(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Maximum Fighting Championship will introduce the key competitors in the stacked lineup for its most power-packed fight cards ever as the organization invites the media to attend the official press conference for MFC 22: Payoff.
MFC 22: Payoff is set for Friday, October 2 inside The Venue at River Cree and it will mark the 15th consecutive sold-out show for the Maximum Fighting Championship - a clear-cut frontrunner in the North American mixed martial arts scene. The event will be broadcast live on HDNet Fights throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The main event at MFC 22 will see home-grown superstar Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald (21-12) return to the MFC for one of the biggest fights of his career as he takes on reality show champion Travis “The Serial Killer” Lutter (9-5).
MacDonald, who fights out of Edmonton, Alberta, was the original MFC fan favorite and he remains one of the most popular figures in the sport. A dedicated athlete, MacDonald has fought a who’s who of the world’s best middleweights and has earned hard-fought victories over such notables as Ed Herman, Chris Leben, Jason Lambert, and Joe Doerksen.
Lutter is an accomplished veteran with world-class jiu-jitsu skills. The Dallas, Texas, product captured the championship of the reality show with a stunning victory over former MFC middleweight champion Patrick Cote. Lutter has faced a number of significant names in MMA including current MFC light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley, Marvin Eastman, Rich Franklin and Anderson Silva.
In the co-main event, the MFC lightweight title will be up for grabs as Antonio “Mandingo” McKee defends the belt for the first time when he faces Brazilian star Carlo Prater.
McKee (22-3-2) has been a dynamic force since a move down from welterweight to lightweight and the Lakewood, California, product has not lost a fight in over three years. He claimed the MFC’s 155-pound crown at MFC 20 with a unanimous decision win over Derrick Noble. Prater (24-6-1) has won three of his last four fights and has defeated such notable names as Carlos Condit, Spencer Fisher, and Melvin Guillard.
Two light heavyweight and two welterweights also highlight the main card.
Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo (10-1) who has recently relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, will put his 10-fight winning streak on the line when he takes on hard-hitting veteran Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman (16-10) in one of the featured light heavyweight tussles. In the other matchups of top 205-pounders, Tulsa, Oklahoma’s David Heath (12-5) will look for a fourth win in his last five fights as he goes up against former reality show participant and 2005 Pan-American jiu-jitsu champion Mike Nickels (7-2) of Denver, Colorado.
In welterweight action, two top contenders will go into battle as Luigi Fioravanti (15-5) tangles with John “The Natural” Alessio (25-13). Fioravanti, a former U.S. Marine who hails from Orlando, Florida, has eight knockouts amongst his wins while Alessio is coming off a destructive victory over Andrew Buckland at MFC 21. Alessio, one of the MFC’s biggest crowd favorites, is originally from Duncan, B.C., and now trains alongside mixed martial arts legend Randy Couture at Extreme Couture in Las Vegas.
Also in a showdown of 170-pounders, longtime knockout artist Pete “The Secret Weapon” Spratt (19-15) goes up against fast-rising newcomer Nathan Gunn (7-0) of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
A total of 10 fights are slated for MFC 22: Payoff card. The undercard for MFC will be announced shortly.
Schedule of Events for MFC 22: Payoff
*Press Conference*
Monday, September 28
3 p.m. Centre Bar – River Cree Resort and Casino
Speakers will include:
• Mark Pavelich - Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President
• Jason MacDonald – Hometown mixed martial arts superstar
• Travis Lutter – Middleweight superfight participant
• Antonio McKee – Defending MFC lightweight champion
• Carlo Prater – Lightweight title contender
• Ryan Jimmo – Light heavyweight top prospect
*Weigh-In*
Thursday, October 1
6 p.m.
Centre Bar – River Cree Resort and Casino
*Fight Night*
Friday, October 2
6 p.m.
The Venue – River Cree Resort and Casino
Doors open at 6 p.m. with undercard bouts starting at 6:15 p.m. The televised card begins at 8 p.m.