It’s been a strange, strange, strange day for two former UFC fighters. Before today, former WEC Lightweight Champion and one-time UFC Lightweight Championship contender Hermes Franca had little in common with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez. However, today both men share the rather dubious similarity of having the news about their recent arrests hitting the internet on the same day. Both Franca and Rodriguez face some pretty serious charges that. Here are all the details. ...

Antonio McKee was undefeated in eight-years of competition heading into his UFC debut earlier this month. A touted wrestler with amazing athleticism, even at the ripe-old-age of 40, McKee was a well respected veteran that had started to turn the corner of a "boring", "predictable", lay-and-pray style of fighting, and rattled off back-to-back finishes before his inception into the worlds biggest mixed martial arts promotion. So what did Antonio do in his organizational debut? Everything that the UFC was worried that he would do, stall the clock and try to squeeze out a decision based on indecisiveness and in-ring incompetence. For his efforts, after losing a split-decision to Jacob Volkmann at UFC 125, he was released by the organization following his one-fight stint, however has returned to his familiar stomping grounds of the Maximum Fighting Championships. ...

In 25 wins, Antonio McKee has won 18 by decision. It would seem that for a while he would be labeled as a "boring" fighter. Not a whole lot of promotions wanted to chance having McKee, a dominant wrestler among their ranks. Why? Because in one stretch, dating back to 2003, McKee went on a 12-fight win streak--all by way of decision. ...

American Top Team's Wilson Gouveia (12-7) has inked a big return to mixed martial arts after being cut by the UFC following consecutive losses.  Monday he signed a multi-fight deal with Edmonton-based Maximum Fighting Championship and will fight Canadian star "Big Deal" Ryan Jimmo (8-1) at MFC 25: Vindication at the Winspear Centre/Enmax Hall in Edmonton April 9. ...

Few lightweight mixed martial artists have been where Yves Edwards (36-15-1) has been and are still strapping on four-ounce gloves.  Edwards has fought champions, and been written-off as washed up.  He's fought around the world and in most major MMA promotions since 1997.  And, now Edwards will ride a two-fight win streak into Maximum Fighting Championship in Edmonton February 26. Edwards TKO'd Kyle Jensen (36-11-2) at Raging Wolf V October 10 and tapped James Warfield (1-1) in a triangle choke at Shine 2 September 4, both intense performances for the veteran who has recommitted himself at American Top Team to returning to the top of the lightweight division. ...

Fighters.com and MMA Gospel Radio are proud to announce a partnership that'll bring you more of the best mixed martial arts content. ...

Canada's Maximum Fighting Championship MMA promotion has cut their light heavyweight champion, Aussie Trevor Prangley (20-4), for breach of contract, the promotion announced Sunday. ...

Former UFC and PRIDE fighter and Abu Dhabi world submission grappling champion “Boogey Man” Dean Lister (11-6) has signed a multi-fight deal to compete in the largest Canadian MMA promotion Maximum Fighting Championship, MFC accounced Friday. Lister will debut versus former UFC title challenger Thales Leites (14-3) at MFC 23: Unstoppable on Friday at River Cree Resort and Casino outside of Edmonton December 4. ...

"Athlete” Jason MacDonald (19-12) will fight "Serial Killer" Travis Lutter (9-5) at MFC 22 Payoff in Edmonton 2 October, not “Beastman” Marvin Eastman (16-9-1) who claimed Thursday he would fight MacDonald.

Maximum Fighting Championship CEO Mark Pavelich, who wouldn't confirm the Eastman v MacDonald fight Thursday, did confirm the Lutter v MacDonald fight Saturday.

Lutter hasn't fought since getting TKO'd by "Ace" Rich Franklin (26-4) at UFC 83 in Montréal in April 2008 and subsequently getting axed by the UFC. He underwent knee surgery on his right knee in October 2008.

"Athlete" Jason MacDonald (19-12) and "Beastman" Marvin Eastman (16-9-1) will rematch at MFC 22 Payoff in Edmonton 2 October, according to a post Eastman published on MySpace Thursday morning.

Maximum Fighting Championship CEO Mark Pavelich replied to Fighters.com's request for confirmation, "This is not confirmed." However, MacDonald mentioned in a 4 July blog post at Sportsnet Ontario that Pavelich had offered the fight to both fighters, but Eastman had declined to drop from 205 pounds to 185 pounds to fight MacDonald at middleweight.

