Article content

In mixed martial arts, fighters dance on opposite sides of a sword.

One misstep, one poorly timed punch, one bob instead of a weave and the sword’s edge can fell either combatant in The Octagon.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or The fighter and the sword: The story of one Ottawa man's UFC dream Back to video

And the crowd will cheer.

The world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, descended on Ottawa this week, bringing with it several days of spectacle that will culminate tonight in a slate of fights at TD Place.

For some fighters, the road to the grand stage of the UFC is long. For others, it’s endless.

But for all, the path is unique, fuelled by the adulation of each victory and marked by the lessons that come with each defeat.

This is a glimpse into of one of those journeys.

Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen

Soaked through shirt and shorts, Fred Stonehouse is at the Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts on Carling Avenue being put through his paces.

It’s two weeks before the 27-year-old will have his third professional fight, this one in Pittsburgh at an event called Gladiators of the Cage 21.