MFC 35: Explosive Encounter event poster
Press Release – October 8, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The Maximum Fighting Championship will be hosting a special combined media availability and open training session to introduce several of the main-card fighters featured at MFC 35: Explosive Encounter.
The media availability and training session will take place on Wednesday, October 24 at 3 p.m. inside the Mayfield Conference Centre. Fighters will be available for one-on-one interviews as well as for video and still photographs while participating in a light workout inside the MFC ring.
MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich will also be on hand to meet with the media and discuss MFC 35: Explosive Encounter which will go down on Friday, October 26 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.
MFC 35: Explosive Encounter will air live on AXS TV (formerly HDNet) throughout the United States beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation). MFC 35 will then be showcased on a tape-delay basis on TSN2 at a later date.
The main event of MFC 35 will be a clash for the MFC’s world middleweight title as feared striker Elvis “The King” Mutapcic (11-2) takes on unbeaten standout Joseph “Leonidas” Henle (8-0-1).
Mutapcic made a spectacular debut in the Maximum Fighting Championship by scoring a quick first-round TKO victory over Jacen Flynn at MFC 34 back in August. But Henle was just as impressive on the same night when he too scored a TKO victory inside the opening round by taking out Luke Harris.
Originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia, and now fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa, Mutapcic will ride a three-fight winning streak into his title shot with a career record bolstered by four knockouts and six submissions. Henle, who fights out of Thousand Oaks, California, is a former reality show competitor coached by MMA icon Chuck Liddell, and boasts two knockouts and four submissions amongst his eight victories.
This will be the MFC’s first middleweight title fight since 2006 when Patrick “The Predator” Cote was crowned as the organization’s inaugural champ in any weight class.
Leading up to the main event will be the frenetic-paced unveiling of the MFC’s featherweight division as Graham Spencer (8-1, 1 NC) takes on Hawaiian sensation “Sugar” Shane Nelson (15-6). As well as being the first televised featherweight fight in MFC history, the bout will also mark the organizational debuts for both competitors.
Spencer, who fights out of Vancouver, B.C., has notched three straight victories including four via submission, and holds his most notable over current MFC lightweight title hopeful Mukai Maromo. Nelson is a training partner of BJ Penn and trains at the legendary mixed martial artist’s gym in Hilo, Hawaii. Nelson has won three of his last four fights and has earned past victories over notables Aaron Riley, George Roop, and Kolo Koka.
Two of the best young Canadian prospects in the heavyweight division will battle at MFC 35 when Smeahlino Rama clashes with Ryan “The Vanilla Gorilla” Fortin.
Rama (4-0), who is originally from Albania and now fights out Calgary, Alberta, showed he’s ready for a step up following his win at MFC 34. Fortin (6-3), who fights out of Fort St. John, B.C., has dominated past competition in the MFC’s feeder system, Heat XC, and boasts a victory over Hall of Famer Dan Severn.
In a much-anticipated rematch of their punch-for-punch brawl at MFC 33, Jared “The Yeti” McComb will take on Derek “The Lion” Parker in a middleweight tussle. Both fighters sport identical 4-1-1 records with McComb, who will again have home-town advantage fighting in Edmonton, Alberta, unbeaten in his last five outings. Parker is a former minor-pro hockey enforcer who now trains mixed martial arts full-time in his home town of Regina, Saskatchewan.
A welterweight matchup is also on the MFC main card as Sabah Fadai (7-2, 1 NC), co-winner of the MFC’s 2011 Fight of the Year, moves up from the lightweight ranks to meet durable veteran Cody “Genghis” Krahn (11-5). Fadai, who now lives in Vancouver, B.C., after competing early in his career in Philippines and Singapore, will be out for his long-awaited first MFC victory, while Krahn will look to rebound from his setback to Jason Zentgraf at MFC 34 and build on his eight submission victories.
The six-fight main card kicks off with a light-heavyweight battle pitting fan favorites Jason “The Show” Kuchera against Paul “The Punisher” Grandbois, who both now reside in Edmonton, Alberta.
A three-fight undercard, featuring MFC prospects Jose Rodriguez, Matt Jelly, and Chase Degenhardt, will get the night started prior to the live TV broadcast.
MFC 35: Explosive Encounter
*Media Availability/Open Training Session*
Wednesday, October 24
3 p.m.
Mayfield Conference Centre
Those in attendance will include:
Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President
Elvis Mutapcic and Joseph Henle – Fighting for MFC world middleweight title
Graham Spencer and Shane Nelson – First matchup in MFC’s new featherweight division
Smeahlino Rama and Ryan Fortin – Canada’s top two heavyweight prospects
Main card fighters Derek Parker, Jared McComb, Sabah Fadai, and Cody Krahn
*Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 35 at the open workout.
Thursday, October 25
12:30 p.m.
Lobby Courtyard
Mayfield Inn & Suites
*All fighters will be on the scale and available for interviews and photos.
Friday, October 26
Mayfield Conference Centre
*Doors open at 5:45 p.m. with undercard bouts starting at 6:30 p.m. The televised card begins at 8 p.m.