Alvey’s smile gets brighter after receiving award

Nikolai Gionti, MFC Staff

Is it even possible for Sam Alvey to have a bigger smile than he sports in the ring on fight night? The state of California is testing that out after honoring Alvey with an award earlier this week.

Nearly two months after his victory at MFC 38 over Jason South, California has officially recognized him as the Maximum Fighting Championship middleweight champion.

Alvey says, “the assemblywoman saw on the news that I had won the title in my last fight and decided to officially recognize it.”

He received a package Thursday morning while he was training at Team Quest. Alvey understands what an honor it is to receive any kind of award from the state. For a fighter, however, it is even bigger just based on how the sport can be viewed by those in politics.

“It does get a bum rap sometimes,” Alvey says. “But the more people that see it, the more people that recognize it, the better it gets.”

Alvey doesn’t just view this as an individual award. He knows that without the help of the MFC that this would not be possible.

“The MFC has been fantastic. It’s one of the biggest organizations in the world. They keep me busy with fights, they keep me busy with interviews and I couldn’t be happier.”

He also knows that without the support of his family that this award would not have come either. Alvey met his wife prior to his MMA career and she has been beside him ever since. She wraps his hands prior to fights and even corners him during the fights. McKey Sullivan can be seen during every MFC event on AXS TV, but there was a new member of the family with him after his title fight, his newborn duaghter. This gives Alvey some high standards, but he isn’t worried.

“Yes, I have high expectations, but I’m not worried. I train with one of the best camps in the world and I’ll live up to them, but my daughter won’t be a fighter.”

MFC 39 on January 17, 2014. Tickets can be purchased atticketmaster.ca. Starting next week or call the MFC Ticket Hotline:780.504.2024

MFC 38 Aftermath: What It Means To Be A Champion In The Maximum Fighting Championships

Three new champions were crowned on October 4^th in Edmonton at MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines at what was arguably the Maximum Fighting Championship’s biggest show to date.  On such an important and pivotal night in the history of the organization, you could not have written the story of the show any better than how the reality transpired in the ring.

“Smilen” Sam Alvey came through with a thrilling “bottom of the ninth” knockout win over Jason South with four seconds remaining in the final round to claim the MFC middleweight title.

Anthony Hamilton notched his fifth straight win while handing Smealinho “The Prince” Rama the first loss of his MMA career in destructive head kick KO fashion en route to becoming the MFC heavyweight champion.

Anthony Birchak showcased his well-rounded skillset in the show’s main event to secure a rear naked choke submission win over Tito Jones in the 2^nd round and become the first bantamweight champion in MFC history.

Becoming a champion in the MFC gives you a new level of recognition in the MMA world, a significant bump in world rank, and many new professional opportunities.  Reaching this level is a momentous milestone in the career of a fighter and one can only imagine the sacrifice those who reach that milestone have to make along their respective paths.  Here is what the new divisional kings had to say about their experiences and their new positions as champions.

SAM ALVEY
On being the champ:The MFC is one of only two or three world-class MMA organizations and to be a champion of that caliber means that for the rest of my life I will be able to tell my children, to tell my neighbors, to tell my friends that I was one of the best in the world.  That really means a lot to me.

On his fight with Jason South:I felt the fight with Jason South was a great fight.  I really got to go to war with someone who deserved to be there.  It was a very tough fight.  His conditioning and his skillset were definitely in their prime and I was blessed to come away with the knockout late in the 5^th round.

On his future in the MFC:I’m looking forward to making my name in MFC history.  I want to be the champion they have that people want to come and see.  I want my place in the MFC to be in the history books for a long time.

ANTHONY HAMILTONOn being the champ:Being MFC Champion is a dream come true.  The MFC is one the biggest and most respected MMA organizations in the world and to be their champion is a blessing and an honor.  When I first got into MMA, I remember always hearing about their past champions... and I can recall thinking how awesome it would be to reach the level of those guys.  Now I'm here and the feeling and experience has been amazing.

On his future in the MFC:Mark Pavelich and his family have built the MFC into something phenomenal.  I'm excited to see what they have planned next and can’t wait to get back in there and defend the title.

ANTHONY BIRCHAKOn perseverance:
With all the tremendous adversity and small things that got in my way, the belt is almost more amazing to me.  I had every reason to pull out of the fight and not go through with it.  I had every reason to give up on my dream and just deal with all the bullshit that life has thrown at me.  Through all the pain and suffering and life that managed to get in the way, I persevered and finished the race.

