Tag: MFC

Press Release

The first fight ended with plenty of heated controversy and lingering doubt.

The second one will settle the score once and for all.

With a stellar lineup already coming into play for MFC 27: Bragging Rights, the Maximum Fighting Championship is furthering bolstering the season-finale card by adding a much-desired rematch that will see Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford (12-3) meet “The Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt (21-18) for a second time.

Ford vs. Spratt II will highlight the stacked roster of fights, including the MFC welterweight clash between Douglas Lima and Jesse Juarez, all slated for Friday, November 12 at the River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta, and live on HDNet Fights.

“The electricity, the anticipation, the atmosphere in the building when Ford and Spratt first fought was so unbelievable. And it’s going to be 10 times more spectacular this time around,” said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

“These two guys couldn’t stand each other from the start and I don’t think it has tapered off one bit over the last two years. There’s so much animosity left that Part 2 is going be even more exhilarating.”

These two welterweights stirred up plenty of bad blood in the lead-up to MFC 15 and it carried over into the ring. In Round 1, Spratt dropped Ford with a stiff kick but Ford battled back to gain top control as the first stanza neared its end. But clearly after the bell rang to conclude Round 1, Ford cracked Spratt with two elbow strikes that left the 11-year veteran nearly unconscious.

Spratt courageously opted to continue though it was clear he was feeling the effects of the late – and non-penalized – blows. Ford didn’t hesitate, capitalizing on Spratt’s state and he secured a standing rear-naked choke for the tapout win – a victory that catapulted Ford into a shot at the MFC’s 170-pound title.

While angered by the outcome, Spratt, who fights out of San Antonio, Texas, put his game back together and reemerged under the MFC banner in dynamic fashion. First, Spratt launched his comeback at MFC 22 when he locked up the MFC’s 2009 Knockout of the Year honor by crushing Nathan Gunn with an uppercut that brought a devastating end to their bout in the second round. Then Spratt further staked his claim at redemption when he used all of his veteran savvy to hold fort against Luigi Fioravanti through two rounds at MFC 25 before putting “The Italian Tank” away with another Knockout of the Year candidate.

Spratt’s career resume is an impressive read of opposition including Georges St. Pierre, Josh Koscheck, Carlos Newton, Robbie Lawler, Yves Edwards, John Alessio, Rich Clementi, Chris Lytle, and Marcus Davis. Spratt is one of the most-feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts and has racked up 11 knockouts to his credit.

Ford is well-known to MFC fans who have seen him develop as a prospect, take part in two welterweight title matchups, and return to the organization at MFC 26 where before a sold-out crowd he was forced to tapout via armbar against current title contender Douglas Lima. Highly regarded for his fast-paced attack, Ford has a relentless pace, power, and aggression all of which combine for a crowd-pleasing style.

The Edmonton, Alberta, product has topped notable names including C.J. Fernandes, Nabil Khatib, Markhaile Wedderburn, and Tommy Speer. Ford has shown well-rounded form when it comes to finishing fights, scoring five knockouts and six submissions.

Ford vs. Spratt 2 complements an already outstanding lineup for MFC 27: Bragging Rights including:

Douglas Lima vs. Jesse Juarez, welterweight title
Dwayne Lewis vs. Razak Al-Hassan, light heavyweight
Kajan Johnson vs. Orestes Betran, lightweight

Tickets for MFC 27 are going fast and are available by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 or via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca and charge-by-phone (780) 451-8000.

Press Release

Top two contenders to vie for welterweight crown at Bragging Rights on Nov. 12

For the first time in the organization’s history, the Maximum Fighting Championship will pit two fighters who have become stars right in the MFC ring against each other for a title.

Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (15-4) will clash with Jesse Juarez (15-5) for the welterweight crown in the main event at MFC 27: Breaking Point slated for Friday, November 12 live on HDNet Fights from the River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta.

“It’s the most excited I have ever been for an MFC championship fight. This is the kind of fight I’ve been wanting for 10 years,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“These guys are MFC fighters – not guys who made their names somewhere else and then came to the MFC. They are both MFC fighters and they are going after the MFC title.

“They became big names here in the MFC and one of them is going to become a true MFC champion.”

Lima, who fights out of the American Top Team’s Atlanta operation, exploded onto the scene back in September at MFC 26. Though he came into the fight with an unheralded name and as a heavy underdog, Lima stunned the sold-out crowd when he fashioned a lightning-quick tapout and Submission of the Night honors early in the second round against home-town favorite Ryan Ford.

