Fighters at Avalanche MMA are used to gathering to watch UFC fight nights.

But come Saturday, the Yukon mixed-martial artists will be the main event on the flat screen.

Avalanche MMA will host a fund-raiser at the Roadhouse Bar and Grill that will feature four of the Whitehorse fighters' winning bouts at WarPath MMA in Chilliwack, B.C., earlier this month.

Fight night will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, at a cost of $5 per fan.

Cliff Schultz, Miller Rogers and Stefan Brynjolfsson, who in Chilliwack each won their first amateur bouts, will be featured; as will WarPath MMA's headline fight winner T.J. Woodman, who is three-for-three in his amateur career.

"Even though a lot of people don't train MMA, there are a lot of fans, and that's who we're trying to reach right now, the fan base in Whitehorse,” Schultz said.

"I think they're going love it. Just by talking to friends, and then friends talking to friends, we've had good feedback saying they're all going to be there and support it.”

Rogers said it'll be a change to see himself on the screen rather than the big-name UFC fighters he watches with club members and friends.

"It's going to be pretty cool. I've never done it before. My only close experience was actually fighting, which was awesome,” Rogers said, adding that he has re-watched his fight to check for mistakes for future bouts.

Now it's time to enjoy it, in between helping out at the Roadhouse when needed.

"It's going to be fun; everyone's finally going to get to see it,” Rogers said.

The funds raised will help offset the costs of sending fighters south for bouts, Shultz said, noting the cost per fighter ranges from $1,000-$1,500 for flight, food and accommodation.

Fund-raising for travel costs for local fighters is imperative to allow the Yukon a shot in the ring, Schultz said.

"Right now, because it's amateur, we're trying to make a good base for Avalanche MMA where, right when they hit pro, their tickets are paid for, food's paid for and a place to stay is paid for,” Schultz said.

"It is expensive for fighters. Most people, nowadays, live paycheque to paycheque, so to be able to train, put in all that time, and then worry about paying for those plane tickets and the food, worrying about where to stay – I think it's a big deal. It takes a lot of stress off the fighter especially when they know that everything is paid for, everything's done, you just got to worry about training, and I think it takes a big load off their shoulders to have that money raised for them.”

Rogers said if he had to cover all the costs of traveling to fight he'd be fighting a lot less.

"But if there's sponsorships and fund-raisers that we can do that will make it so that we can fight more, it's going to help a lot, the gym will get to send more people out for more fights, it'll be less out of our pockets and then we can actually get down there and not have to worry about what we do when we get home,” Rogers said.

The owner of the Roadhouse has been a major help, Schultz said, as have the people at Yukon Brewing, Sandor's Clothing Ltd. and Super A, among others.

Saturday night will also include draws for fans.

The capacity of the Roadhouse is set at 180 people, creating the potential for Avalanche MMA to raise $900.

The money raised will go towards sending Rogers and Schultz to Caged Rage 5 in Castlegar, B.C., on Oct. 15.

"We're going to try to do it pretty much before all the fights to mix it up so we can do other things and get more people in there,” Schultz said.

For WarPath, Whitehorse fighters received support from their workplaces for plane tickets. In addition, each received $100 for travel expenses from the fight organizer in Chilliwack, as well as money toward the hotel.

The fighters received support from their workplaces for plane tickets. In addition, each received $100 for travel expenses from the fight organizer down there, as well as the hotel.

"Whatever we get is going to be helpful for everything, just because it'll be a little less out of our pockets, so we're just looking to make it a little easier on ourselves,” Rogers said.

Initially, Schultz was eager to notch his second-ever amateur bout but was prohibited after breaking his foot in his first fight.

"I can't really train any cardio and train hard, so when I found out it was pretty disappointing, pretty upsetting, because I was just getting motivated, staying in shape, to go for the next one. But I think it'll keep me motivated. Just in case, I'm going to try to stay in shape. I might be a person that'll step in if someone backs out at the last minute.”

Having Schultz in his corner helped Rogers make his decision to fight on Oct. 15.

"I don't think I would go if there wasn't another guy coming down with me, just for the moral support,” Rogers said. "Knowing Cliff is going to be down there is huge for me, knowing he's 100 per cent in support of it. It's definitely a big factor for me.”

Avalanche MMA is planning to send its fighters to WarPath 3, again in Chilliwack, on Dec. 2.

Now the club is working with the Roadhouse to create new ideas for future fight nights, Schultz said.

"We're just going to brainstorm ideas and get things moving so that we can keep fund-raising money so more and more fighters can go out.”