Rencountre’s MMA fight set Saturday in Newkirk

Professional fighter Chance “Black Eagle” Rencountre of Pawhuska is putting his undefeated record on the line Saturday night in a mixed martial arts match at First Council Casino in Newkirk.

The 170-pound Rencountre will face Austin, Texas, fighter Rashid Abdullah in the fifth match on the nine-event card. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the first bout is scheduled to get underway at 8. Listed as the main event is a 145-pound matchup between Jeremy Spoon of Chickasha and Chris Coggons of Nashville, Tenn.

Rencountre is 2-0 in his professional MMA career, winning the most recent fight by a technical knockout after taking a unanimous decision in his opener. He was 8-0 as an amateur with five TKOs. His last contest on Aug. 30 was televised as part of the Titan 26 event in Kansas City.

A former wrestling standout for the Pawhuska High School Huskies, Rencountre went on to be named as a junior college All-American at Labette Community College in Kansas, where his team also won an academic national championship. He also wrestled at Fort Hays (Kan.) State University.

Rencountre currently trains in Chula Vista, Calif., with Alliance MMA — one of the top mixed martial arts facilities in the country. As an amateur, Rencountre fought out of Kansas City where he was trained by Pawhuska native Chad Parks.

He is a member of the Osage Nation and serves as a member of the In-Lon-Schka Dance Committee for the Pawhuska District.

First Council Casino is operated by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.