Shane Campbell joins MFC ranks

'Shaolin' aiming for knockout impression in May 9^th debut at Crowned Kings

The Maximum Fighting Championship's newest addition promises to put on a show every time he leaps the top rope into the MFC ring.

And he doesn't want to wait for the first opportunity to prove himself so he's jumping into action right away with a spot on the MFC 40: Crowned Kings stacked lineup.

Shane "Shaolin" Campbell has signed a multi-fight agreement with the MFC and will debut in the organization live on AXS TV Fights on Friday, May 9 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. His opponent for the featured lightweight battle will be announced shortly.

"I want to get in there and bang it out. When I start KOing people, my title shot will come," said Campbell (8-2), who has won four of his last five outings.

"People love coming to see me fight because I'm so dynamic. I'm not afraid to do things like wild strikes but I also put my technique together. I can do things that most people can't. Fans expect to see a KO when I fight and that's 90% of the fans want to see. They want a huge KO and they're excited about seeing it happen.

"Every time I fight my fanbase grows all over the world."

Campbell joins a talent-rich MFC lightweight division. Along with Campbell, four of the top stars will be in action at MFC 40 as Tom Gallicchio faces Kurt Southern in a rematch for the title, and Marcus Edwards tangles with Aaron Gallant.

"Shane Campbell is the kind of fighter I love and the MFC fans love so it was perfect that unite," said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

"I want fighters who have a certain swagger and style, and I want guys who want finish their opponent and make an impressive statement. Shane is all of that and he is going to be a real threat in the MFC lightweight division."

Campbell is no stranger to fight fans in his adopted home town of Edmonton, but as a veteran of the K-1 scene, he has developed a following everywhere he's been. Under various kickboxing banners, Campbell, who is originally from Hamilton, Ontario, has fought in the United States, Netherlands, Hong Kong, China, and Belarus, and his 62-9 record is highlighted by a key win over notable Canadian fighter Trevor Smandich.

The 27-year-old (Twitter: @shaolinstylemma) feels this is the perfect time and situation under the MFC flag to raise his credentials and start his legacy in mixed martial arts.

"This is a beautiful time and opportunity to be a pioneer," said Campbell. "I've got this opportunity to do things people have never seen before. Something like the Teep kick to the face. I and lots of other people did that long before Anderson Silva did it but no one of his stature had ever done it.

"There are dozens of big things that I want to do. I want to be a trendsetter and this my time and the stage to do it."

For more information and interview requests, please contact:

Scott Zerr, Director of Media & Fighter Relations

Maximum Fighting Championship

MFC’s 2013 Year-End Awards The Zeddy for Knockout of the Year

Over the past several years, the Maximum Fighting Championship has developed its own holiday tradition right up there with turkey, spiked egg nog, and getting good ol' dad that bottle of Old Spice.

With the year-end fast-approaching, it’s time for our gift to fighters and fans. It's the return of the Z-Files’ MFC Year-End Awards – unofficially dubbed The Zeddys.

Last year, the awards added a few new twists and those new honors return as tributes to individual fighters who make 2013 memorable in one way or another.

Last but certainly far from least, now is the time to declare the winner of 2013's Knockout of the Year recipients. Past winners of the MFC KO of the Year are Mukai Maromo, Adam Lynn, Pete Spratt, Tom Watson, and Aron Lofton.

The countdown begins with …

5. Smealinho Rama vs. Mike Hackert, MFC 36 – Two big boys on big rolls came into this fight, looking to cement the No. 1 contender spot in the MFC heavyweight division as well as officially be recognized as the top heavyweight in Canada. Hackert supposedly had the edge in striking prowess, but it was Rama who came through with heavy hands at the right time. A quick clip to the side of the head rattled Hackert and Rama pounced to finish the bout before taking his celebration to the fans in the front row.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ldxvMnDb-k

4. Wes Swofford vs. Jay Silva, MFC 36 – It’s very rare that a late replacement does much more than roll over for his opponent but Swofford was determined not to let that happen. He did hit the deck and look done like dinner thanks to a Silva head kick, but “Nile” wasn’t to be denied. With a standing elbow strike reminiscent of Adam Lynn’s 2012 KO of the Year, Swofford buckled Silva against the ropes and battered him until the referee was forced to jump in.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCXiOCSgwIg

3. Kurt Southern vs. Jonatas Novaes, MFC 38 – Still fuming over his loss to Novaes in their first encounter, Southern wasn’t about to let his Brazilian foe get a second chance at stealing a victory. Southern called his shot by proclaiming he’d nail Novaes with an overhand right, and he did just that in the late stage of Round 1. Southern dropped Novaes and then rained down hammerfists to bring things to a sudden halt – an ending that also secured him a lightweight title shot at MFC 39.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbnpIv0uNmg

2. Aaron Gallant vs. Matt Jelly, MFC 38 – Gallant had not seen the inside of the MFC ring in over a decade. Ten years of waiting turned into just seven seconds of action. A left hook, right cross, and a right uppercut in lightning-quick succession ended the fight with Jelly dropping to the canvas without ever realizing what had just taken place (watch the video to see the startled reaction on Jelly’s face). “Gorilla” set a new MFC record for fastest knockout and would surely have won the Knockout of the Night and the Year had something even more spectacular not taken place about two hours later.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja_Nj_Lxt18

And the winner of the 2013 MFC Knockout of the Year is ...

