Tag: Maximum Fighting Championship

Two title fights & heavyweight showdown top MFC 36: Reality Check lineup

Press Release – The Maximum Fighting Championship is pleased to invite the media to the official press conference for the introduction of several main-card fighters who will be competing at MFC 36: Reality Check.

The press conference will take place on Wednesday, February 13 at 2 p.m. at the Rose & Crown Pub inside the Sutton Place Hotel, the host hotel for the Maximum Fighting Championship events in Edmonton, Alberta. Fighters will be available for one-on-one interviews as well as for video and still photographs.

MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich will also be on hand to meet with the media and discuss MFC 36: Reality Check which will go down on Friday, February 15 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

MFC 36: Reality Check 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).

Two title fights share co-main event status for MFC 36 as both the MFC world lightweight and world middleweight belts will be on the line.

In the MFC world lightweight title fight, hometown star “The Afrikan Assassin” Mukai Maromo (8-2) will face Graham Spencer (9-1, 1 NC) with the winner becoming the first Canadian to hold the MFC’s 155-pound division title belt. The title fight is also rematch three years in the making with the original encounter earning Spencer a decision win.

Maromo, who now makes him home in Edmonton, Alberta, is coming off back-to-back wins over former U.S. Marine Adam Lynn and has built an impressive resume since joining the Maximum Fighting Championship. In 2012, Maromo earned the Rising Star Award from AXS TV Fights, captured the MFC’s Knockout of the Year, and racked up his second straight MFC Fight of the Year honor.

Spencer, who hails from Nanaimo, British Columbia, is one of the emerging stars in the MFC and made a strong statement in his organizational debut, earning a resounding unanimous decision victory over Shane Nelson at MFC 35.

In the other co-main event, Elvis “The King” Mutapcic (12-2) makes the first defense of his MFC world middleweight championship as he faces “Smilen” Sam Alvey (19-4, 1 NC).

Mutapcic laid claim to the MFC’s 185-pound division crown at MFC 35 when he scored a thunderous third-round TKO finish against Joseph Henle. That win was the second consecutive knockout result for the Des Moines, Iowa, product who is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia. Mutapcic made a sensational debut under the MFC banner with a dominating first-round stoppage of Jacen Flynn.

Alvey, who fights out of Murrieta, California, will be a stiff test for Mutapcic as he boasts 11 knockout victories on his record. The former reality show standout recently married America’s Next Top Model winner McKey Sullivan, who will be in his corner for the title fight.

A heavyweight showdown will not only decide who the top big man in Canada is but also give the winner of the bout a direct shot at the MFC heavyweight title. The clash will pit Smealinho “The Prince” Rama (5-0) against Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert (6-1) as both men attempt to position themselves at the top of the MFC’s heavyweight ranks.

Rama, who fights out of Calgary, Alberta, was named Fight Matrix’s Rookie of the Year for 2012, while Hackert, who hails from Comox Valley, British Columbia, bolstered his record with back-to-back wins over former Canadian heavyweight kingpin Tim Hague.

In the MFC’s talent-rich lightweight division, newcomers Jonatas “Peixe Frito” Novaes (10-4) and Kurt Southern (10-3) collide in matchup that could very well determine the next title challenger. Originally from Brazil and now fighting out of Chicago, Illinois, Novaes has won five of his last six fights and the submission specialist has scored seven wins by way of tapout. Southern, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, holds a career victory over title hopeful Mukai Maromo and comes in riding a three-fight winning streak.

The MFC 36: Reality Check main card lineup is rounded out by a pair of middleweight matchups. One clash will have Jason “The Savage” Zentgraf (6-1) of Missoula, Montana, taking on Clay Davidson (7-3) who fights out of Lethbridge, Alberta. The other bout marks the highly anticipated arrival of Jay “Da Spyda Killa” Silva (8-6) on the MFC scene as the Huntington Beach, California, product meets Missoula, Montana’s Leo “Bushido” Bercier (7-2-1, 1 NC).

