Tag: Maximum Fighting Championship

Press Release – By MFC Staff – August 3, 2012 – The Maximum Fighting Championship will be the first mixed martial arts organization in Canada to put fighters through random drug testing when MFC 35: Explosive Encounter comes around in October.

Testing will be done in conjunction with the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission, and is something long overdue, explained MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich, who made the announcement during a recent guest segment on “The Jason Gregor Show.”

“It’s been talked about for a long time with many commissions. Usually it’s been a matter of money – the commissions not wanting to do testing because of the cost,” said Pavelich.

“But working with the Edmonton Commission, we’ve found a way to make it cost-effective, and most important, it’s going to be something consistent. When testing athletes the message has to be consistent – don’t cheat because you will be caught, and now it will be sooner rather than later.”

When asked about the prevalence of performance-enhancing substances in MMA, Pavelich told Gregor that he believes as many as 50% of the fighters are currently using something that is prohibited.

“You are seeing more and more fighters getting caught and that is good for the sport,” added Pavelich. “The MFC and any Commission we work with are not out to get anyone. I would just like to see illegal substances out of the sport, and those who use them be penalized for doing so.”

Starting at MFC 35, random fighters – likely four or five per event including those in championship bouts – will be tested following their matchup. More details about the testing will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The entire Pavelich interview can be found at:

http://www.jasongregor.com/radio_shows/evan-silva-mark-pavelich-lowetide-ed-stefanski-jeffrey-orridge/show_clips/mark-pavelich-mfc-ownerpresident-august-1-2012

Lightweight title fight, heavyweight rematch featured at MFC 34: Total Recall

Press Release – August 2, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The Maximum Fighting Championship will be hosting a special combined press availability and open training session to introduce the top fighters headlining MFC 34: Total Recall.

The press availability and training session will take place on Wednesday, August 8 at 3 p.m. inside the Mayfield Conference Centre. Fighters will be available for one-on-one interviews as well as for video and photographs while participating in a light workout inside the MFC ring.

MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich will also be on hand to meet with the media and discuss MFC 34:Total Recall which will go down on Friday, August 10 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

MFC 34: Total Recall 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). MFC 34 will then be showcased on a tape-delay basis on TSN2 at a later date.

In the main event of MFC 34, a battle for the undisputed MFC world lightweight title will pit former United States Marine Adam Lynn (17-8) against “The Afrikan Assassin” Mukai Maromo (7-2).

Tying in neatly with the ‘Total Recall’ theme, Lynn and Maromo are meeting in a rematch from their encounter at MFC 33 when Maromo was awarded a highly controversial decision. This time around the pair will meet with much more than pride on the line as the MFC world lightweight title is at stake. Lynn, who fights out of Laguna Beach, California, is the holder of the MFC’s 2012 Knockout of the Year and was a winner in six straight before the contentious loss to Maromo.

Maromo, who is originally from Zimbabwe and will be vying for the title in his adopted home town of Edmonton, enters on a four-fight winning streak, and as the co-holder of the MFC’s 2012 Fight of the Year. A striking specialist, Maromo has won three fights inside the first round, and will look to become the first Canadian to hold the MFC world lightweight title. The belt’s only other holder is former champion Antonio McKee of the United States.

At MFC 34, the Maximum Fighting Championship will be re-launching its heavyweight division, and fittingly doing so with the ‘Total Recall’ vibe in mind as Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert will look for a second straight victory over Tim “The Thrashing Machine” Hague.

Hackert (5-1), who hails from Comox, British Columbia, stunned the MMA community when he topped the veteran Hague back in May. Hague (14-6) will look to bounce back and re-establish himself as the kingpin of Canada and a serious threat on the world-class level. Both fighters will be making their MFC debuts, while Hague will have the opportunity to regain his standing in front of his massive home-town fanbase in Edmonton.

The MFC will take a major step to deciding its top-two middleweight title contender at MFC 34 with a pair of high-impact matchups.

In one clash, former reality show standout Joseph “Leonidas” Henle (7-0-1) will go head-to-head against judo stalwart Luke Harris (9-1), while the other fight matches Elvis “The King” Mutapcic (10-2) against Jacen Flynn (10-2). The winners of these bouts will then be slated to meet for the MFC middleweight crown before the end of 2012.

Henle, who fights out of Lompoc, California, along with Twin Falls, Idaho native Flynn, and Mutapcic, who was born in Bosnia and now resides in Des Moines, Iowa, will all be making their organizational debut as the MFC tremendously bolsters its middleweight ranks.

