Tag: Maximum Fighting Championship

Maximum Fighting Championship Press Conference
Welterweight title fight with Coy vs. McGillivray highlights MFC 33 lineup

Press Release – April 26, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The Maximum Fighting Championship is revved up to announce its official press conference for MFC 33: Collision Course. All members of the media are invited to attend.

The official press conference will take place on Wednesday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. at Character’s Restaurant (10257-105 Street, downtown Edmonton).

The press conference will launch the lead-up to MFC 33: Collision Course taking place on Friday, May 4 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

The event, topped by the MFC welterweight title bout between Nathan Coy (10-4) and Ryan McGillivray (12-5-1), will air live in the United States on HDNet Fights beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation). MFC 33 will also air on tape-delay throughout Canada on TSN2 at a later date.

“I like the names on this card for one big reason – this is a group of guys who bring it every time they come to fight,” touted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. “Every fighter on this card wants to remembered by the fans for finishing fights, for being impressive, and for doing what they do best – get in the ring and fight.”

Coy and McGillivray will get their opportunity to be etched in the Maximum Fighting Championship’s history books as they vie for the welterweight crown. Coy, who fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida, is a former All-American wrestler who also relishes the chance to stand toe-to-toe with his opponent. McGillivray will have plenty of support on his side as he fights in his home town of Edmonton, Alberta. The submission specialist boasts 10 of his wins via tapout.

McGillivray has the opportunity to be the first Canadian to wear the MFC’s welterweight belt. Although the MFC boasts numerous past Canadian champions including Patrick Cote and Ryan Jimmo, only American Pat Healy and Brazilian-born Douglas Lima have worn the 170-pound division title.

Alongside Coy and McGillivray, many of the other key names on the card are scheduled to attend the press conference including two of Edmonton’s rising mixed martial arts stars – “The Afrikan Assassin” Mukai Maromo and Luke Harris.

Maromo (6-2) will be taking on former United States Marine Adam Lynn in a featured lightweight contest, while Harris (8-1) puts his eight-fight winning streak on the line against Edwin Dewees.

Also in attendance at the press conference will be MFC newcomer Derek “The Lion” Parker, a former minor-pro hockey enforcer who will be making his organizational debut. Parker, who fights out of Regina, Saskatchewan, is coming off a six-year hockey career that was highlighted by over 1,700 penalty minutes including back-to-back seasons of over 500 PIMs.

Schedule of Events for MFC 33: Collision Course

*Press Conference*

Wednesday, May 2

12:30 p.m.

Character’s Restaurant

10257-105 Street

Speakers will include:

· Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President

· Nathan Coy and Ryan McGillivray – Fighting for MFC world welterweight title

· Adam Lynn and Mukai Maromo – Former U.S. Marine vs. Edmonton lightweight sensation

· Luke Harris – Edmonton’s own middleweight rising star; eight-fight winning streak

· Derek Parker – Former hockey enforcer making MFC debut

* Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 33 at the press conference.

*Weigh-In*

Thursday, May 3

12:30 p.m.

Lobby Courtyard

Mayfield Inn

All fighters will be on the scale and available for interviews and photos.

*Fight Night*

Friday, May 4

Mayfield Conference Centre

Doors open at 5:15 p.m. with undercard bouts starting at 6:45 p.m. The televised card begins at 8 p.m.

Press Release – (April 24, 2012) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The Maximum Fighting Championship is resurrecting a heavyweight division, and there’s bigger way to do it than by signing world-ranked and Canada’s top big man Tim “The Thrashing Machine” Hague.

Hague (13-5) has agreed to a multi-fight, exclusive deal with the Maximum Fighting Championship that will launch with a bout in the semi-main event of MFC 34: Brute Force on Friday, August 10 in his home town of Edmonton, Alberta.

“I’m really excited about signing with the MFC,” said Hague. “There’s no question that the MFC is the leader in Canadian mixed martial arts, and it has a great knack for getting big attention for its events and its fighters. That’s one thing in my career that has been lacking wherever I’ve been before.

“And the production values of the MFC shows are second only to the UFC, and I’m very excited to be a part of that.”