A three-fight undercard, featuring fan favorites Garrett Nybakken and Paul Grandbois along with Keenen Feeney (co-star of reality show “Canadian Pickers”), will get the night started prior to the live TV broadcast.

Schedule of Events for

MFC 36: Reality Check

*PRESS CONFERENCE*

Wednesday, February 13

2 p.m.

Rose & Crown Pub – Sutton Place Hotel

Those in attendance will include:

· Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President

· Mukai Maromo and Graham Spencer – Meeting for MFC world lightweight title

· Elvis Mutapcic and Sam Alvey – Fighting for MFC world middleweight title

· Smeahlino Rama and Mike Hackert – Canada’s top two heavyweight collide

· Main card fighters Jonatas Novaes, Kurt Southern, Jason Zentgraf, Jay Silva

*Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 36 at the press conference.

*WEIGH-IN*

Thursday, February 14

2 p.m.

World Health Club – City Centre Mall

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

*FIGHT NIGHT*

Friday, February 15

Shaw Conference Centre

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

Press Release – January 24, 2013 – Submission ace Jonatas “Peixe Frito” Novaes has been selected by the Maximum Fighting Championship to join its lightweight ranks and he immediately jumps into a spot on the upcoming MFC 36: Reality Check lineup.

Novaes (10-4) replaces David Castillo for a tilt against Kurt Southern (10-3) at MFC 36 which takes on Friday, February 15. Castillo has been sidelined by a serious neck injury discovered during medicals.

Both the Novaes-Southern matchup and the recently altered middleweight tussle between Clay Davidson (filling in for the injured Luke Harris) and Jason Zentgraf will be featured bouts on the MFC 36: Reality Check main card which will air live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

“I’ve been training hard and I had a feeling that something good was going to happen for me,” said Novaes. “To get the opportunity to fight in the MFC and on AXS TV and against a good opponent like Kurt, I’m very excited about everything.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m very happy. I’m going to train even harder now and make something big happen.”

Novaes (Twitter: @jonatasnovaes) enters the MFC having won five of his last six fights and is coming off the first knockout of his career – a 51-second destruction of Drew Fickett back in June. That victory boosted Novaes to 75th in the world rankings compiled by Fight Matrix (http://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/lightweight/2/).

The 31-year-old, who is originally from Conceicao da Barra, Brazil, boasts seven career wins via submission, and seven of his 10 wins have come inside the first round.

A decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner, Novaes, who now lives in Chicago and has agreed a four-fight deal with the MFC, has earned a plethora of titles in various grappling tournaments highlighted by championships at the Pan-American and American Nationals as well as major meets in Brazil, Las Vegas, Toronto, Dallas, and Chicago.

“I’m a jiu-jitsu guy because that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life but in MMA I’m a complete fighter,” noted Novaes. “You saw that in my fight against Fickett when I knocked him out with a head kick. I’ve worked on my stand-up, my wrestling, everything to make me a complete fighter.”

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Southern (Twitter: @kurtsouthern) rides a three-fight win streak into the matchup – a run highlighted by a first-round submission victory over MFC lightweight title hopeful Mukai Maromo.

Southern’s current streak – the third three-fight run of his career – includes wins over Jorge Britto and Brad Cardinal, and he has picked up notable career victories over Martin Grandmont, Evan Sanguin, and Kevin Manderson.

Tickets for MFC 36: Reality Check are on sale now and available via www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – Over the past year, the Maximum Fighting Championship has successfully brought to life its featherweight (145-pound) division, and re-ignited its heavyweight ranks to bolster an ever-increasing stable of world-class fighters.

And now the Maximum Fighting Championship is pleased to announce the launch of its new bantamweight division along with the first fighter signed to compete in what will be a deep talent pool of exciting competitors.

The 135-pound division will launch at MFC 37: True Grit taking place on Friday, May 10 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and live on AXS TV Fights.

Jumping on board as the first fighter in the MFC’s bantamweight ranks is Anthony Birchak (9-1), who will bring a three-bout winning streak into his organizational debut.

“Anthony is the next generation of MMA fighter,” touted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. “He is the total package from his fight game to his personality to his social media skills.

