alberta-based Jake Craig; the venue was at the River Cree Resort &amp; Casino in Edmonton.<\/p>\n<p>Though the fight was slated for an Albertan afternoon, the battle began months before with intensive training and a weight cut.<\/p>\n<p>Hopovac needed to cut down from around 250 pounds to 205 pounds to compete in the Light Heavyweight class.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-2.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-2.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He had never faced Craig before, the previously undefeated champion of this class.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-5.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-5.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The weight loss made Hopovac\u2019s kicks and punches fly, the unburdened Bosnian-Canadian knocked out the former title-holder in 43 seconds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-6.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-6.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The win slots Hopovac into the championship seat for a full year and during that time a challenger may want to face his undefeated record.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, Hopovac showed Canada that great talent can be developed right here in the Ottawa Valley.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-7.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-7.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bringing this win and the championship belt into Renfrew is a big accomplishment for Hopovac, his gym and his crew.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/champ-002-scaled.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-312036\" class=\"size-large wp-image-312036\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/champ-002-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-312036\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Despite sometimes being called the \u201cBosnian Bomber,\u201d Hopovac is just as proud to be representing the Canadian flag | Mik Horvath \/ MBC<\/p>\n<p>It also sets an example for the students who take part in training courses at RMT.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-8.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-8.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now Hopovac has a full-year to defend his title, but he hasn\u2019t heard much about incoming challengers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-9.mp3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/media-cdn.socastsrm.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/773\/files\/2026\/04\/hopovac-040126-9.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>When myFM was invited to RMT, Hopovac, a huge soccer fan, was watching Bosnia and Herzegovina face Italy in the world cup qualifiers.<\/p>\n<p>With two big Bosnian wins, Hopovac said he was having one of the best weeks of his life.<\/p>\n<p>RMT is also already working on Victory in the Valley IV, which is set for September this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>(Written by Mik Horvath)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Friday, March 27, head coach of Renfrew Muay Thai (RMT), Kru Mirza Hopovac, stepped into the 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