Submitted photo – Arcata’s Cass Bell will fight in San Jose in early September.

By Ray Hamill — The opportunities for local MMA fighters continue to grow, with the news this week that former Eureka High wrestler Tyson Miller is joining the pro ranks and has been included on September’s Bellator card in San Jose along with veteran Arcata fighter Cass Bell.

The two Institute of Combat fighters will give Humboldt County twice the presence at the prestigious event, with Bell making his fourth trip, having recently signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator.

And that’s not the only big news for the sport locally in recent weeks.

The IOC is also presenting a fight night at Cher-Ae Heights Casino in October called the North Coast Combat League, which club owner John “Juan” Thompson hopes will become a regular event.

“We’re still building the card right now, but we’ve got a bunch of fighters that have contacted us,” Thompson said. “We’ve got a lot of people already hitting us up.”

In addition to the North Coast Combat League, the Lost Boys Gym in Arcata, in conjunction with Hard Fought Productions, continue to provide local fighters and fans with plenty of options.

This year will see the number of Hard Fought  fight nights at the Bear River Casino increase to four, with the third event scheduled for the end of August.

That fight night will be a special one for local fans, with both Cosce brothers, Orion and Louis, expected to headline in their respective pro fights.

A busy summer for Louis also includes a fight at the prestigious URCC Rumble by the Bay on August 10, where he will fight Diego Bezerra at the Cow Palace.

The three local pro fighters with experience — Bell and the Cosces — are a combined 9-0 in the pro ranks and have each been instrumental and inspirational in the growth of the sport locally in recent years.

Now younger fighters like the 21-year-old Miller are following in their footsteps.

“Cass has done the most of anybody,” Thompson said of the 32-year-old who has set the standard with his undefeated run through Bellator. “He’s made it so far, and now Tyson gets to follow that. Cass is paving the way for these guys. It’s just inspiring. It ups the level for everybody.”

Thompson is hoping the new fight nights at the Cher-Ae Heights Casino will provide opportunities for other Humboldt County athletes who might consider taking up the sport, in much the same way Miller did after high school.

Submitted photo – Cass Bell, center, is 3-0 as a pro MMA fighter.

“I want to create something big for our fighters,” Thompson said.

In addition, the Cher-Ae Heights fight night will feature free cryotherapy sessions for all the fighters, provided by one of the event’s sponsors, Next Level of Samoa.

Bell and Miller will be in action at Bellator 226 at the SAP Center in San Jose on September 7.

Bellator called Thompson on Tuesday to confirm the duo’s opponents, although the names won’t officially be released for another week until details are finalized.