Press Release – 18 September 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Always an organization at the forefront of change and new ideas, the Maximum Fighting Championship is pleased to announce and confirm three key new procedures.
The most significant new procedure revolves around regulations for title belt matchups and how they relate to weigh-ins. No longer is a title fight immediately relegated to non-title status if one of the fighters fails to make weight.
Listed below are the newly adopted criteria:
Title Fight with a reigning/defending champion
If the champion fails to make weight:
*SCENARIO 1 – The champion vacates the title immediately. The fight remains a five-round contest. If the vacated champion wins the fight, the Maximum Fighting Championship holds the option to automatically consider him the No. 1 contender for the next title fight in that weight class. The Maximum Fighting Championship also holds an option to make an immediate rematch.
* SCENARIO 2 – The champion vacates the title immediately. The fight remains a five-round contest. If the challenger wins the fight, the challenger becomes the MFC champion. The Maximum Fighting Championship holds an option to make an immediate rematch.
If the challenger fails to make weight:
*The champion automatically retains the belt. A non-title fight takes place and the Maximum Fighting Championship solely determines if the bout is a three- or five-round fight. If the challenger wins the bout, the Maximum Fighting Championship holds an option to make a future rematch.
If both fighters fail to make weight:
*The champion vacates the title immediately. A non-title fight takes place and the Maximum Fighting Championship solely determines if the bout is a three- or five-round fight. The Maximum Fighting Championship holds the option to consider the winner of the bout as the No. 1 contender for the next title fight in that weight class. The Maximum Fighting Championship also holds an option to make future rematch.
Title Fight with a vacant championship
If one fighter fails to make weight:
*The fight remains a five-round contest. If the fighter who made weight wins the bout, he becomes the MFC champion of that weight class. If the fighter who failed to make weight wins the bout, that fighter does not claim the title, and the Maximum Fighting Championship holds the option to make him the No. 1 contender and/or to make an immediate rematch.
If both fighters fail to make weight:
*A non-title bout takes place and the Maximum Fighting Championship solely determines if the bout is a three- or five-round fight. The Maximum Fighting Championship holds the option to make a future rematch.
Of utmost concern is fighter safety when dealing with weight cutting issues, and these changes will also allow for more title fights to stay on course.
“Obviously this has been a situation that has come up a handful of times, namely when Mukai Maromo fought Adam Lynn at MFC 34,” noted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.
“This new criteria is a way for the fighter who made weight to continue in his quest for the title belt and not be punished for doing everything he was supposed to. It’s important to our organization, our fighters, and our fans that title fights happen with as much excitement as possible, and I hope this endeavor goes a long way as a fail-safe.”
Another new procedure, although not yet finalized, has to do with the weigh-in itself:
Weigh-In Policy
*Currently at the official weigh-in, the policy dictated is a “one-shot deal” whereas the fighter steps on the scale, and the weight at that time is considered his official weight.
*The Maximum Fighting Championship is lobbying the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission to impose a new directive that will allow a fighter to have no more than 2 hours to make weight again. Meaning that since the MFC weigh-in starts at 12:30 p.m., the fighter will have until 2 hours past his time of weighing in to make the contracted weight (ex. main-event fighter weighs in last at 12:55 p.m., he then has until 2:55 p.m. to make weight). The “second attempt” weigh-in will be held under the supervision of the ECSC, the MFC, and both fighters’ representatives.
*If a fighter does not make weight at the initial official weigh-in, he is currently fined 20% of his purse. If the fighter fails to make the contracted weight at the “second attempt” weigh-in, the fighter will be fined an additional 10% for a total of 30%. All deducted money goes to the opponent who made weight.
*If both fighters do not make the contracted weight at the initial official weigh-in, the Maximum Fighting Championship solely retains the discretion to automatically set the fight at a catchweight (neither fighter is fined and neither fighter has a “second attempt” weigh-in) or have both fighters come back in 2 hours for a “second attempt” weigh-in. The Maximum Fighting Championship may set a “second attempt” weigh-in and a target weight to be reached if it deems one or both of the fighters to be substantially over the contracted weight. If a “second attempt” weigh-in is conducted and one fighter fails to make weight or a targeted weight, that fighter will be fined 20% of his purse with the money going to his opponent. If both fighters fail on their “second attempt” then both fighters will be fined 20% of their respective purses and the fight will be set at a catchweight. Any money from fines received in this scenario will be donated to the MFC’s charity of choice (currently Branch Out Foundation).
The final new procedure will be formally introduced by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission at MFC 35:
Drug Testing Policy
*As previously noted on the MFC website, the Maximum Fighting Championship and the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission will be working in conjunction on random drug testing beginning at MFC 35 on Friday, Oct. 26. The Commission will select up to 6 fighters from the entire card and those fighters must provide a urine sample in the locker room after their bout. The MFC and the fighters’ representatives will be notified of those results. If a winning fighter posts positive test results, the win on his record will be officially changed to a “no-contest.” The Commission, not the Maximum Fighting Championship, is responsible for determining any suspension and/or fine.