Yeah, my belt is shiny and the leather is smooth and new, but it came as the result of a tremendous amount of struggle that I as a man had to sort out myself.  Yes, I had support and a helping hand around every corner, don't get me wrong, but we we’re born alone, we fight alone and we die alone.  This title was something that I by myself had to want more than anything else and strive to capture!

You can always catch The Maximum Fighting Championships on AXSTV Your Home For MMA. MFC is the longest running show on AXSTV's AXSTV Fights and is the number one brand of MMA in Canada and one of the most exciting Mixed Martial Arts shows in the World.  

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MFC 38 weigh-in results

All three title fights are locked down for the Maximum Fighting Championship's MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines taking place Friday night live on AXS TV Fights.

The official weigh-in was held Thursday afternoon at the Sutton Place Hotel, and the six fighters competing in the title fights were perfect on the scale.

The MFC's inaugural bantamweight title will take place with Tito Jones (10-6) taking on Anthony Birchak (10-1). Jones weighed in at 134.6 pounds while Birchak stepped off the scale at 134.8. The MFC middleweight title pits Jason South (10-0) against Sam Alvey (20-5), and both fighters comfortably hit their target - South at 184.2 and Alvey at 184.0.

In the MFC heavyweight title bout, Anthony Hamilton (10-2) matches up against Smealinho Rama (6-0). Hamilton came in just under the limit at 264.6, while Rama hit the scale at 250.6.

MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines will be held at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, with the prelims airing live on the Maximum Fighting's Facebook page starting at 8:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. MT/5:15 p.m. PT. The main card airs live on AXS TV Fights beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT.

MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines

Official Weigh-In Results

MFC Bantamweight Title

Tito Jones - 134.6

Anthony Birchak - 134.8

MFC Middleweight Title

Jason South - 184.2

Sam Alvey - 184.0

MFC Heavyweight Title

Anthony Hamilton - 264.6

Smealinho Rama - 250.6

Lightweight Title Eliminator

Jonatas Novaes - 155.6

Kurt Southern - 155.8

Middleweight

Teddy Ash - 185.4

Jared McComb - 184.6

Lightweight

Aaron Gallant - 157.4*

Matt Jelly - 155.2

Bantamweight

Daniel Mark - 135.4

Corey Gower - 135.2

Lightweight

Adam Wayne - 155.6

Garret Nybakken - 156.0

Middleweight

Nick Campbell - 185.4

Cody Krahn - 184.4

Light-Heavyweight

Paul Gerbinski - 205.2

Sheldon Adamson - 203.8

*Gallant missed weight and forfeits 20% of his purse

Maximum Fighting's Jonatas Novaes ready for War MFC 38 OCT 4

MFC Staff Kim Love

Lightweight Jonatas “Peixe Frito” Novaes is continuing forward in his pro fighting career with confidence as he prepares for his upcoming October 4^th fight against Kurt Southern. His confidence comes from within as he awaits his fight against an opponent that he’s squashed once before.  That’s right, this fight happened once already as Novaes took Southern down with a submission in the form of an arm bar. For Novaes the second fight has already been fought and won in his head.  It’s going to be easy for him, “I could do this fight tomorrow with no effort, that’s how ready I am,” stated Novaes.  Training at Counterstrike MMA, Top Notch MMA and Team Brasa, Novaes has been practicing jiu-jitsu, Maui Tai and conditioning with a strong team behind him strengthening and him that much more for his fight.

Novaes is not happy about having to fight Southern again. He was expecting a better fight when he was told he would need to fight Southern again in order to get the title match he’s been waiting for set in February.  He wants this fight with Southern to be the title match he deserves. This is his job however and he knows he just needs to let that go and just go to work.  When asked why he thinks this fight will be another cake walk for him he gives me a sneak peek into how his brain works. Although Southern undoubtedly is a tough guy, he is very limited in what he can do in the ring. Novaes wants to prove to everyone that Southerndoes not deserve to be in the ring fighting him for the second time. He had his chance and lost. “I know I’m gonna win this fight!”

He’s ready for whatever is going to be thrown his way, stand-up or take down, it doesn’t matter. Novaes has already proven to the world that he’s not just a jiu-jitsu guy. He’s not all about one thing. “If you take me to the ground you’re gonna make it easy on me.  Want to fight stand-up? I’m gonna be trouble.”  As a fighter Novaes always puts on a good show, “Whether Jonatas is behind or ahead on the scorecards he has a very exciting and unorthodox game, combined with a dynamic personality.  As everyone saw in his last performance he can take a hit, fall behind on the scorecard, keep a smile on, and still pull off the submission of the night,” said Rick Mataleon, Novaes’ manager.

