Local heavyweight Tanner Boser finally gets his UFC fight in Edmonton

Tanner Boser hasn’t been waiting his whole life for this, it only feels that way.

After getting the rug pulled out from under him at the very last minute in 2019, he is finally getting another chance to fight in front of the hometown fans at UFC Fight Night Saturday at Rogers Place.

“It means a lot because it’s been a long time coming for me to get to fight in Edmonton for UFC,” said the veteran heavyweight. “My debut was supposed to be that in 2019 and it didn’t happen when my opponent tested positive the day before weigh-ins and the fight got cancelled.

“Now, seven years later, I get to fight for UFC in my home city. It’s a very cool feeling and I’m very proud.”

In the journey between then and now, Bozer has put in a lot of miles and a lot of rounds. He’s had his ups and his downs, all of it leading to this moment, which has the potential to be the highlight of his long fighting career.

“I didn’t think that it would happen,” he said. “I’m really grateful. This opportunity is huge and it does mean a lot to me to be able to do this. Before all was said and done, I got to fight in Edmonton for UFC. A couple of years ago it didn’t seem like that was a possibility anymore. Now it’s a reality. I’m very grateful.”

Boser, ranked 33rd in the world, will take on 28th-ranked Jhonata Diniz of Brazil in a fight featuring two big dudes who like to let their arms and legs go.

“The UFC made this fight for a reason and I’m happy they did,” said Boser. “They realized they can put me in there with guys like him, exciting guys, and they can have exciting heavyweight fights.

“It was an issue a couple of years ago, people were complaining that the heavyweights were boring. Well, it’s in a resurgence right now. Matchups like this are what they want for the viewers. We’ll see, somebody is going to sleep in this one.”

In preparation, Boser spent seven weeks training in Vegas in a camp that included the likes of Alexander Volkov, the fourth-ranked heavyweight in the world, and Johnny Walker, ranked 12th.

“He’s incredibly good,” Boser said of Volkov. “To be able to get all those rounds in with him, I just got so much better at a rapid rate because you don’t have a choice. Either you’re going to get better training with that guy or you’re going to get hurt. It was a great learning experience and a good confidence boost to have good rounds with guys like that.

“I know (Diniz) is a good kickboxer but I am too. I might not have the credentials of kickboxing on paper, but if you overlook my striking I’ll knock you out.”

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