1. Anthony Hamilton vs. Smealinho Rama, MFC 38 – For the first time in more than six years, the rejuvenated MFC heavyweight division would crown a new champion, and it came down to the surging veteran against the undefeated rising star. After a competitively grinding first round, Hamilton went to his corner and received a valuable piece of advice. Twelve seconds into Round 2, he executed the most potent high kick ever seen in the MFC. Hyperbole aside, it absolutely looked like Rama had been shot by a high-powered rifle as he flailed wildly and crashed to the canvas. With that spectacular finish, Hamilton had captured the MFC heavyweight title, the Knockout of the Night, and without a shadow of a doubt, the Knockout of the Year.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgIcoayZf9U

Fighter of the Year: Anthony Birchak – Two of the best performances of the year. A litany of top-notch interviews and a sparkling social media presence. A spotlight in Fighters Only. And a captivating moment highlighted by Sports Illustrated. The Year 2013 belonged to Anthony Birchak, who became the MFC’s inaugural bantamweight champion. All of the accolades came during a year that saw numerous pressures put on Birchak’s shoulders including a new baby boy and the loss of a long-time friend. “Wait till you see me perform without all of these life issues weighing on me,” said Birchak. That should be something to behold.

Prospect of the Year: Kurt Southern – Is it hard to say someone is a prospect with 17 fights already under his belt. To some, perhaps, but when you look at it, Southern had gone the vast majority of those fights unheralded and mostly unheard of. Now after three excellent outings in the MFC, Southern is being recognized for the truly massive talent he is. A title shot awaits the best thing out of Saskatchewan since The Sheepdogs.

Kenny Rice ‘Blast from the Past’ Award: Great moments should never be forgotten, and this new award goes to a treasured time in MFC history.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSucz-22Rfg

O’Connell to clash with Valimaki at MFC 39

Degenhardt/Chiappe, Gallant/Boyle matchups added to No Remorse roster

The Maximum Fighting Championship is excited to announce three more main card matchups for the upcoming MFC 39: No Remorse taking place on Friday, January 17 in Edmonton, Alberta, and live on AXS TV Fights.

Former MFC world light-heavyweight champion Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki returns to where his career took off, and now has opponent in the form Sean O’Connell #52 in the World Rankings, who enters the Maximum Fighting Championship riding a five-fight winning streak that includes his most-recent victory over big-name veteran Marvin Eastman.

Also added to the lineup for MFC 39 is a middleweight showdown pitting talented striker Chase Degenhardt against hard-throwing brawler “Ruthless” Ryan Chiappe, plus a battle been two explosive lightweights as Aaron “Gorilla” Gallant meets Derek “The Gargoyle” Boyle. Both of these fights have been agreed to in principle.

“The anticipation level for the return of Victor Valimaki to the MFC is even greater than I thought it could be,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. “I think people truly believe in Victor and they want to see him succeed. However, he’s going to have his hands full in Sean O’Connell.”

All three fights will take place on the main card of MFC 39, and are added to a lineup that includes the MFC world lightweight title fight between Kurt “The Hurt” Southern and Tom “Da Tank” Gallicchio along with the welterweight clash of Gilbert Smith against Jason “The Mover” South. A co-headlining title fight will be added shortly. The MFC’s first show of 2014 will be held at the Northlands Expo Centre.

Valimaki (17-8), who will have the home-town advantage of fighting in Edmonton, returns to the MFC ring for the first time since 2007 and a little more than six years since claiming the organization’s 205-pound division crown with a submission win against Jason Day. In O’Connell (14-4), who agreed to a multi-fight deal, Valimaki faces a fighter on a tremendous hot streak and a holder of seven victories by way of knockout. The Salt Lake City, Utah, product, who stands six-foot-two, also has two wins via submission.

Degenhardt (8-3) will look to build on a streak of two straight wins that includes a second-round stoppage at MFC 35. The Edmonton, Alberta, native will have a sizeable height advantage as he stands six-foot-four compared to Chiappe at five-foot-10. But the powerfully built Chiappe (10-8), who fights out of Vancouver, B.C., is a dangerous foe who boasts eight knockouts amongst his 10 victories. Chiappe will be in search of his first victory under the Maximum Fighting Championship after falling short in a spirited tussle at MFC 31.

The AXS TV Fights card will open with a bang as Gallant (6-5), who fights out of Calgary, Alberta, takes on Boyle (10-6) of Lethbridge, Alberta, in a clash of two fighters who have been known to put their opponents away quickly.

Gallant’s current four-fight winning streak is highlighted by a defining moment at MFC 38 when he put together an amazing, record-setting knockout of just seven seconds against Matt Jelly. Meanwhile, Boyle is no stranger to a tidy finish as his last outing under the MFC banner lasted only 20 seconds before he put a stamp on a win over Dan Ring.

Tickets for MFC 39: No Remorse are on sale now via the MFC Ticket Hotline by calling (780) 504-2024 with more tickets available atwww.ticketmaster.ca December 4. 2013 10:00 am