Stacked Lineup for MFC 26:Official fight card featuring co-main events released for Retribution

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | No Comments

For Immediate Release

A power-packed lineup of talented fighters including many of the Maximum Fighting Championship’s biggest names is set for action at the highly anticipated MFC 26: Retribution.

This is the formal announcement of the final card for the event slated on Friday, Sept. 10 at the River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta.

Before the live crowd and the millions watching throughout North America on HDNet Fights, MFC 26: Retribution will be one of the most action-filled events in the history of the Maximum Fighting Championship. The event begins at 6:15 p.m. MT with the televised main card starting at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for HDNet channel designation).

MFC 26: Retribution will feature two high-impact bouts that will share co-main event status. In the night’s finale, homegrown MFC standout Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford (12-2), a two-time challenger for MFC welterweight championship, returns on his quest for championship gold as he takes on American Top Team star Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (14-4).

Ford, an Edmonton, Alberta product, has built up a massive fan following thanks to his aggressive style and he will be out to extend his current four-fight winning streak. Lima, a native of Brazil now fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, is a submission specialist who is eyeing a shot at the MFC crown.

In the night’s other co-main event, legendary veteran Antonio “Mandingo” McKee (23-3-2) not only puts his MFC lightweight title on the line but also his very career when he takes on Brazilian talent Luciano Azevedo (16-8), the only man to hold a win over pound-for-pound top-10 fighter Jose Aldo.

McKee, who fights out of Lakewood, California, has not been defeated in seven years, but stated clearly that he will retire from competition should he not finish Azevedo inside the five-round distance. Azevedo, a native of Rio de Janeiro, has taken to the challenge and vowed to end McKee’s career and secure the title around his own waist.

The remainder of the televised card is stacked with the MFC’s finest including a pair of middleweight bouts that promise to be explosively entertaining.

First up, brash British striker Tom “Kong” Watson (12-3) takes on hard-charging American wrestler Jesse “JT Money” Taylor (15-6) in a true matchup of clashing styles. Watson, who hails from Southampton, England, made a dynamic organizational debut scoring a first-round, head-kick knockout of Travis Galbraith at MFC 24, and he wants to follow that up with a win that will assure him a title shot. Taylor, who fights out of Murietta, California, is looking to get back to winning ways following his submission loss to Thales Leites at MFC 25, and the former reality show standout is determined to leave his mark on Watson.

In the other middleweight clash, two rugged customers will meet head-to-head as “King” Solomon Hutcherson (11-6) takes on David Heath (15-6). Hutcherson, who fights out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has made a name for himself with MFC fans for his never-say-die attitude, and the former reality show contender is eager to prove his worth. Heath, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma who will be making his first venture into the 185-pound ranks, is always ready for battle and was a co-recipient of the MFC Fight of the Year for 2009.

A light heavyweight matchup is also featured on the main card as ultra-popular Fort McMurray, Alberta, native Dwayne Lewis (11-5) matches up against Mike Nickels (8-3) of Denver, Colorado. The heavy-handed Lewis is on the cusp of big things in the MFC’s 205-pound division but needs to return to the formula that earned him a seven-fight winning streak prior to a unanimous decision loss to former light heavyweight champ Emanuel Newton at MFC 25. Nickels, a jiu-jitsu expert who has no problems standing toe-to-toe with his foes, was a co-recipient of the MFC Fight of the Year for 2009 and is eager to strut his stuff again.

Opening the HDNet Fights televised card is a showdown of lightweights pitting Curtis “The Demon” Demarce (10-7) against undefeated rising star Tyson “The Man Of” Steele (6-0). Both fighters are making their organizational debuts and hoping to leave a strong first impression on the big stage.

The MFC 26: Retribution undercard features a number of up-and-coming fighters in the following bouts:

Middleweight – Steve Fader (2-1) Calgary, Alberta vs. Ford Robertson (2-0) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Light Heavyweight – Adam Rabidoux (1-1) Edmonton, Alberta vs. Taylor Bull (2-2), Hobbema, Alberta

Catchweight – Ryan Ballingall (3-3) Nanaimo, B.C. vs. Aaron Berke (4-2) Kamloops, B.C.

Lightweight – Theo Brisley (3-2) Nanaimo, B.C. vs. Chad Freeman (5-3) Kamloops, B.C.

Tickets for MFC 26: Retribution are going fast and are available via the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 and through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone (780) 451-8000 and www.ticketmaster.ca.