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

#PunchTheVote returns for three title fights at MFC 40

Fan voting will determine Crowned Kings main event

For the second time in the history of the Maximum Fighting Championship, fans will get to pick the true main event of fight card featuring three title bouts.

The MFC's #PunchTheVote campaign launches on Tuesday, March 4 and will run till 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 2, allowing fans to register their pick between three title fights with the top vote-getter receiving main-event billing at MFC 40: Crowned Kings on Friday, May 9.

Airing live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, MFC 40 boasts a trio of main-event worthy bouts, all with MFC championship belts on the line including the first defense by bantamweight champion Anthony Birchak, who won the inaugural #PunchTheVote campaign at MFC 38.

"The MFC continues to be a front-runner when it comes to creativity, and #PunchTheVote was such a huge success that we had to bring it back," said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

"We love getting the fans involved because we are one of the only organizations in any sport that truly values the opinions of its fans. The fans have been incredibly loyal to the MFC and this is one way we can pay them back. It is our responsibility to bring the fans great fights and we want the fans' perspective on who deserves to be the main event."

The three fights MFC fans will get to vote for are:

MFC bantamweight title - Anthony Birchak (11-1) vs. Kevin Croom (14-4)

*Birchak won the title at MFC 38 and was part of Sports Illustrated 2013 Photos of the Year. Croom enters the MFC on a nine-fight winning streak including seven first-round finishes.

MFC lightweight title - Kurt Southern (13-5) vs. Tom Gallicchio (18-8)

*This is a much-anticipated rematch following their fight at MFC 39 that Gallicchio won via second-round submission. The two have combined for 19 submission victories.

MFC middleweight title - Sam Alvey (21-5) vs. Wes Swofford (9-4)

*Alvey, who has won four of his last five fights, makes the first title defense of his title he won at MFC 38 with a fifth-round TKO. Swofford boasts seven first-round wins - six of those coming by knockout.

Fan voting via Twitter

MFC's Twitter page (@maximumfighting) - vote must contain all three hashtags to qualify including the championship fight you want to see as the main event.

#THEMFC #MFC40 #Bantamweight

#THEMFC #MFC40 #Lightweight

#THEMFC #MFC40 #Middleweight

Fan voting via Facebook

MFC's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/MaximumFighting/)

Click 'LIKE' on the graphic for your favored fight

The fight with the most votes (Twitter and Facebook combined) will be the final fight - the true main event - for MFC 40. The fight with the second-most votes will be the second-last fight, and the third-place fight will kick off the three straight title fights.

Tickets for MFC 40: Crowned Kings are available at www.ticketmaster.caand by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

Alvey to defend MFC middleweight gold against Swofford

'Smilen' Sam makes first defense title at Crowned Kings on May 9

The third title fight for the Maximum Fighting Championship's MFC 40: Crowned Kings card has been set with two potent strikers ready to square-off. 

"Smilen" Sam Alvey (21-5) will defend his MFC middleweight title against Wes "Nile" Swofford (9-4) at MFC 40 taking place on Friday, May 9 live on AXS TV Fights from the Shaw  Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The Alvey-Swofford matchup is packaged alongside two other title fights on the night as Anthony Birchak defends his bantamweight crown against "The Hard-Hitting Hillbilly" Kevin Croom, and Kurt "The Hurt" Southern and Tom "Da Tank" Gallicchio go head-to-head in their rematch for the lightweight belt.

"Alvey and Swofford match up so well stylistically that they're going to create an incredible fight. It has all the makings of being the wildest, craziest title fight in MFC history," said Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

"Sam has shown great resiliency and the ability to battle through a war. Wes is a very serious threat to Sam's title and he is ready to put everything he's got on the line to take his belt away. When both guys have knockout power and the desire to finish a fight, it can only mean great things for the fans in the seats at the Shaw Conference Centre and those watching live on AXS TV Fights."

Alvey (Twitter: @smilensam) captured the MFC middleweight title at MFC 38 with a dramatic fifth-round knockout over Jason South. The Temecula, California-based fighter is now ranked 53^rd in the world by Fight Matrix having won four of his last five fights including a third-round TKO of Jay Silva at MFC 37.

Alvey, who is married to America's Next Top Model cycle 11 winner McKey Sullivan, has earned 13 knockout victories and has been stopped only once during his six-year career.

Swofford (Twitter: @WesSwofford) has jumped to #92 in the Fight Matrix rankings as he has won six of his last eight fights highlighted by  a 41-second destruction of Jay Silva at MFC 36. That victory was one of five that Swofford, who fights out of Redding, California, has managed inside the first round.

MFC 40: Crowned Kings Main Card

Wes Swofford vs. Sam Alvey (c) - MFC middleweight title

Kevin Croom vs. Anthony Birchak (c) - MFC bantamweight title

Kurt Southern vs. Tom Gallicchio - MFC lightweight title

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

Jonatas Novaes vs. Andrew McInnes - lightweight

Aaron Gallant vs. Marcus Edwards - lightweight

A full lineup of preliminary matchups which will air live on the Maximum Fighting Championship's Facebook page will be unveiled shortly.