Harris, who will also have the home-town advantage fighting in Edmonton, rides a nine-fight winning streak into his contest with Henle – all nine of those victories coming via first-round submission including his verdict over Edwin Dewees at MFC 33. The talented judo practitioner has not lost since his first professional fight.

A winner of four straight, Henle boasts four submission victories of his own along with four wins coming inside the opening round.

Mutapcic has won seven of his last eight outings, and holds a victory over former MFC light-heavyweight title contender Zak Cummings along with a 25-second knockout of Cezar Ferreira. Flynn has been victorious in four straight, and boasts significant career verdicts over Dean Lister and Denis Kang.

The main card of MFC 34: Total Recall is rounded out by a pair of highly anticipated bouts. In a welterweight battle, Dhiego “Maluco” Lima (6-1) looks to rebound from the first loss of his career as he goes up against MFC newcomer Nick “The Juggernaut” Hinchliffe (19-8). Lima, originally from Brazil and now fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, is a two-time MFC Knockout of the Night winner but is coming off a decision loss to current welterweight champ Nathan Coy at MFC 32. Hinchliffe, a Nanaimo, B.C., product, has won four of his last six fights, and holds notable wins over Travis Galbraith, Anderson Goncalves, and Ryan Machan.

A three-fight undercard, featuring MFC prospects Dan Ring and Smealihno Rama, will kick off the night.

Schedule of Events for MFC 34: Total Recall

*Media Availability/Open Training Session*

Wednesday, August 8

Mayfield Conference Centre

Those in attendance will include:

Mark Pavelich – Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President

Adam Lynn and Mukai Maromo – Fighting for MFC world lightweight title

Mike Hackert and Tim Hague – Rematch to re-launch MFC heavyweight division

Joseph Henle and Luke Harris – Rival middleweight contenders

* Media members can pick up their accreditation for MFC 34 at the press conference.

Thursday, August 9

Lobby Courtyard

Mayfield Inn & Suites

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

Friday, August 10

Mayfield Conference Centre

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

For more information and press credentials, please contact:

Scott Zerr, Director of Media and Fighter Relations

Maximum Fighting Championship

(780) 914-5813

[email protected]

www.maximumfighting.com

Follow the MFC on Twitter @maximumfighting

Zentgraf steps in to face Krahn at MFC 34

Three-fight undercard also set for Total Recall on Aug. 10

Press Release – July 27, 2012 – The Maximum Fighting Championship is announcing one lineup change and the undercard matchups for the upcoming MFC 34: Total Recall card slated for Friday, August 10 in Edmonton, Alberta.

MFC 34, featuring the lightweight title fight between Adam Lynn and Mukai Maromo, will take place at the Mayfield Conference Centre and air live throughout the United States on AXS TV Fights (formerly HDNet Fights) beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation). MFC 34 will then be shown on tape-delay at a later date across Canada on TSN2.

Opening up the telecast will be a fight pitting Cody “Genghis” Krahn against MFC newcomer Jason Zentgraf, who takes the spot previously occupied by Mike Kent. Due to a severe hand injury, Kent has not only been sidelined for the fight but has declared himself unable to continue fighting at all.

Zentgraf (5-1) enters the MFC having captured all five of his victories via submission including four inside the opening round. The Missoula, Montana, native, who has signed a multi-fight deal with the MFC, has won two straight and most recently notched a tapout victory over veteran Dan Chambers.

Krahn (11-4) is looking to build off his first-round submission victory over Ryan Chiappe at MFC 31. The Edmonton, Alberta, product has notched all of his victories inside the opening round including eight via submission.

The Zentgraf-Krahn matchup will be contested at a catchweight of 190 pounds.

A three-fight undercard has also been finalized for MFC 34 including the return of rising lightweight prospect “Dirty” Dan Ring. The Vancouver, B.C., product will put his undefeated record on the line against Lethbridge, Alberta’s Derek Boyle who has come out on top in four of his last six outings. Ring has picked up a pair of decision wins along with a second-round submission in his three fights under the MFC banner.

In a middleweight clash, rugged Derek “The Lion” Parkers returns to the MFC and will toe the line against Paul “The Punisher” Grandbois. Parker, who hails from Regina, Saskatchewan, earned a hard-fought draw versus Jared McComb at MFC 33, while Grandbois, who now makes his home in Edmonton, has scored knockouts in all four of his victories.

The night will open with the return of the MFC’s heavyweight division in a clash between up-and-comer Smealinho Rama and hard-throwing veteran Lee Mein.

