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

Hamilton set for clash with Schoonover at No Remorse

Reigning Maximum Fighting Championship heavyweight title-holder Anthony "Freight Train" Hamilton will make the first title defense of his belt at MFC 39: No Remorse.

Hamilton (11-2) will defend his championship and look for a sixth straight victory when he takes on Darrill "The Boss" Schoonover (13-5) in the co-main event of the fight card set for Friday, January 17 live on AXS TV Fights from the Northlands Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

Hamilton captured the crown at MFC 38 with a ferocious head-kick knockout of Smealinho Rama - a highlight-reel finish that came only 12 seconds into Round 2. Schoonover, a former reality show standout, reality agreed to a multi-fight deal in the MFC and rides a three-fight winning streak into his organizational debut.

The heavyweight title fight will top the card alongside the MFC lightweight title fight pitting Kurt "The Hurt" Southern against Tom "Da Tank" Gallicchio.

"Anthony Hamilton had unquestionably one of the knockouts of the year anywhere in world and proved he was the right man to take the title," said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. "He has all the tools to be an absolutely dominant fighter, but he's got to get though a very eager and dangerous Darrill Schoonover to do it.

"Darrill has improved his game plan over the past year and most importantly solidified his conditioning - all of which makes him a huge threat to Hamilton's title."

Schoonover, who fights out of El Paso, Texas, has a notable career victory over Paul Buentello, and boasts seven knockouts along with three submission on his resume. The 28-year-old began his career with an impressive 10-0 start.

Hamilton (Twitter: @A_Hamilton_MMA_), who now fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, entered the MFC in grand fashion with in colossal victory over Rama back in October. That win was Hamilton's sixth via knockout and moved him to #47 in the world heavyweight rankings by Fight Matrix.com.

The Hamilton/Schoonoever matchup completes the main card lineup for MFC 39:

Anthony Hamilton (c) vs. Darrill Schoonover - MFC heavyweight title

Kurt Southern vs. Tom Gallicchio - MFC lightweight title

Sean O'Connell vs. Victor Valimaki - light-heavyweight

Gilbert Smith vs. Jason South - welterweight

Chase Degenhardt vs. Ryan Chiappe - middleweight

Aaron Gallant vs. Derek Boyle - lightweight

A full roster of preliminary fights which will air live on the MFC Facebook page will be announced shortly.

Tickets for MFC 39: No Remorse are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca as well as via the MFC Ticket Hotline by calling (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.  

Website:  http://www.MaximumFighting.com

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Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/MaximumFighting

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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

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.