Xtreme Fight Night 359 -- the man behind the bout, a Tulsa native and legendary kickboxing champion Dale "Apollo" Cook.
As he prepares for Friday night's show at Paradise Cove, he told us what his career means to him.
In case you don't know him, he is known in the mixed martial arts world as "Apollo."
He traveled the world and even stared in 10 movies thanks to his martial arts.
"I started promoting in 1977 because I wanted to be a fighter, and if you lived in Tulsa, Okla. in the '70s there was nowhere to fight. If you were a kick boxer, so I had to become a promoter so I could become a fighter," Dale said.
After years of fighting, he retired from the ring. He now runs the Xtreme Fighting League, an Oklahoma-based promotion, which features both kickboxing and mixed martial arts matches.
"Now my focus and my fun and my passion is giving young guys the opportunity to become a star in the mixed martial arts world right here in Tulsa, Okla.," Dale said.
Cook says he loves seeing young local talent grow into unexpected champions.
"Very rewarding to see guys like that go into the big leagues. It's what I hope we'd do as we deliver incredible, exciting entertainment for our fight fans here local up and coming guys," Dale said.
When the new River Spirit Casino was built, it turned the old casino into an events center, and Cook's fighters were the first opening act," Dale said.
"We were the first act there, and now after being closed for a few weeks, we are honored to be the opening act for the grand reopening here at River Spirit, so I feel awesomely blessed," Dale said.
For more information about tickets click here.
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