Tag: Maximum Fighting Championship

‘The Prince’ guarantees success will continue vs. Hackert at MFC 36

Press Release – It’s been a banner end to a breakout year for Smealinho Rama.

The affable heavyweight from Calgary, Alberta, recently received two sizeable honors that put a nice bow on his season. He was first handed the Maximum Fighting Championship’s 2012 Submission of the Year for his finish of Ryan Fortin at MFC 35, and just two days later, earned the nod as Fight Matrix’s Male Rookie of the Year.

“The Prince” joins a list of past MFC Submission of the Year winner highlighted by Douglas Lima and Drew Fickett, while his Rookie of the Year award from the noted rankings website puts him alongside some lofty company including Jon Jones (2008), BJ Penn (2001), and Randy Couture (1997).

“I’m very happy to have earned such great honors as the MFC Submission of the Year and the Fight Matrix Rookie of the Year,” said Rama, who stands at #74 in Fight Matrix’s world rankings.

“I’m so honored to have been blessed with the talents I have, and I’m grateful for my health and my ability to train and perform. I’m also very grateful for my family, my mentor and coach Vlad, and my team at Independent MMA.”

Rama (Twitter: @SmailRama) now stands at 5-0 following two victories under the Maximum Fighting Championship banner in 2012. Along with his sparkling submission win over Fortin, Rama dispatched of veteran Lee Mein, and boasts all five of his victories coming inside the first round.

The past few days have certainly been quite memorable for Rama, who may start 2013 off with a bang as he meets Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert (6-1) in an MFC heavyweight title eliminator at MFC 36: Reality Check on Friday, February 15. That matchup is part of a spectacular card live on AXS TV Fights emanating from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

It is sizeable step up in competition for Rama, as Hackert (#36 in Fight Matrix’s poll) is coming off back-to-back wins over former Canadian heavyweight kingpin Tim Hague, but the challenge is one he definitely seems ready for as evidenced by his growing confidence and bravado.

“I’m very excited about my upcoming fight,” said Rama. “I’ll tell you this much … it’s going to be a quick and easy night. We all know what’s going to happen. Look at Mike Hackert’s photos of him in his pajamas all ready for bed. I don’t need to say any more than that because I know what’s going to happen.

“Mark Pavelich knows what’s going to happen. Scott Zerr knows what’s going to happen. The referee knows what’s going to happen. The fans know what’s going to happen. And most important of all, Mike Hackert knows what’s going to happen.

“So buy your tickets for MFC 36 and come enjoy your night because I guarantee you it’s going to be a short evening of fights and a long night of fun.”

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 – 18 December 2012 – The Maximum Fighting Championship has added another strong talent to its lightweight division with the signing of Canadian standout Kurt Southern.

Southern (10-3) will make his organizational debut at MFC 36: Reality Check on Friday, February 15 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, product will be part of the main card airing live on AXS TV Fights with his opponent to be determined in the near future.

“I’m really excited to fight for the MFC on AXS TV,” said Southern, who agreed to a multi-fight deal. “It’s a huge opportunity for me. The MFC puts on awesome shows and I can’t wait to be part of that.

“I’m coming to the MFC to put the hurt on the lightweight division. I can’t wait to make an impact in the division. Fans can expect an aggressive style from me – non-stop pressure.

“I want the belt and sometime in 2013, Mark Pavelich will be strapping that belt to my waist.”

Southern (Twitter: @kurtsouthern) carries the third three-fight winning streak of his career into the MFC, with the current run bolstered by a first-round submission victory over Mukai Maromo, who will be the co-headliner at MFC 36 as he takes on Graham Spencer for the MFC’s 155-pound division title. Southern’s current streak includes wins over Jorge Britto and Brad Cardinal, and he has picked up notable career victories over Martin Grandmont, Evan Sanguin, and Kevin Manderson.

Six of Southern’s wins have come by submission where he has put his substantial wrestling background to good use. Southern captured 13 provincial titles and was a five-time medalist at nationals before suiting up with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies wrestling team for two years.

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 – December 16, 2012 – Maximum Fighting Championship middleweight title-holder Elvis “The King” Mutapcic will make the first defense of his belt at MFC 36: Reality Check when he takes on newly signed “Smilin” Sam Alvey.

The Mutapcic-Alvey showdown will be the co-main event alongside the previously announced battle for the vacant MFC lightweight title fight that has “The Afrikan Assassin” Mukai Maromo squaring off against Graham Spencer. Both fights will top the MFC 36 lineup airing live on AXS TV Fights emanating from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, February 15.

Alvey (19-4, 1 NC), who agreed to a multi-fight deal with the MFC, is expecting that his clash with Mutapcic (12-2) will feature plenty of fireworks. The 26-year-old, who trains in Murrieta, California, has notched 11 wins by way of knockout and added a pair of victories by submission, while Mutapcic has finished 11 of his 12 opponents inside the distance. Mutapcic (Twitter: @ElvisMutapcic) earned the fifth knockout of his career and captured the MFC’s 185-pound division crown when he stopped Joseph “Leonidas” Henle at MFC 35.

