Press Release – The Maximum Fighting Championship, Canada’s undisputed No. 1 mixed martial arts organization, returns to Edmonton, Alberta, for a spectacular night of high-octane action with a powerful lineup of world-class fighters scheduled to compete at MFC 30: Up Close & Personal.
The official press conference for MFC 30 will take place on Wednesday, June 8 at 12:30 p.m. in the Lobby Courtyard of the Mayfield Inn. Lunch will be provided.
The Maximum Fighting Championship unleashes MFC 30: Up Close & Personal on Friday, June 10 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, and will air live on HDNet Fights throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will be the Maximum Fighting Championship’s triumphant return to the place where it all started – the City of Champions – following its tremendously successful debut at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, for MFC 29.
MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich will be the featured speaker at the press conference and he will be alongside the biggest names on the card. The MFC 30: Up Close & Personal lineup boasts co-main events that will showcase some of the MFC’s top talents.
Topping the bill is the showdown between two incredibly skilled submission fighters as top-ranked MFC lightweight title contender Drew “Night Rider” Fickett takes on newly signed standout Brian “The Bandit” Cobb.
Fickett (41-13), who fights out of Tucson, Arizona, is looking to secure his shot at the MFC title as he returns to action for the first time since an electrifying submission victory over Matt Veach at MFC 28. The gifted submission specialist carries a five-fight winning streak into the matchup, and has notable career wins over Josh Koscheck, Josh Neer, and Kenny Florian as well as former MFC title challenger Derrick Noble.
Cobb (18-6), who hails from Bakersfield, California, boasts 12 victories by way of tapout, and he enters the MFC ring for the first time riding a three-fight winning streak. Along with his jiu-jitsu game, the 31-year-old is an accomplished wrestler with a decorated amateur career that includes being an NCAA Division I national qualifier and a Pac-10 finalist while competing for Cal State University-Bakersfield.
In the night’s other co-main event, two of the sport’s most fearsome strikers will go head-to-head as Pete “The Secret Weapon” Spratt squares off against “The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis in a welterweight bout.
Spratt (22-19), the holder of the MFC’s 2009 Knockout of the Year, is coming off a surprising submission win over Demi Deeds at MFC 29. But the San Antonio, Texas, product is well-known for his knockout abilities, and has notched two of his three wins in the MFC with highlight-reel stoppages.
Meanwhile, Davis (18-8) will be going for a second straight win in the MFC as well as a second career victory over Spratt whom he topped via submission in 2007. Fighting out of Bangor, Maine, Davis, who slipped past Curtis Demarce at MFC 29 with a split-decision verdict, has a stellar history of impressive finishes throughout his career including wins over Jonathan Goulet, Jess Liaudin, Paul Taylor, and Paul Kelly.
MFC 30 is also highlighted by the most hotly anticipated rematch in organizational history as rivals Sheldon Westcott and Thomas “Wildman” Denny intend to settle their issue following an unsatisfying draw at MFC 28.
One of the top young prospects in Canada, Westcott (4-1-1) will have a size advantage again plus huge crowd support as he fights
in front of a growing legion of fans in his home town of Edmonton, Alberta. All four of Westcott’s wins have come inside the opening round, and he had an early advantage against Denny in their first meeting.
Denny (27-18-1) is one of the most colorful and exciting veterans in MMA, and sports 16 victories by submission during his career. Now fighting out of Centennial, Colorado, Denny charged back to dominate the late stages of the previous bout with Westcott and has vowed to take control of the rematch which will be fought at a catchweight of 165 pounds.
The remainder of the main card features some of the MFC’s most exciting fighters including hot welterweight prospect Dhiego Lima who clashes with Jamie Toney.
Lima (5-0), who fights out of Atlanta, Georgia, has shown an array of impressive skills in his two MFC matchups, winning with a second-round knockout and a third-round submission. But he will face a stern test in Toney (14-6), who is unbeaten in his last six fights. Based in Los Angeles, California, Toney is trained by mixed martial arts icon and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” analyst Bas Rutten.
A pair of potent lightweights will also see action as Curtis “The Demon” Demarce (10-9) faces off against Robert “The Beast” Washington (9-3). One of the MFC’s biggest fan favorites for his all-out style, Demarce, who hails from Brandon, Manitoba, is looking to rebound from two disputed decision losses. The heavy-handed Demarce was on the wrong end of a controversial judges’ decision against Richie Whitson at MFC 28, and then fell just short in a split-decision verdict against Marcus Davis at MFC 29. Washington, who fights out of East St. Louis, Missouri, is also coming off two consecutive setbacks, but has an eight-fight winning streak on his career log.
Opening up the action on the HDNet Fights broadcast will be a middleweight bout between Cody Krahn (10-3) and Andreas “The Sweet Swede” Spang (5-1). Krahn will have the home-town advantage, and the Edmonton, Alberta, native has captured all 10 of his victories inside the first round. Spang, who is originally from Stockholm, Sweden, but now fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada, had his five-fight winning snapped at MFC 29.
Three undercard fights, highlighted by the MFC debut of Edmonton’s own Mukai Maromo, will complete the lineup for MFC 30: Up Close & Personal:
Schedule of Events for MFC 30: Up Close & Personal
*Press Conference*
Wednesday, June 8
12:30 p.m.
Lobby Courtyard – Mayfield Inn
Speakers will include:
Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President
Drew Fickett – Contender for the lightweight title
Brian Cobb – Newly signed lightweight title hopeful
Marcus Davis – Standout veteran striker
Pete Spratt – Accomplished longtime crowd-pleaser
Sheldon Westcott – Fan favorite fighting in his home town
Thomas Denny – Colorful talent in rematch against Westcott
Local fighters Cody Krahn and Mukai Maromo
* Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 30 at the press conference.
*Weigh-In*
Thursday, June 9
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, June 10
6:15 p.m.
Mayfield Conference Centre
Doors open at 6 p.m. with undercard bouts starting at 6:30 p.m. The televised card begins at 8 p.m.