Action-packed card highlights first event of stacked 2012 schedule
Press Release – The Maximum Fighting Championship, Canada’s undisputed No. 1 mixed martial arts organization, launches its hotly anticipated 2012 campaign in Edmonton, Alberta, for a spectacular night of high-
octane action with a sensational lineup including a world-class title fight at MFC 32: Bitter Rivals.
The official press conference for MFC 32 will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25 in the Lobby Courtyard of the Mayfield Inn – the host hotel of the Maximum Fighting Championship.
On Friday, January 27, the Maximum Fighting Championship unleashes MFC 32: Bitter Rivals emanating live on HDNet Fights from the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton. The televised card airing live throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico on HDNet begins at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation). MFC 32 will also air on tape-delay throughout Canada on TSN2 at a later date.
MFC 32: Bitter Rivals features co-main events pitting stellar combatants against each other in the MFC’s light-heavyweight and lightweight divisions.
In battle of powerful light-heavyweights, Dwayne “D-Bomb” Lewis (12-7), one of the MFC’s most-popular crowd favorites, returns to action for the first time since his shot at the division title as he takes on accomplished Brazilian striker Wilson Gouveia (12-8). This bout will be the MFC’s first five-round, non-title fight in the organization’s 12-year history.
Lewis, who will have a huge throng of supporters trekking from Fort McMurray, Alberta, for the fight, has won nine of his last 11 fights including first-round knockouts of Mike Nickels and Marvin Eastman. Gouveia, who now calls Miramar, Florida, home, not only possesses significant knockout power but also boasts seven submission victories on a resume that features wins over Jason MacDonald, Seth Petruzelli, and Jon Fitch.
The other co-main event at MFC 32 will see Brian “The Bandit” Cobb challenge reigning champion Antonio “Mandingo” McKee for the MFC world lightweight title. This is will be the second defense of the belt for McKee who has lost just once since 2003 – a span of 17 fights.
Both fighters are amongst the world’s elite in the 155-pound category, with Cobb ranked No. 10 and McKee at No. 35, according to Fight Matrix (http://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/lightweight/).
McKee, who fights out of Lakewood, California, is one of the most colorful fighters ever to compete in the MFC, and has scored key victories throughout his 13-year career. He claimed the title with a win over Derrick Noble at MFC 20, and then put forth one of his most-dominating performances with a first-round destruction in defending the belt against Luciano Azevedo at MFC 26.
Cobb, a resident and college wrestling coach in Bakersfield, California, comes into MFC 32 riding a four-fight winning streak including an impressive first-round TKO victory over Drew Fickett at MFC 30.
MFC 32: Bitter Rivals also puts the Maximum Fighting Championship’s stacked welterweight division in the spotlight as three bouts will take place in the 170-pound division – all of which will go a long way to determining the top two challengers for the title.
In one encounter, Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray (11-5-1) returns to the MFC from his recent reality show stint to take on organizational newcomer Diego Bautista (7-0). McGillivray should have a strong base of support fighting in his home town of Edmonton, and the submission specialist will be looking to improve on a resume that includes seven wins via tapout. Bautista, who fights out of Anaheim, California, has a well-rounded career thus far with a pair of victories by knockout and three via submission.
Another welterweight matchup pits rising star Dhiego “Maluco” Lima (6-0) up against the stiffest test of his burgeoning career in Nathan Coy (9-4). Lima, who fights out of Atlanta, Georgia, has become a dominant force in the MFC’s welterweight ranks, and is coming off a devastating first-round knockout win over Jamie Toney at MFC 30. Coy, who now fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida, is a former All-American wrestler while at Oregon State University and has won four of his last six outings with three of those victories coming inside the first round.
In the third welterweight contest at MFC 32, newcomer Kyle “The Jackhammer” Jackson (9-1) of Salt Lake City, Utah, matches up against Jamie “The Ghost” Toney (14-7) who hails from Los Angeles, California.
The other main card bout at MFC 32 throws a pair of young lions in the MFC’s lightweight division against each other as “Dirty” Dan Ring (5-0-1) of Vancouver, B.C., takes on James Haddad (4-1) from Calgary, Alberta.
Two undercard bouts complete the lineup for MFC 32:
*Lightweight – Matt Jelly (1-1), Fort McMurray, Alberta vs. Garrett Nybakken (3-3), Edmonton, Alberta
*Middleweight – Brendan Kornberger (2-0), Vancouver, B.C. vs. Allen Hope (9-9), Edmonton, Alberta
Schedule of Events for MFC 32: Bitter Rivals
*Press Conference*
Wednesday, January 25
2 p.m.
Lobby Courtyard
Mayfield Inn
Speakers will include:
Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President
Wilson Gouveia and Dwayne Lewis – Co-main event light-heavyweight contenders
Brian Cobb and Antonio McKee – Contender and champion in lightweight title bout
Ryan McGillivray – Edmonton’s own welterweight sensation
Dhiego Lima, Nathan Coy, and Diego Bautista – Top welterweight contenders
* Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 32 at the press conference.
Thursday, January 26
12:30 p.m.
Lower Level – City Centre Mall
All fighters will be on the scale and available for interviews and photos.
*Fight Night*
Friday, January 27
6:30 p.m.
Mayfield Conference Centre
Doors open at 5:15 p.m. with undercard bouts starting at 6:30 p.m. The televised card begins at 8 p.m.