“I think anyone who knows me and knows Elvis knows that this fight is going to end in a knockout,” said Alvey, a former TUF reality show competitor. “We’re both good strikers and we’re going to settle things striking.

“The only difference is that Elvis thinks his striking is better than mine, but I know my striking is better than his.”

Alvey (Twitter: @smilensam) has won four of his last five outings, highlighted by back-to-back first-round knockouts. His career is punctuated by a pair of four-fight winning streaks, and an impressive seven-fight run that included wins over Karl Amoussou and Jason Guida.

The Wisconsin product began his mixed martial arts career five years ago following a stint at Div. III Lakeland College where he suited up for the football and wrestling teams. A former standout trumpet player, some Alvey’s free time away from training is taken up with planning his upcoming wedding to “America’s Next Top Model” winner McKey Sullivan. The couple will be married on January 19, and then Sullivan will trade in her gown for a t-shirt as Alvey’s chief cornerman.

A belated wedding present for Alvey would be leaving MFC 36 with the Maximum Fighting Championship’s middleweight belt.

“I’m incredibly excited to be coming to the MFC, and it’s amazing to be getting a shot at the title,” said Alvey. “When I started training five years ago, I got addicted and it’s become my life.

“My nickname is ‘Smilin’ because I love being in this sport. Nothing makes me happier than standing in the ring across from a worthy opponent … and Elvis is definitely a worthy opponent.”

MFC 36: Reality Check – Fights confirmed to date

Graham Spencer vs. Mukai Maromo – MFC lightweight title

Sam Alvey vs. Elvis Mutapcic – MFC middleweight title

Smealinho Rama vs. Mike Hackert – heavyweight

Jason Zentgraf vs. Luke Harris – middleweight

Jacen Flynn vs. Jay Silva – middleweight

Press Release – Dec. 10, 2012 – The Maximum Fighting Championship has bolstered its lineup for MFC 36: Reality Check with a pair of key fights in the middleweight division featuring fan favorites.

Newly signed Jay “Da Spyda Killa” Silva (8-6) will meet Jacen Flynn (10-3) in one middleweight matchup, while Jason “The Savage” Zentgraf (6-1) will collide with Luke Harris (9-2) in the other.

Both critical contests in the MFC’s talent-laden 185-pound division will be part of the AXS TV Fights main card broadcast taking place live on Friday, February 15 from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The AXS TV Fights main card launches at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

“The MFC really started to produce exceptional talent in the middleweight division in 2012, and these two fights – part of our first show in 2013 – is a direct result of that talent influx,” said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

“There was a huge level of excitement around the MMA world when we signed Jay Silva, and immediately Jacen Flynn jumped at the opportunity because he wants to prove he’s much better than when we saw last time out.

“As for Jason Zentgraf, he wanted to step up in competition and he matches up very well with Luke Harris. And Luke is very eager to start a new winning streak. Both these guys want to be front and center in the title picture so it is a fitting matchup – and I believe it will be a very exciting one as well.”

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

In Flynn (Twitter: @JacenFlynnMMA), Silva meets an opponent who has nine victories by way of submission and holds career wins over notables Denis Kang, Dean Lister, and Edwin Dewees. Flynn, who fights out of Twin Falls, Idaho, had his four-fight winning streak snapped at MFC 34 when he dropped a first-round TKO verdict in a title eliminator to now-reigning MFC middleweight champ Elvis Mutapcic.

Zentgraf (Twitter: @JasonZentgraf) rides into MFC 36 carrying a three-fight winning streak capped most recently by his first-round submission over Cody Krahn at MFC 34. The Missoula, Montana, product has flexed his substantial submission skills, earning all six of his wins via tapout and five of those six victories coming inside the opening round.

“I’m totally pumped for this fight,” said Zentgraf, who opened up the opportunity by extending a challenge to fight Harris on the MFC website.

At MFC 34, Harris (Twitter: @HayabusaHarris) saw his impressive nine-fight unbeaten run come to an end with a first-round TKO setback against Joseph “Leonidas” Henle. The St. Albert, Alberta, product has won all nine of his bouts by way of first-round submission, including a quick stoppage of Edwin Dewees at MFC 33. Already an accomplished judo player, Harris was awarded his second black belt and now holds that prestigious level in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Adding to the middleweight frenzy at MFC 36, an undercard bout has also been set in the division. Coming off his thrilling victory at MFC 35, Paul “The Punisher” Grandbois (5-4) will toe the line with Cody “Genghis” Krahn (11-6) in a showdown of rival Edmonton, Alberta, fighters.