Hague has won three of his last four fights, and boasts seven career victories by way of knockout with four wins coming via submission. Of his 13 win, seven have come inside the first round including his most celebrated win to date – a first-round tapout via guillotine choke against Pat Barry. With verdicts over Travis Wiuff, Sherman Pendergarst, and Ruben Villareal on his resume, Hague is a great fit to restart the MFC’s heavyweight ranks.

“This is a great match – we’re eager to bring in new talent with great pedigrees, and Tim wants to fight on the biggest stage possible,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“It’s true that Tim and I have had our differences in the past, but that has all been pushed aside in order for us to work together. Tim is excited to be a big part of the MFC, and I’m very pleased to have him on board.”

Hague, a former elementary school teacher, plans on making something big happen at this stage in his career, and the 28-year-old is evolving his strategy to move forward.

“I’ve realized that I’m not a kickboxer, but I’m a boxer with decent jiu-jitsu,” he explained. “It doesn’t bother me to fight a kickboxer because I’m going to push forward and connect with my hands.

“I’m not going to look for the takedown. I’d rather stand and let my hands go and make it an exciting fight for the fans.”

Perhaps the most important decision Hague has made of late is to re-unite with highly regarded strength and conditioning coach Shara Vigeant.

“When I’m in great shape, I’m a nightmare for anybody,” touted Hague. “If I’d have been in better shape I’m confident I would have won the fights against Chris Tuchscherer and Joey Beltran. But I’ve learned that I have to be true to myself, listen to myself, and being with Shara is the best thing for that.”

So MFC fans will be the first to get a glimpse at perhaps the best Tim Hague there’s ever been.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity and to fight in Edmonton again in front of new fans in the MFC and all my current fans is really great,” added Hague.

“My suggestion is when they come to catch me fight, don’t blink because the fight could end at any second.”

The Maximum Fighting Championship dropped its heavyweight division in 2009, and had one former champion in Scott “Punk Haole” Junk.

Press Release – April 11, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Submission specialist, Jacen Flynn, has signed on to compete in the Maximum Fighting Championship. He is looking to make an immediate impact in the organization’s middleweight division and brings a potent mix of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expertise and raw aggression to the MFC ring.

Hailing from Twin Falls, Idaho, Flynn is known for coming at his opponents quickly and aggressively. He recently submitted Edwin “Babyface” Dewees in 44 seconds. His live-by-the-sword-die-by-the-sword mentality has seen all but one of his fights end in a submission.

At 33, Flynn is looking for an immediate challenge in his new MMA home: “I want to fight tough guys, and I know a lot of guys say that, but I truly want those tough fights. I want to challenge myself.” Although his first opponent is yet to be announced, the MFC’s middleweight division has a number of fighters ready to give Flynn the challenge he’s looking for. The undefeated Brendan Kornberger is coming off a first round TKO and looks hungry for a new challenge, and the potential for a jiu jitsu showdown between Jacen Flynn and Thales Leites is very intriguing.

No matter who ends up in the cage with Flynn, they are in for a fight. Flynn brings a highly intelligent game that’s seen him capture 9 of his 10 wins by submission. “I really sit down and break down technique, and I want to apply as much as I possibly can to making moves efficient,” explained the Idaho black belt.

Flynn holds notable wins over Dean Lister and Dennis Kang.

Submission specialist to meet veteran competitor on Collision Course main card

Press Release – April 3, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – A new bout featuring a pair of high-profile names has slid into position on the main card of the Maximum Fighting Championship’s MFC 33: Collision Course lineup.

Meeting at a catchweight of 195 pounds, veteran Edwin “Bam Bam” Dewees (37-15) will clash with submission specialist Luke Harris (8-1) in a featured matchup that will be part of the HDNet Fights live broadcast on Friday, May 4 from the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

The televised card, topped by the MFC welterweight title fight between Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray and Nathan “Soul Force” Coy, kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

The Dewees/Harris matchup will take the spot vacated by the postponed contest pitting Dwayne Lewis against Aron Lofton. That rematch has been shelved due to Lewis sustaining a hand injury in training.

Dewees, who hails from Phoenix, Arizona, has collected 30 submission wins over his career, and will make his organizational and 2012 debut at MFC 33. The 29-year-old has fought a who’s who of big-name competition throughout his career including such notables as former MFC middleweight champion Patrick Cote, Rich Franklin, Chris Leben, and Frank Trigg. Dewees, who fought three times in 2011, is a former reality show standout alongside Cote, Matt Serra, and Jorge Rivera.