“It’s the direction we are moving in. He can sell the fight then back it up in the ring. The new 135-pound division needs to take notice because trouble is coming and his name is Anthony Birchak.”

Birchak, currently ranked 91st in the world by Fight Matrix (http://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/bantamweight/2/
), has a well-established background in wrestling including AAU All-American honors, but his overall approach has created quite an imposing threat. The 26-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, is a noted finisher with five first-round stoppages, five victories via submission during a career-starting six-fight winning streak, and three straight wins all by knockout.

“My opponents feel my wrestling and they go to sleep because of my hands,” said Birchak, whose most-recent outing was a first-round knockout victory over Matt Leyva.

“Wrestling has been the driving force behind my competitive streak but I needed to round out my game and I’ve been working on my stand-up non-stop. I’ve really transitioned from being a wrestler to being a striker.”

Birchak (Twitter: @abirchakMMA) has anxiously been awaiting the opportunity to become the cornerstone of the MFC’s bantamweight division, and is now gearing up to make his official entry at MFC 37.

“I’ve been on pins and needles, waiting with baited breath,” said Birchak, an avid graphic artist. “I want to be that guy who makes the MFC bantamweight division known. I want people to know who I am and become one of the biggest names in the world as I make my own brand.

“What sets me apart from another man in the ring is that when I see a finish, I’m on it. I do want to finish fights. So many guys are fighting safely now and it’s boring.

“No one ever accomplished anything great in life by being safe. I live by the sword and die by the sword.”

Press Release – January 15, 2013 – The Maximum Fighting Championship has finalized its main-card lineup for MFC 36: Reality Check with a newly signed middleweight bout.

Jay “Da Spyda Killa” Silva will now take on Leo “Bushido” Bercier in one of three middleweight clashes slated for the MFC 36 main card. The strength and depth of the MFC’s 185-pound division will certainly be on display as the Silva/Bercier encounter is joined on the card by the MFC middleweight title fight pitting defending champion Elvis “The King” Mutapcic against “Smilen” Sam Alvey, plus the meeting between Jason “The Savage” Zentgraf versus Luke “Hayabusa” Harris.

All three fights will be featured on the AXS TV Fights card airing live from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, February 15, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

Bercier (7-2-1, 1 NC) enters the MFC having won two of his last three outings – both victories coming by knockout. The Missoula, Montana, product holds six career wins via knockout, and six of his seven verdicts have come inside the opening round. Bercier (Twitter: @LBercier) steps in to replace previously announced Jacen Flynn, who chose to back out of the fight.

Silva (Twitter: @jaysilvamma) will be making his long-awaited organizational debut and he enters the MFC ring having won three of his last five fights including the biggest victory of his career. Silva (8-6), who fights out of Huntington Beach, California, is coming off a stellar second-round submission of Kendall Grove.

The six-fight main card for MFC 36 live on AXS TV Fights is now set with the following bouts:

Graham Spencer (9-1, 1 NC) vs. Mukai Maromo (8-2), MFC lightweight title

Sam Alvey (19-4, 1 NC) vs. Elvis Mutapcic (12-2), MFC middleweight title

Mike Hackert (6-1) vs. Smealinho Rama (5-0), heavyweight

Jason Zentgraf (6-1) vs. Luke Harris (9-2), middleweight

Leo Bercier (7-2-1, 1 NC) vs. Jay Silva (8-6), middleweight

Dave Castillo (16-5, 1 NC) vs. Kurt Southern (10-3), lightweight

An announcement regarding the undercard will be revealed in the near future.

Tickets for MFC 36: Reality Check are on sale now and available at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – December 31, 2012 – The Maximum Fighting Championship has set a lightweight matchup for the main card of MFC 36: Reality Check that will pit a pair of newly signed competitors against each other.

Recently signed Canadian standout Kurt Southern (10-3) will make his first foray under the MFC banner against American Dave Castillo (16-5, 1 NC), who has agreed to a new multi-fight contract. Their clash will kick off the main card airing live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, February 15.