MFC 34: Total Recall Lineup

Adam Lynn vs. Mukai Maromo – MFC lightweight title

Joseph Henle vs. Luke Harris – middleweight

Mike Hackert vs. Tim Hague – heavyweight

Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jacen Flynn – middleweight

Nick Hinchliffe vs. Dhiego Lima – welterweight

Jason Zentgraf vs. Cody Krahn – catchweight

Dan Ring vs. Derek Boyle – catchweight

Derek Parker vs. Paul Grandbois – middleweight

Lee Mein vs. Smealinho Rama – heavyweight

For more information and media credentials, please contact:

Scott Zerr, Director of Media and Fighter Relations

Maximum Fighting Championship

(780) 914-5813

[email protected]

www.maximumfighting.com

Follow me on Twitter @scottmaxfight

Follow the MFC on Twitter @maximumfighting

MFC has a nice ‘ring’ to it
Future cards including MFC 34 will take place in roped ring as opposed to cage

Press Release – July 23, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – The ring is still the thing for the Maximum Fighting Championship.

And that’s the ring as in the five-rope version, not “The Ring” as in the craftily given moniker for the MFC’s sleek cage setup.

The Maximum Fighting Championship brought its slick cage to life at MFC 29 in accordance with the regulations utilized in Ontario which requires all mixed martial arts fights to be held in a cage structure. The cage received great reviews yet it not been used since even though MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich had surmised about using the cage for events in other locales including Edmonton, Alberta.

But the fans have spoken, and they have made it clear that the ring (that’s ‘little r’ not ‘Ring’) is what they want to see.

“It’s been said pretty clearly to me that our fans, the ones who have continually supported us and come to the live shows for years, that they like the ring better than the cage,” said Pavelich.

Pavelich explained the fans’ sentiments.

“MMA is a bit of a strange sport when it comes to watching the event live in person inside the arena,” he noted.

“You want to see as much as possible right in front of your eyes, yet how many times have we seen people, especially sitting a little bit further back, have to turn to watch a big screen TV just to see what’s right in front of them? It’s not logical. You’ve paid the price of your ticket to watch the fight on TV? That’s not right.

“Our fans watching the event live in person have expressed that they can see the fight better in a ring from any seat in the house. The craziest thing is my staff sits on the edge of the ring inside the barrier and when the fights were in a cage they couldn’t see across to the other side and they had to watch on a TV. That’s a pretty obvious message to me.”

The ring had always been a matter of preference for Pavelich. When the MFC began 12 years ago, the ring was distinguishable as being an MFC property – very few mixed martial arts events were held in a ring. And it was also a matter of business as the blossoming sport seemed less barbaric to newcomers, and in particular corporate sponsors, since it took place in a more traditional boxing-style ring as opposed to the locked cage.

The ring remains Pavelich’s preference, but over the last year, it seems to have also become the fans’ pick as well. That’s not to say the cage, the MFC’s “Ring,” won’t ever appear again at some point.

For now, though, the ring will remain the focal point of the MFC’s action which suits Pavelich and the MFC fans just fine.

“I’ve always been an Owner that has listened to the fans,” noted Pavelich. “Sometimes the suggestions are a little out there, but for the most part, the fans are correct. They are the ones who pay their hard earned money and they deserve the right to speak their minds, and for me and the MFC team to listen to what they’ve said.

“I love the fact that our fans are devoted and opinionated. They’ve had their say about everything from where we do the fights, the fighters they want to see, and about whether they like the ring or the cage. We’ve listened.”

Tickets for MFC 34: Total Recall are on sale now and available exclusively through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Press Release – July 20, 2012 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – n June 1981, the fantasy film hit, Clash of the Titans was released. The film told us a story about Perseus, the son of Zeus, and his epic quest to battle a giant titan called The Kraken. Perseus was small, fast, and smart, and (spoiler alert) he found a way to defeat the titan in the end. In May 2012, Mike Hackert stepped up to fight his own titan in the form of the huge and violent Tim Hague. Like Perseus, Hackert had to use his speed, skill, and technique to achieve victory, but there’s a key difference here. Perseus defeated the Kraken never to return, but Tim Hague, well, he’s back.

On August 10th, the heavyweight division will be fully reborn in the MFC. Tim “The Thrashing Machine” Hague will be slugging it out with Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert for heavy-duty glory. The winner will be recognized as the greatest Canadian heavyweight fighter in the sport. Yeah, it’s that big.