Last time out, Grandbois (Twitter: @PunisherPG) put forth the performance of his career with a Knockout of the Night finish and a potential MFC Fight of the Year for his second-round TKO finish of Jason Kuchera. Five of Grandbois’ wins have been via T/KO with four of those five coming in the opening round.

Krahn has lost two straight with his last victory coming at MFC 31 when he submitted Ryan Chiappe. All 11 of Krahn’s win have come in Round 1, three via knockout and eight by submission.

Tickets for MFC 36: Reality Check are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 758-1632.

Press Release – One of the most dynamic free-agent talents available is joining the deepening MFC middleweight talent pool.

Jay “Da Spyda Killa” Silva has agreed to a multi-fight contract with the Maximum Fighting Championship and will make his debut at MFC 36: Reality Check to be held on Friday, February 15 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and live on AXS TV Fights.

“Jay Silva is a huge talent, and can become an absolute wrecking machine in the Maximum Fighting Championship,” touted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“The days are over when Jay took fights at the last minute, on short notice, and without a proper training camp. He knows he’s fighting in February and I think you’ll see the best Jay Silva ever. The rest of the middleweight division should take notice now because a rejuvenated, reincarnated Jay Silva is coming to the MFC.”

Silva’s first opponent under the MFC banner will be announced in the near future.

The 31-year-old from Huntington Beach, California, is coming off the most-celebrated victory of his career – a win which earned the new nickname he proudly sports. Silva took control of his matchup against Kendall Grove in the second round, scoring a takedown and then firing away from side control. With ease, Silva moved into a phenomenal arm-triangle choke and rendered Grove into an unconscious heap to score a dramatic technical submission victory.

But the jiu-jitsu skills learned under Renzo Gracie are far from Silva’s only abilities in the ring. Of Silva’s eight victories, five have been earned by way of knockout including his monstrous 33-second destruction of Jaime Jara in 2010. Silva, who is currently ranked 43rd in the world by Fight Matrix (http://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/middleweight/) went the distance against hard-throwing Chris Leben, as well as in a short-notice, razor-thin outcome versus C.B. Dolloway.

Originally from Luanda, Angola and holding Brazilian citizenship, Silva will join the MFC’s surging middleweight ranks, topped by reigning champion Elvis “The King” Mutapcic who captured the title at MFC 35 on October 26. The MFC’s middleweight talent pool includes Joseph “Leonidas” Henle, judo sensation Luke Harris, Jason “The Savage” Zentgraf, and Jacen Flynn, with more names to be added in 2013.

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 – November 23, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The Maximum Fighting Championship has officially signed one of the biggest heavyweight matchups in organizational history for MFC 36: Reality Check.

Canada’s top two heavyweights will square-off with an MFC title shot at stake when undefeated hotshot Smealinho Rama meets rising star Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert on Friday, Feb. 15. The bout will be a highlighted matchup on the MFC 36 card airing live on AXS TV Fights emanating from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

The winner of the bout earns a shot at the MFC heavyweight title later in 2013.

“Canadian fight fans have been wanting to see this fight, and frankly, so have I because this is the kind of fight I wanted when we put the heavyweight division back in play this year,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“These two guys are exciting heavyweights. They’re not going to lay there and smother you. They’re going to put on the gloves and just go at it.

“Rama has so much natural talent. He moves incredibly well for a young man of his size, but most importantly, he has risen to the occasion each time and has passed each test with flying colors.

“Hackert demolished Hague in their rematch and left no doubt who the No. 1 heavyweight in Canada is right now. Mike has some of the most incredible hands in MMA today and he can be a very destructive force.

“I have no doubt this will be the best heavyweight fight in Canadian MMA history, and the winner will deservedly get the MFC title shot.”

Rama (5-0) has also agreed to a new, multi-fight contract fresh off his tidy first-round submission victory over Ryan Fortin at MFC 35. The native of Albania, who now fights out of Calgary, Alberta, has not been outside the first round in all five of his outings. In fact, his two knockout and three submission verdicts have all come in under four minutes including his test against Fortin which lasted all of 2:02.

Against Fortin, Rama flashed deceiving quickness along with a decent ground attack from a young fighter who weighed in at 260 pounds. He nearly finished the fight in the early moments with a neatly put together armbar, and ultimately coaxed the tapout with a rear-naked choke.

Hackert (6-1) has just one stoppage to his credit, but it came in his most recent and most important fight of his career thus far. Following up on his stunning upset of veteran Tim Hague this past May, Hackert stepped forward for a rematch then promptly put on a striking clinic and took out Hague with a TKO victory at the 2:27 mark of the first round.

The Comox Valley, B.C., product, who stepped in the ring against Hague for the rematch at a lean 222 pounds, has some of the fastest hands in the heavyweight ranks – an arsenal that quickly put Hague in peril in the much-ballyhooed rematch.

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