Larson gets bout in Minnesota tonight at Target Center

Hastings High School graduate Isaiah Larson will have his next Mixed Martial Arts bout much closer to home than his last.

Larson, a 1997 graduate of HHS, will fight Saturday, April 28, at Target Center against B.J. Lacy. Larson’s last bout was in Russia.

Larson hasn’t fought Lacy before, and he figures to be the favorite with a 14-6-1 record. Lacy, a fellow Minnesota native, has a record of 12-17-1, according to mixedmartialarts.com.

“On paper, I’m definitely favored, but he’s a tough dude,” Larson said. “He’s gone to a decision a lot of times in some of those losses. He’s definitely a dangerous person.”

If Larson wins, he’s hoping to keep moving up the ranks in MMA.

“I hope I get a shot at either Bellator or, possibly, UFC,” Larson said. “I’ve fought guys that are in there already. In talking to my people, if I can get to somewhere around 17 wins, I should be able to get a shot at somebody. I have some more fights in Europe, but that probably won’t be until the summer or fall. I have to stay busy and active, so this is a good opportunity for me.

“I didn’t think I’d get an opportunity to fight around here again. When this chance came up, I jumped at it.”

The bout is being presented by Cage Fighting Xtreme.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. Those purchasing tickets should use the promo code isaiahl. By doing so, they’ll be invited to Larson’s after party. Information on that party will be announced at the Target Center on fight night.

Larson has won seven of his last nine fights. He is a former wrestling standout, having won a state title for Hastings as a heavyweight in 1997. He wrestled collegiately at the University of Minnesota-Mankato.

Tags: sports, hastings, minnesota, spiral, local