THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Maximum Fighting Championship is headed east to Ontario.
"MFC 29: Conquer" is scheduled for April 8 at Caesars Windsor, the first Ontario showcase for the Edmonton-based fight organization.
"They’ll be two brands of MMA that become very successful in Ontario, two brands — Maximum Fighting Championship and the UFC," said MFC president Mark Pavelich. "That’s it."
The Windsor mixed martial arts show is being promoted by S.L. Feldman and Associates, using MFC talent.
"Beyond big," was Pavelich’s reaction to bringing the MFC to Ontario and working with SLFA, whose roster ranges from Michael Buble to the Tragically Hip.
"It’s incredible, overwhelming," added Pavelich, who grew up in Windsor.
The Ontario card will feature MFC welterweight champion Douglas (The Phenom) Lima, who will make the first defence of his title against an as yet unannounced opponent.
The show will also feature a matchup of former UFC fighters in light-heavyweights David (The Headhunter) Heath and Marvin (The Beastman) Eastman.
Also expected on the card are undefeated welterweight Andreas (The Sweet Swede) Spang and two local fighters: featherweight Chucky (The Energiza Bunny) Mady and unbeaten light-heavyweight Ali (The Monster) Mokdad.
The MFC currently stages its Alberta cards at the River Cree Casino & Resort in suburban Enoch. "MFC 28: Supremacy" is slated for Friday and has sold out.
The promoter looked to stage a show in Brandon, Man., last year but eventually pulled it back to Enoch.
Pavelich said he will focus on Windsor for Ontario shows for the time being and will continue to stage shows in Alberta in the near future.
The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor has a capacity of some 5,000, about double the MFC’s existing capacity in Enoch.
MFC shows are televised by HDNet.
Tickets for the event will go on sale March 12, starting at $65.
Since the provincial government agreed to sanction MMA in Ontario as of Jan. 1, Ontario has attracted a 55,000 sellout for UFC 129 in April at Toronto’s Rogers Centre and shows planned by smaller promoters for London, Sudbury and Casino Rama in Orillia.