Tickets for MFC 40: Crowned Kings are on sale now via www.ticketmaster.ca and by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

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.

LW title fight & Smith-South showdown set for MFC 39

Southern vs. Gallicchio championship battle to co-headline No Remorse

The Maximum Fighting Championship is thrilled to announce two fights including the first of two title matchups that will headline MFC 39: No Remorse taking place on Friday, January 17.

The MFC’s first event of 2014 will air live on AXS TV Fights emanating from the Northlands Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check cable provider listings for channel designation).

Riding a wave of momentum and five victories in his last six fights, Kurt “The Hurt” Southern (13-4) will get his crack at the MFC world lightweight title when he squares off against Tom “Da Tank” Gallicchio (17-8). Current MFC lightweight champ Graham Spencer is out with injury for several more months and upon returning to action will go down to his natural featherweight division.

The other freshly announced fight sees former MFC middleweight title hopeful Jason “The Mover” South (10-1) go down to the welterweight ranks to welcome newcomer and former reality show standout Gilbert Jamal Smith (7-2) to the Maximum Fighting Championship.

“Right out of the gate for 2014, we’re going to continue our trend of bringing exciting fights to the fans of the Maximum Fighting Championship and AXS TV Fights,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“The MFC is on a tremendous roll right now as MFC 36, 37 and 38 were spectacular, and my whole organization is determined to keep it going. In fact, we’re determined to make it even better. I want fighters who are going impress and who aren’t afraid of big fights.

“I love the fact that Southern and Gallicchio will battle for the lightweight title, and I can’t wait to see Graham Spencer back in action and trying to become the first fighter in MFC history to win championships in two different weight classes. And I’m ecstatic to see the South-Smith showdown as we re-ignite the welterweight division.”

Southern has risen to stardom in the MFC with three impressive outings. Last time out at MFC 38, Southern erased the memory of his controversial submission loss to Jonatas Novaes when he blasted Novaes down and out for a first-round TKO in their hotly anticipated rematch. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, product also has a first-round submission under his belt in the MFC after he quickly dispatched Mukai Maromo at MFC 37.

Gallicchio, who is originally from Toms River, New Jersey, makes his MFC debut and a move to the lightweight division after a long stint at welterweight. Now fighting out of Murrieta, California, Gallicchio has won five of his last eight including a feature victory over Len Bentley.

South made a courageous attempt at claiming the MFC middleweight title at MFC 38, but suffered a stunning TKO loss to Sam Alvey, falling with just four seconds remaining in the fifth and final round. Before that setback, South, who hails from West Jordan, Utah, had gone undefeated and flexed his jiu-jitsu skills with nine submission victories.

Smith, a decorated former member of the United States Army, enters the MFC foray having won his last two fights. Fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Smith boasts five submission wins on his resume including two inside the first round.

Tickets for MFC 39 are on sale now at the MFC Ticket Hotline by calling(780) 504-2024 and will also be on sale via Ticketmaster shortly.

For more information and interview requests, please contact:

Scott Zerr, Director of Media & Fighter Relations

Maximum Fighting Championship

"Da Tank" plans on bringing his exciting style to the Maximum Fighting Championships

Nikolai Gionti, MFC Staff

The Maximum Fighting Championship newly signed Tom Gallicchio is looking to continue his winning ways as he enters the ring for Canada’s top MMA Promotion. Gallicchio, a native of Howell, New Jersey, enters the MFC with a record of 17-8.

He has been wrestling since he was a child and through high school, but after he had only received partial scholarships and could not afford to attend college, he decided to take the MMA route.

Gallicchio originally began training in New Jersey with the likes of Frankie Edgar and Kurt Pellegrino, but says that there was a rift in the camp and everyone went their own separate ways.

After leaving New Jersey, Gallicchio went searching for a new camp where he could have all of the tools he needed in one place. He no longer wanted to travel across the state work his boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling at different locations.

“I called and emailed every camp I could think of, but no one would respond. Finally, I remembered that Dan Henderson had a Team Quest gym in California. I called and they picked up immediately and I was out there in three or four days.”

Gallicchio has noticed the improvements in his game immediately.

“Dan has helped me with wrestling and grappling. Sam [Alvey, MFC middleweight champion] pushes me. It’s a great camp. Not just teammates, but coaches. It’s definitely quality over quantity.”

His biggest thanks may be directed at teammate Sam Alvey. The middleweight champion talked him up to the MFC and feels that it helped to eventual get him signed. Gallicchio is not content with just being in the MFC, but wants fighting to be a full time job.

“Training is always full time, but I gotta win to make this a full time thing. If you’re not in MFC winning, you can’t pay your bills.”

Gallicchio will bring his finishing style into the ring and knows that exciting fights are what President Mark Pavelich and the MFC are looking for.

“I fight. I fight standing. I fight on the ground. I do it all. I’m not a lay and prayer.” I push the pace and I just like to fight.”