By Dan King

Evander Russ, the defending belt-holder of mixed martial arts at the Whitehall Athletic Club, will look to defend his crown on Saturday.

Russ, a popular fighter out of Clyde, N.Y., who just got back from a world tour of fighting, will be featured in the middleweight bout of the MMA event at the WAC against Ben Bohren.

In his last appearance in Whitehall, Russ won by TKO in the third round of a title bout on March 29, 2014. He is ranked No. 37 out of 202 welterweights in the state, according to tapology.com.

Bohren, out of Sauquoit, N.Y., has a record of 3-0. He is the eighth-ranked middleweight in New York out of 139 fighters, according to tapology.com. Bohren’s first two wins came courtesy of submission and his third via TKO.

The Russ/Bohren fight headlines 13 fights, two of which will be grappling and the other 11 will be MMA.

In addition, there will be a concession stand featuring hamburgers, hotdogs and nachos, and a cash bar for those 21 and older.

WAC workers said that the last MMA event drew about 300 people and they are hoping that Saturday’s event will pack an even larger crowd into the former armory.

Tickets are all general admission and are on sale now for $30 at the Whitehall Athletic Club, located at 62 Poultney Street.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the fights begin at 7 p.m. All bouts are amateur bouts, because of the regulations against professional MMA fights in the Empire State.

More information can be had by calling the Athletic Club at 518-499-0134.