Immediately after the victory, Lima offered his plea for a title shot. With the fight in place, the 22-year-old could hardly contain his enthusiasm.

“There’s no need to ask the question. I’m super excited. I was ready for the title fight the day I beat Ford. I’m ready for Juarez,” said Lima, who has won three consecutive fights heading into the title bout.

“I don’t know much about Juarez. I’ve seen a few fights online. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. He’s got a good record but I’m ready to take him on. I think the fight will stay standing but I’m ready for whatever he’s got. Wherever it goes I’m going to be very comfortable.”

A proven jiu-jitsu talent with nine submission wins to his credit, Lima also boasts a solid stand-up attack with muay thai skills that have produced four victories via knockout – all coming in the first round.

Like Lima, Juarez was ecstatic over getting the title shot. He will ride a stellar nine-fight winning streak into the bout – a run of success that includes wins in the MFC over Joe Christopher via unanimous decision at MFC 23 and a startling head-kick knockout of Nathan Gunn only 11 seconds into a matchup at MFC 24.

“It’s awesome to finally get a title fight,” said Juarez, who could bring a third MFC title belt to the Bodyshop Team where he trains under reigning MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee and alongside former MFC light heavyweight champ Emanuel Newton.

“Lima is a great competitor and from a really good camp. I wanted his coach (Roan) Carneiro but fighting Lima should be a lot of fun. Fighting is a lot of fun for me and the paydays are nice. In reality I’m fighting for my family now.”

Fun wouldn’t normally describe a head-to-head confrontation with Lima, but Juarez does possess a well-rounded game that matches up interestingly against his Brazilian-born counterpart. Of his 15 wins, Juarez, who fights out of Torrance, California, has scored five by both knockout and submission.

Lima versus Juarez will top the bill for MFC 27: Breaking Point that includes two already-detailed bouts for the HDNet-televised main card:

Dwayne Lewis (12-5) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (10-2), light heavyweight
Kajan Johnson (17-11-1) vs. Orestes Betran (13-4), lightweight

The remainder of the lineup, including the semi-main event, will be announced shortly.

Press Release

Ryan Jimmo’s decision not to accept a certain opponent has not just cost him spot on the next MFC card but more importantly a shot at the MFC’s light heavyweight title.

Jimmo (13-1), who is riding a 13-fight winning streak, declined an offer to face Brazilian striker Glover Teixeira at MFC 27: Breaking Point which will take place on Friday, Nov. 12. There was no question in anyone’s mind a showdown between Jimmo and Teixeira (10-2) would make for an action-packed title fight – except for one person.

Jimmo wasn’t interested in fighting Teixeira and bizarrely backed away from the bout as well as the shot at the crown.

“I have the utmost respect for Ryan Jimmo but I think he is making a huge mistake by not taking this fight. I can’t figure out why someone would turn down a title fight,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“You don’t get to choose who you are going to fight for the title. The best opponent possible is going to be put in front of you and that’s the fight. Unlike the vast majority of other mixed martial arts companies, our organization puts a lot of value on our title belts and on our champions. That’s why you don’t see fighters were unqualified records fighting for MFC titles.

“If you want to be an MFC champion, you are going to have to fight the best guy. You don’t get to pick your spots here. I don’t think Ryan has looked at the big picture. He and his team are focused on where Glover has fought and whether he’s been on TV or not, and because of that Ryan is missing out on a great opportunity.”

Pavelich noted that this is the first time in the 10-year history of the MFC that a fighter has not accepted a title fight based on who the opponent was slated to be.

“I question why Ryan Jimmo would say that Glover Teixeira wasn’t worthy of a title fight. If I was Jimmo, I’d be willing to back up that statement in the ring, not run from it afterwards,” said Pavelich, who added that Teixeira is still going to fight on the MFC 27 card.

“My responsibility is to the fans of the Maximum Fighting Championship and choosing Glover Teixeira to fight Ryan Jimmo makes sense. Glover has won eigh in a row and Ryan is on a great streak too. A lot of people said Pat Healy didn’t deserve a title fight against Ryan Ford because not many people had heard of him. But Healy came here and beat Ford – twice.

“Patrick Cote didn’t choose to fight Jason MacDonald in the very first MFC title fight. That’s the fight he was offered, he accepted it, and won the fight. The same goes for Antonio McKee, Roger Hollett, Emanuel Newton – none of them hand-picked who they were going to fight. Those guys all took whoever was thrown in front of them and went about their business as professionals.”