Tim Hague was the best heavyweight fighter in Canada on May 17, 2012, but on May 18th, Hackert held the honour. The Honey Badger was the much smaller fighter; however, he took the decision after a very high-paced 3 rounds, mostly thanks to his speed and technique on the feet. His plan for MFC 34 is simple – rinse and repeat. “I think it’s going to be the same as last time, “ says Hackert, “He will not be able to take me down, and I’m going to keep it standing. That’s where my strength is.”

Hackert is strong on the feet, and he sent a clear message about his abilities to the MMA community in that fight with Hague. That being noted, when it comes to owning the crown as the greatest Canadian heavy, The Thrashing Machine has a message of his own, “Mike Hackert beat me on May 18th. He took that title from me fair and square, and August 10th, I’ll be damned if I don’t get it back.” Hague’s motivation is palpable, and his voice is confident and unwavering.

Fans may be wondering what could possibly change in the short time since these beasts last locked horns, and the answer is plenty. Hague will likely be entering the ring 20 – 30 pounds lighter than last time. Hackert had a strong focus on gaining new knowledge in what he described as an “amazing camp.” Hague is on a new ultra-clean diet. Hackert is freshly focused on fighting realizing there’s a much bigger bullseye on his back. Ultimately these guys know how to rock the show in an MMA arena, and they’re both more determined than ever to prove their worth going live on AXS TV.

That’s right, MFC fans. AXS TV is in the mix. The Heavyweight Division is back. The biggest Canadian fight in history is upon us. Don’t think these fighters don’t know it either, “It’s going to be one hell of a fight, and it’s going to kick off the heavyweight division with a bang,” exclaims Tim Hague. His opponent agrees, “Our last fight was great to watch, and this fight is perfect for the main card.”

That’s where the agreement ends. When picturing the perfect way for this fight to play out, Hackert wants a repeat of last time. That way the fans get a great show, and he walks away a winner. Tim Hague has a different vision, ““I want to break him down, and do what he did to me in the first fight and let him see how it feels. I’m not going in there throwing haymakers, but I want to finish him definitely by the second round.” Hague maintains that Hackert deserved the win last time but cautions anyone betting against him at the Mayfield this August, “I was out of shape for our last fight, and I’m going to be showing up in shape this time.”

This is big for fans as all signs point to a highly entertaining fight. Mike Hackert wants to outbox Hague, and Tim Hague thinks he’s done what he needs to do to put Hackert away. Let’s be frank. Hague knows how to knock people out, Hackert is one of the faster heavyweights in the game, and this one ain’t going to the ground. There may not be a ton of trash talk leading up to the fight, but the gun powder is inside both these ring warriors. Hague gives Hackert full respect for the first fight, but that’s where it ends, “As far as this fight goes, he’s not getting any respect from me.” Hackert may not engage in personal attacks either, but he doesn’t think his opponent is necessarily making the right move by slimming down, “It sounds like he’s getting lighter. I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

The significance of the return of the heavys and the debut of the MFC on AXS TV is not lost on these guys and both are working their fists to the bone preparing. Hague has worked with strength and conditioning guru Shara Vigeant and the kickboxing monsters at Frank Lee’s. He’s also continued his work with BJJ beast Kyle Cardinal and the big boy in his camp, Mike Cobey. Mike Hackert realizes the target on his back since his last fight with Tim, especially now that he’s built his sponsor list to include Never Tap, Fitness Etc., Reign , Bryce Hansen Remax, Comox Valley Boxing Club, CV Fitness, and Zuma. There’s no room left on his shorts, but he hasn’t lost his sense of humour. When asked what came to mind when hearing he is considered the greatest Canadian HW in MMA, he chuckled, “Good timing, Mike. Good timing.”

The ring will be rocked on August 10th as these two exceptional athletes and monstrous men go to war. Leading up to the big fight, Hackert wants to send a message to Tim Hague, “Let’s put on another good show, man.” Could Hackert be baiting The Thrashing Machine into going into full run-and-gun mode again? Maybe. It’s also a possibility that Hague sees some benefit in getting into his opponent’s head, and he has a message as well, “I saw a posting on facebook about Mike not giving a **** about size. I want him to know I’m bringing a lot more than size to this fight.” No matter who takes this moment and squeezes victory from it, every fan sitting in Mayfield Centre or watching on AXS TV will be in for a scorching scrap.

In June 1981, the fantasy film hit, Clash of the Titans was released. That was a movie. This is real. The smaller, faster hero may, once again, take victory, but the awoken giant has learned from the last encounter and may exact his revenge. Metaphors aside, on August 10, 2012, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the greatest Canadian heavyweight fighter will be crowned. Look out.