Novaes is one passionate fighter and his confidence is awe inspiring. That’s the guy you want to see up there in front of the masses, the guy that says there is no way you are beating me tonight. Where does the passion and drive to be the best come from? He loves fighting and he feeds off the pain, sweat and blood that are all part of the mechanism of a pro fighter. This isn’t about money. This is about striving to be recognized as being one of the best fighters this world has seen. “The feeling I get from being up there. I want to be the biggest in the world.” Do you doubt him?

ON SALE NOW #MFC38 Behind Enemy Lines Live Friday October 4.2013 from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton Alberta Canada #1 undisputed #MMA event in the country. Get your Tickets Now This event will Sell Out.http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004AEFDBB3B37A?SREF=TWEvent

Fan voting will determine MFC 38 main event

Twitter & Facebook tallies decide between three title fights

The Maximum Fighting Championship has always taken great pride in being a organization that listens to its devoted fans. And now, the MFC is taking things one giant step further.

With MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines boasting three title fights in one night - a first in MFC history - the Maximum Fighting Championship is going to let the fans decide which of the three bouts will be the true main event of the evening.

"It's not an easy thing deciding which title fight deserves to be the final fight of the night so why not let the fans pick who they want to see," said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

"I'm very excited to see which fight the fans will decide on being the most deserving of the three. We've all heard of 'Rock the Vote.' Well this is 'Punch the Vote!''

The three title fights at MFC 38 are:

Heavyweight Title - Anthony Hamilton vs. Smealinho Rama

Middleweight Title - Jason South vs. Sam Alvey

Bantamweight Title - Tito Jones vs. Anthony Birchak

It's a simple process for voting which will be conducted via Twitter (www.twitter.com/@maximumfighting) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/MaximumFighting).

* Votes on Twitter must include the hashtags #THEMFC, #MFC38 plus a hashtag and weight class for your pick - #HEAVYWEIGHT, #MIDDLEWEIGHT or #BANTAMWEIGHT. Votes must have #THEMFC, #MFC38 and the hashtag of your pick to be considered.

* For voting on Facebook, go to the Maximum Fighting page, click 'Join' and then click 'Like' under the poster for the fight you are selecting. All three title fights have their own individual poster, just keep scrolling till you find it as they move down the news feed as more postings go up.

The fight with the combined most tweets and likes will receive top billing and be the final fight at MFC 38 live on AXS TV Fights on Friday, October 4 from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The runner-up fight will be the second title bout, and the fight with the third-most votes will be the first of the title matchups.

Voting begins on Tuesday, August 20 and run through till midnight on Friday, September 20.

Tickets for MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Title triple threat set for MFC 38; Heavyweight, middleweight & bantamweight belts at stake Behind Enemy Lines

MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines will now be one of the most historic nights ever in the Maximum Fighting Championship.
 

For the first time in the 13-year run of the Maximum Fighting Championship, there will be three MFC titles at stake in one night when the spotlight hits the ring on Friday, October 4 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and live on AXS TV Fights.
 

The MFC's heavyweight belt will be on the line when two behemoths collide. Undefeated rising star Smealinho "The Prince" Rama is set to battle Anthony "Freight Train" Hamilton in what should be the most devastating matchup ever in the MFC's heavyweight division. 
 

Also freshly added to the action-packed lineup is a showdown for the MFC middleweight crown as fan favorite "Smilen" Sam Alvey tangles with debuting submission sensation Jason "The Mover" South.

 
The title trifecta is completed by the previously announced MFC bantamweight title fight pitting Anthony Birchak against Tito Jones. MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines airs live on AXS TV Fights beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m.MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

"I am ecstatic that we could put together three title fights for the first time in MFC history," said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship. 

"To have these fighters compete for MFC belts all in one night is something we're particularly proud of. The matchups are outstanding and without a doubt three deserving fighters will leave as champions.

 
"Our fans wanted title fights and we're giving them the very best the Maximum Fighting Championship has to offer."
 

Rama (6-0) is one of the hottest young stars in all of mixed martial arts. In 2012, he claimed the MFC's Submission of the Year for his victory over Ryan Fortin, and went on to be named Fight Matrix's Rookie of the Year. Rama (Twitter: @smealinhorama), who fights out of Calgary, Alberta, is ranked #35 in the world by Fight Matrix, and is coming off a devastating first-round knockout win over Mike Hackert at MFC 36. The ultra-talented 21-year-old has won all six of his bouts inside the opening round with none of them reaching the four-minute mark. 