Harris returns to the MFC looking to avenge the only loss of his career, suffered back at MFC 13 via a first-round TKO loss to Brad Zazulak.

The 34-year-old, who will have plenty of home town support fighting in Edmonton, has not lost since his pro debut and already has two victories under his belt in 2012. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Harris’s wins have all come inside the opening round, and he holds first-minute victories over veterans Elliot Duff and Dan Chambers.

Tickets for MFC 33: Collision Course are going fast and are available exclusively through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – March 29, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Mukai Maromo liked what he saw from his upcoming opponent Adam Lynn.

Give credit where credit is due. Lynn lit up Curtis Demarce at MFC 31, earned the Knockout of the Night, and the MFC’s 2011 Knockout of the Year.

Lynn padded his resume with that win. Maromo would like nothing more than to knock Lynn from the executive office down to the mailroom.

“He looked very good against Curtis, but that’s where I like to play so if he does decide to keep it standing, then it’s going to be fireworks all night baby!” declared “The Afrikan Assassin.”

In what is shaping up to be one of the Maximum Fighting Championship’s all-time classic matchups of potent strikers, Maromo (7-2) meets Lynn (17-8) in a lightweight showdown at MFC 33: Collision Course on Friday, May 4. Their bout will be one of the highlighted attractions on the six-fight main card airing live on HDNet Fights from the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

Despite Lynn’s last impressive outing, an ultra-confident Maromo is set to step between the ring ropes and face the stiffest test of his burgeoning career.

“I’m very excited about fighting him. It’s a welcome upgrade in the caliber of competition,” noted Maromo.

“I see it being a very exciting stand-up battle, and everyone can expect another dynamite performance on my part for sure. Adam’s KO was a spectacular one for sure, but that has absolutely no bearing on our fight. If anything it serves as a marker for where I need to be in order to take the next step, and I eagerly await the challenge.”

Maromo has started to build up his own highlight reel under the MFC banner. At MFC 30, he clobbered Scott Cleve in only 36 seconds, earning the Knockout of the Night for his quick work. That performance, followed by Lynn’s nasty work at MFC 31, set the stage for their clash at MFC 33 marking the first time in organizational history that back-to-back winners of the Knockout of the Night award will meet.

The native of Zimbabwe, who first moved to the United States on a track scholarship before coming to Canada, rattled off the best outing of his young career at MFC 31 when he took apart fellow Muay Thai practitioner Sabah Fadai in a convincing three-round verdict.

Having healed up from a hand injury, Maromo is fully prepped to take on Lynn, the onetime United States Marine.

“I’m glad to be a part of such an exciting piece of MFC history for sure, and it makes for an exciting night for everybody having that much knockout power in the ring at the same time,” said Maromo.

“I had been a little more tentative with my Muay Thai because my ground game was not where I needed it to be, but now it’s exactly where I need it to be. If you thought that last fight was a good one wait till you see this one.”

Maromo and Lynn are certainly frontrunners in the next wave of contenders for the MFC lightweight belt. An impressive showing by either man will put him at the centre of the title picture. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Maromo would love the opportunity to represent the MFC by wearing a championship belt.

“The MFC lightweight title scene has been very interesting of late, and after I get this win over Adam, I’m planning on taking one more fight before I make my bid for the strap, so let it be known, “The Afrikan Assassin” officially has gold fever,” stated Maromo.

“As far as I’m concerned I have both long- and short-term goals. I’m obviously in this to try and be the best at it so each fight serves as a measuring stick for how much I have improved. So with that in mind the majority of my focus is on the fight at hand, but as far as my standing in the MFC lightweight ranks goes, I think I just made a big splash, but also have a way to go before I reach the top of that ladder.”

Tickets for MFC 33: Collision Course are going fast and available only via the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – March 26, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – So you finally made it, kid. For all that hard work, all those long hours, all that dedication and self sacrifice, this is what you get. You get this letter. It seems like a small token compared to your investment, doesn’t it? Well rest assured it’s not. It’s the key to your future, kid. This is where you’ll teach. This is where you’ll learn. You will keep this place in your heart for the rest of your life. Hey, you hear me, kid? See there at the bottom? Just sign. You earned it. Welcome to the MFC. Welcome to the Ivy League of mixed martial arts.

