Maximum Fighting Championship

Stacked Lineup for MFC 26

Official fight card featuring co-main events released for Retribution

September 10, 2010

 River Cree Resort and Casino

Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

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.

For more information, please contact: www.maximumfighting.com

- Press Release from the MFC

Subject to change

  (8/25/10)