Jimmo to face Lewis for MFC crown

Showdown.ca

The Maximum Fighting Championship has signed an explosive and heavy-hitting title fight as the main event for its first card of 2011 – MFC 28: Supremacy.

In a rare All-Canadian matchup, Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo (13-1) and Dwayne “D-Bomb” Lewis (13-6) will square-off for the vacant MFC world light heavyweight title. Final details on the event’s location and date will be released shortly.

The main card, which will be capped off with the title fight, will be shown live on HDNet Fights throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The showdown between Jimmo, ranked No. 1 in Canada and Top 30 worldwide, and Lewis, ranked No. 2 in Canada and Top 50 worldwide, follows in the path of the most-recent MFC title bout pitting Douglas Lima against Jesse Juarez.

The Jimmo/Lewis clash is a title fight set between two of the MFC’s biggest names and two of its very own home-grown products. Jimmo has fought eight times under the MFC banner, while Lewis leads all competitors with 13 fights in the MFC ring.

“The fans want to see these two settle the issue of who is the best light heavyweight in the MFC, so this is it. It’s time to make it happen,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“Both fighters deserve the opportunity. Ryan is on an incredible streak, and I made a promise to Dwayne that he would get his shot if he won his last two fights. Now it’s up to them to prove which one of them deserves to wear the championship belt.

“I know they respect each other immensely, but all that has to be pushed to the side now. The time for handshaking, and hugging, and pleasantries is over and done with. This is about which one of them truly wants it more. This is about a title, and in the MFC, you better be ready come fight night because your opponent sure will be.”

Jimmo, who is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, is riding one of the most-impressive winning streaks in all of mixed martial arts. Since a loss in his professional debut, Jimmo has won 13 straight fights, including a three-round decision over Lewis at MFC Unplugged 3 in April 2007.

During that winning streak, Jimmo has compiled five wins by knockout and two via submission, with notable victories coming against Jesse Forbes, Marvin Eastman, and former MFC light heavyweight champ Emanuel Newton. Jimmo last took to the MFC ring at MFC 25 in May 2010, and delivered the best performance of his career has he handed Wilson Gouveia a dramatically one-sided defeat.

Lewis, one of the MFC’s most-popular fighters, is on a tremendous run of his own, having won nine of his last 10 fights. The Fort McMurray, Alberta, product is coming off back-to-back victories over Razak Al-Hassan (split decision at MFC 27) and Mike Nickels (TKO at MFC 26).

While ascending to the top of the contenders’ list, Lewis raised his career knockout total to eight with stoppages of Ryan McClain (second-round TKO at MFC 24) and Marvin Eastman (first-round KO at MFC 23). His only defeat during that run was a decision loss to Newton at MFC 25.

Ticket information for MFC 28: Supremacy will be detailed in the very near future. VIP, Row 1 and Row 2 tickets are available now by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

History of the MFC light heavyweight belt:

Victor Valimaki def. Jason Day – tapout via rear-naked choke, 2:15 Round 1, MFC 10

Roger Hollett def. Victor Valimaki – tapout via strikes, 2:06 Round 1, MFC 13

Emanuel Newton def. Roger Hollett – unanimous decision, 5:00 Round 5, MFC 19

Trevor Prangley def. Emanuel Newton – unanimous decision, 5:00 Round 5, MFC 21