Tavistock’s Houle improves MMA record to 3-1

Reeve Houle has his hand raised following one of his wins. The Tavistock native has a 3-1 record in his burgeoning MMA career, most recently earning a second-round TKO win over William Hall on Dec. 14, 2024. Contributed photo

Spencer Seymour, Director of Sports

Reeve Houle’s budding mixed martial arts (MMA) career continued to progress when, on Dec. 14, the Tavistock native earned a second-round total knockout (TKO) win over William Gunn.

Houle spoke to the Gazette about his most recent fight, saying he found success thanks to his patience and consistency.

“I got the win because of my composure, wrestling and cardio,” Houle said. “I remained calm when he came out with a superman punch and took him down. I didn’t rush any positions. I stayed patient and didn’t put myself in any hazardous positions. I had a significant wrestling and grappling advantage over him. My cardio has always been one of my greatest attributes and I was able to keep a good pace on him while he continued to slow down throughout the fight.”

Houle transitioned to competing in MMA after years of competing as an amateur wrestler, which he noted was his long-term intention inspired by the path followed by many of the UFC’s top fighters.

“Transitioning into mixed martial arts was always the plan for me. It is the reason I got into wrestling because most of the dominant UFC fighters at the time came from a wrestling background. My journey in MMA so far has been very positive. It has brought me into a community of people who have similar aspirations as I do.

“I’ve had the opportunity to train with professionals who compete in the UFC and other big promotions,” continued Houle. “My passion for MMA has made me a more health-conscious person, taking my nutrition, sleep, exercise and conditioning seriously to perform better in my sport. My drive in MMA has made me a more disciplined and responsible person.” 

Houle’s MMA journey includes valuable years training at his home gym, Niagara Top Team, in St. Catharines, which Houle said was a crucial part of his growth as a fighter.

“Niagara Top Team has been crucial to my development. Having a lot of training partners, intense practices and a very knowledgeable and experienced coaching staff is obviously incredible for a younger fighter. Having the opportunity to train with pros has helped me improve a ton. It has given me a lot more confidence when I compete against other amateurs. The coaches at Niagara are super invested in developing fighters and they have helped and continue to help me round out my game.”

Meanwhile, as he attends university in Michigan, Houle also trains at the Primed Combat gym in Lansing, Mich., under UFC great Gray Maynard, a mentor who Houle said has been a great help in improving his skills.

“Training under Gray and the team at Primed Combat has had a massive impact on my growth as a fighter. He has helped me significantly improve my cage wrestling and top control. Many of my teammates at Primed took time out of their lives to come and help me prepare for my fight.

“I also train with the Murcielago fight team,” added Houle. “I have many training partners around my size and the coaches there have helped me improve my striking, specifically with my hands.”

Houle also shared his short- and long-term MMA goals.

“Right now, my goal is just to continue to get better and keep competing as frequently as possible to build up my fight experience. Ultimately though, my main goal is to compete in the UFC and build a legacy there.”

Houle also mentioned his sponsors, Jantzi Tank Lines and Allaire Consulting, for their support, which helped him train for his most recent fight.