MFC 39: No Remorse - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

Southern vs. Gallicchio, South vs. Smith Set for MFC 39 on Jan. 17


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.

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.

[keithlewis]

O'Connell vs. Valimaki Set for MFC 39: No Remorse on Jan. 17


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.

[keithlewis]

Hamilton vs. Schoonover Set for MFC 39: 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.