 
Newly signed Hamilton (9-2) makes his MFC debut having won three straight bouts highlighted by knockouts coming just seven and 38 seconds in two of those fights. The heavy-handed former college wrestler and football player is originally from Redmond, Washington, and now fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hamilton boasts a total of four career knockouts and one submission victory.

 
For Alvey (20-5), this will be his second crack at the MFC middleweight title after falling just short in a razor-thin decision loss to Elvis Mutapcic at MFC 36. The Murrieta, California, product rebounded quickly as he clubbed down Jay Silva for a third-round TKO win at MFC 37. Alvey (Twitter: @smilensam) is ranked #52 in Fight Matrix's middleweight standings, and boasts 12 knockouts and two submissions on his career log. The popular former reality show standout is married to former America's Next Top Model winner McKey Sullivan.

South (10-0), a submission savant hailing from West Jordan, Utah, enters the MFC's middleweight title picture on a tremendous role having registered nine wins via tapout including five inside in the opening round. South (Twitter: @jasonksouth) sports notable career victories over Kacey Uscola and Phil Dace.
 

"Six of the very best fighters the Maximum Fighting Championship has to offer competing for three world titles," added Pavelich. "I couldn't have asked for a better lineup, and I guarantee that the fans won't be disappointed one bit. These are the types of fighters that should be challenging for MFC titles - guys who come to fight."

Three more bouts will be named shortly to the MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines main card airing on AXS TV Fights. A full undercard lineup, which will be shown live on the MFC Facebook page, will also be announced in the near future.

 
Tickets for MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca with exclusive seating also available by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Birchak to face Jones for MFC bantamweight crown

'Power of Pink' initiative returns for MFC 38 on Oct. 4

The Maximum Fighting Championship, a worldwide leader in mixed martial arts, is excited to announce one of the two title fights that will be decided at MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines taking place on Friday, October 4.

Holding co-main event status, the inaugural MFC bantamweight title fight will take place pitting rising star Anthony Birchak against accomplished veteran Tito Jones. The crowning of the MFC's first 135-pound division champ headlines an action-packed night airing live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, with the televised card getting under way at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

"Anthony's performance at MFC 37 was without a doubt one of the fiercest and most entertaining showcases I've ever seen," said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

"I'm incredibly excited to be putting Anthony in a title fight and equally as excited to see Tito Jones go after the belt. Tito didn't hesitate for one second to go face-to-face against Birchak and that tells me he's going to bring the fight right to him which is what the fans of the MFC love."

Birchak (10-1) is riding high coming off his thrilling decision over Ryan Benoit at MFC 37 - a fight that will certainly be a contender for the MFC's 2013 Fight of the Year. Birchak (Twitter: @abirchakmma) has won four straight fights and boasts three knockouts and five submissions over his career. The 29-year-old Tucson, Arizona, product is ranked #79 in the world by FightMatrix.com.

Jones (10-6) has designs on making his MFC debut end with a championship as the 31-year-old brings a three-fight winning streak into the matchup which includes a 21-second knockout of Deven Jones. A former Arizona resident, Jones (Twitter: @TitoKidKO) now fights out of Sacramento, California, and holds three knockouts and one submission on his career ledger. Jones is ranked #101 by FightMatrix.com.

Being that MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines takes place in the month of October, the Maximum Fighting Championship will once again recognize breast cancer awareness and the brave individuals who are engaged in that fight.

The “Power of Pink” Initiative returns to the MFC after debuting last October at MFC 35. will take place on Friday, October 26 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The MFC will wrap the ring ropes in pink tape as opposed to the usual white, the MFC's pink ribbon logo will be on the ring mat, and fighters will sport pink tape on their gloves. MFC staff will also be wearing pink accessories such as neckties during fight night.

"Breast cancer awareness and the 'Power of Pink' is our way of acknowledging and supporting the most important fight of all," added Pavelich. "We are encouraging our fighters to show their support by wearing pink during their walkout and in the ring, as well as sporting pink on their sponsorship banners."

The main card of MFC 38 will also feature a co-headlining bout for the MFC heavyweight title plus four more fights featuring many of the Maximum Fighting Championship's top stars. Details on those fights will be released shortly.

Tickets for MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca with exclusive seating also available by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

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