In the Ivy League, opportunity is created. You don’t go to Yale to limit your options. No academic in Harvard is there to remain stagnant. When you hit the Ivy League of MMA, other opportunities can be better faced and openly embraced. Each fighter has his own aspirations for his career, and those aspirations are considered and respected by the MFC. This is a team made to help fighters, not hinder them, even if that means working to see them realize goals that exist outside the MFC. You’re an Ivy Leaguer now, baby.

In the Ivy League, people are invited to be part of something major. The history is storied and significant from Hanover, New Hampshire to State College, Pennsylvania. Walk into any of these edifices of higher education; each step down the hallway echoes with worth – just as each step onto the MFC’s crisp canvas signifies the completion of a journey from paid fighter to professional athlete. Now you’re internationally live on HDNet. Now you’re on Canada’s largest sports network – TSN. Now you’re with the biggest show in Canada. Now you’re with one of the top damn shows in the world. Now you’re part of something big. An Ivy League institution is not about the pillars of its entrance, it’s about the pillars of education, and the MFC is not about the sport for its good, it’s about the good of the sport.

In the Ivy League, resources are abundant. Last year, the total combined endowments for the Ivy League schools were near $100 billion. Pass the Grey Poupon. While you’re at it, throw its logo on your shirt because a fighter without sponsors is akin to a surgeon without anaesthetic – you can still get it done, but it’s going to be ugly. You’ve got a bigger team behind you now, a team that will connect you with the corporate support you need. You’ll be doing interviews for radio, television, print, and electronic media. Sponsors and media are your new best friends, and there’s a new adage too: don’t call them. They’ll call you.

In the Ivy League, peripheral skills are strengthened. It doesn’t matter if you’re studying physics or Phys. Ed. – skills outside the core curriculum are developed and dilated. Abilities like leadership, values like work ethic, and characteristics like restraint come with the territory when you’re Ivy. These types of strengths are specifically coached, one-on-one, in the MFC. Fighters are made to be social media savvy – a trait they can carry through their careers. You remember how important sponsors are, right? Here you’ll be taught how to hold a professional interview without regurgitating the same trite answers time and again. Yeah, yeah – we know you can’t look past him and you’ve got to get after it. You want more fans? You want more photos? You want more Franklins? Listen to your media coaches.

In the Ivy League, core skills are strengthened. Every new challenge demands more of your mind than you have to give and more of your time than you have to grant. You’ve done fine with your rugged good looks and million dollar smile so far, but that’s nothing 65 facial stitches and half dozen missing teeth won’t reverse. Your core skills are the root of the tree of success, so snap off a switch and whoop somebody with it. You’re in there with elite strikers. You’re in there with NCAA championship wrestlers. You’re in there with national judo champions. Proverbs 27:17 tells us as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. You already know what that means. Now you’ll feel it.

In the Ivy League, milestones are forged. An all-star in the National Football League grips firmly to the fulfilment of his NFL accomplishments, and he also holds a different and unique pride in his collegiate success. In a similar stratum, the best fighters of the Maximum Fighting Championship give a satisfied gaze to the mantel that holds their achievements in the MFC alongside the other triumphs of their mixed martial arts’ careers. No matter where your fighting career takes you, take this opportunity for all it’s worth. Hoist that Heisman.

In the Ivy League, respect is habitual. Some of the world’s greatest leaders, prominent figures, and influential academics boast Ivy League alumni status. For better or worse, respect is expected and rarely neglected. In the MFC, you’ll learn all about respect from the time your plane lands. You’ll be picked up promptly and handed a 20-page agenda. You’ll be treated with dignity and expected to perform. You’ll be weighing in at a prominent downtown hub in front of more cheering fans than attended your last fight. You deserve it, kid.

This is the Ivy League. This is where great becomes exceptional, boys become men, and fighters become professional athletes. This may be the place you stay, this may be a place you visit, this may be a place you return to, and you’ll never be the same. You’re pro now, son, so make the most of it. Before you go out there and show them what you’ve got, take this last piece of advice. You might be in the Ivy League now, but make no mistake. This isn’t about co-eds, dorm parties, blonde lawyers, or scholarships. This is the school of hard knocks. This is the MFC.