Castillo, who fights out of Salt Lake City, Utah, comes to the MFC with wins in six of his last eight fights including notable verdicts over John Gunderson, Mario Espinoza, and Gordon Bell. The 30-year-old has set his sights the MFC lightweight belt, and he’ll get a good look at his main competition at MFC 36. Not only is Southern a big challenge for him but so too are Graham Spencer and Mukai Maromo who will battle for the belt in the co-main event that night.

“I’m going to be biting at their heels,” said Castillo of the title-fight foes. “I know that if I get a couple wins starting with Southern and I’m impressive doing it I’m going to get my shot at the title.

“I’m very excited about coming to the MFC. When I was starting out and I wanted to move up, I wanted to come to the MFC to face better opposition and to win a belt that would mean something. Now I’m here and I’m going to win it.”

Castillo has proven to be a finisher throughout his career. He opened his career with a seven-fight winning streak, and the first 11 victories on his resume were all stoppages. In total, Castillo has finished 14 of his 16 opponents, winning six by knockout and eight via submission, and he has captured seven wins inside the first round.

“I do have those eight wins by submission but most of those have really been from strikes that set up the submission,” noted Castillo. “I consider myself a striker who has good submissions.

“I want to stand and trade with Southern. I know he’s an experienced wrestler so I’m working on my takedown defense. But even if he does get me down, I’ve got my submissions, and I still strike from the bottom. I never stop striking.”

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Southern (Twitter: @kurtsouthern) rides a three-fight win streak into the matchup – a run highlighted by a first-round submission victory over Maromo. Southern’s current streak – the third three-fight win streaking of his career – includes wins over Jorge Britto and Brad Cardinal, and he has picked up notable career victories over Martin Grandmont, Evan Sanguin, and Kevin Manderson.

Tickets for MFC 36: Reality Check are on sale now and available via www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – For the second time in the history of the Maximum Fighting Championship, one of the organization’s fighters has been bestowed with the honor of winning a prestigious Bazzie Award from AXS TV’s “Inside MMA.”

“The Afrikan Assassin” Mukai Maromo claimed the Rising Star Award during the special year-end broadcast of ‘The Bazzies’ which aired on Christmas Eve on AXS TV. Maromo won both of his fights in 2012, taking a controversial split-decision verdict from Adam Lynn at MFC 33, and then electrifying the crowd at MFC 34 in the rematch against Lynn when he scored a scintillating second-round knockout which also earned him the MFC’s 2012 Knockout of the Year.

The Bazzies are named after mixed martial arts icon and “Inside MMA” analyst Bas Rutten.

“Winning the Bazzie is an incredible honor and a big part of achieving my dream of becoming an icon in this sport,” said Maromo, who will fight for the vacant MFC lightweight title against Graham Spencer on Friday, February 15 live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

Prior to Maromo, MFC competitors Jason Kuchera and Aron Lofton received the Bazzie for 2008′s Bloodies Fight of the Year.

The honor was especially gratifying for Maromo (Twitter: @AfrikanAssassin), who emerged on the scene in 2011 after arriving in the United States on a track and field scholarship from his native Zimbabwe. Now making his home in Edmonton, Alberta, the 29-year-old has become one of the MFC’s most engaging and crowd-pleasing fighters with his colorful personality and striking prowess.

“I couldn’t have done without the MFC family, AXS TV Fights, and all my sponsors who have aided me thus far in my journey,” reflected Maromo.

“It’s surreal every time I see myself in some sort of media. I can’t help but look to the beginning of my journey and realizing how far I’ve come and how far I have left to go.”

Maromo enters the title fight riding a five-fight winning streak. During his tenure under the Maximum Fighting Championship banner, Maromo has won two Knockout of the Night awards, and shared the MFC’s 2011 Fight of the Year with Sabah Fadai.

“I’m particularly proud of Mukai winning the Rising Star Award. He definitely fits the description perfectly,” noted Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

“He had an outstanding 2012 and I believe there’s bigger and better things on the horizon for him in 2013 starting with his title fight against Graham Spencer at MFC 36. Mukai has all the makings to go well beyond a Rising Star.”

Tickets for MFC 36: Reality Check are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.