"[Eastman] apparently said he can’t come down to that weight any more," MacDonald wrote. "But he fought Denis Kang at 185 two fights ago, so I don’t know that I believe that.
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“Hulk” Roger Hollett (7-1) felt no urgency in his first title defense and as a result “Hardcore Kid” Emanuel Newton took his light heavyweight title in a unanimous decision at MFC 19: Long Time Coming Friday night in Edmonton. The fight stayed standing in round one.  Newton came out throwing a hard left kick followed by a right knee, while Hollett waited patiently for a opening for a low left kick.  Newton stayed busy the entire round, attempting two takedowns and regularly tagging Hollett with jabs, low kicks and an overhand right, but Hollett landed the more powerful strikes. “His punches are hard!” Newton said between rounds. ...

“Semtex” Paul Daley (18-8-2) TKO’d “The Natural” John Alessio (23-13) at 2:18 of the second round at MFC 19: Long Time Coming in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday night. The two welterweights began round one cautiously, Daley landing couple of low kicks before Alessio attempted a takedown, unsuccessfully.  Daley continued to land hard kicks to Alessio’s legs.  Alessio charged in with a quick straight right-left hook combination and shot for the double legs again.  Daley made Alessio work hard for the eventual takedown, and did not stay long on the mat.  Daley stood back up and caught Alessio with more kicks.  In the final seconds of the round Daley shot and slammed Alessio to the mat. The second round started the same way, with Daley kicking Alessio’s legs.  Alessio went for the single leg but Daley stayed on his feet.  Daley resisted a slam and a throw, again making Alessio work hard, and took the fight back to standup.  Visibly fatigued, Alessio avoided a left uppercut but ate a couple of big left hooks before Daley caught him with a left kick that dropped him.  With Alessio covering his head, Daley threw three more hard left punches before the referee stopped the fight. ...

At MFC 19: Long Time Coming Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta, “Eraser” Derrick Noble (24-11-1) submitted Ariel Sexton (5-3) via guillotine choke in round two. Kyle Sandford (6-1) won a split decision over Joey Gorczynski (12-4). Ryan Machan (7-1) submitted Mike Sorenson (3-4) with a rear naked choke in round one. Josh Russell (2-0) picked up a submission win over Colby Snyder (7-2) with a first-round rear naked choke. Aron Lofton (4-1) submitted Jason Kuchera (3-3) via guillotine choke in the first round. ...

England’s “Semtex” Paul Daley (17-8-2) weighed in Thursday at 174 pounds for his 170-pound match with Canadian “The Natural” John Alessio (23-12) headlining MFC 19: Long Time Coming Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta. Daley will forfeit 25 percent of his purse. All other fighters made weight. A second-round armbar loss to EliteXC Champion Jake Shields (21-4-1) in October ended Daley’s six-fight win streak. Xtreme Couture fighter Alessio TKO’d “Gladiator” Gideon Ray (15-11-1) at 0:45 of round one in October. ...

Alberta welterweight “Real Deal” Ryan Ford (7-1) has pulled out of his title rematch with MFC champion “Bam Bam” Pat Healy (16-14) at MFC 19: Long Time Coming in Edmonton 5 December due to a hyper-extended left knee. Ford said, “I have to stay off it for a bit so there was no way I could have a full training camp which means I couldn't be fully prepared for the fight." The rematch is rescheduled for MFC 20: Destined for Greatness 20 February, in Edmonton. Ford is coming off a unanimous decision victory over “Thrill” Nabil Khatib (9-4) at Raw Combat in October. Ford was submitted via armbar in his fight with Healy for the vacant welterweight title in July. ...

Vancouver-born welterweight “The Natural” John Alessio (23-12) is set to face Nottingham’s “Semtex” Paul Daley (17-7-2) at MFC 19: Long Time Coming 5 December in Edmonton, AB. Alessio’s participation was officially announced last week, and Daley confirmed the fight to Five Ounces of Pain. Alessio TKO’d “Gladiator” Gideon Ray (15-11-1) at 0:45 of round one in October. Daley most recently fought in October at EliteXC and was submitted by Jake Shields (21-4-1) in round two. ...

Light heavyweight Emanuel Newton (10-3-1) tapped UFC vet David Heath (9-4) in a rear naked choke at 4:42 of of the second round Friday night in Edmonton. Heath never had a chance versus an aggressive Newton who held on to back control for most of the first round. In the second, Newton shrugged off a Heath footlock, scrambled into side control, then took Heath's back to secure the submission. Fighters.com's original Fighter of the Month "Real Deal" Ryan Ford (7-1) rebounded from his first professional loss to slap a guillotine choke on Miletich welterweight LaVerne Clark (25-17-1) at 2:30 of round two. ...

The Edmonton-based Maximum Fighting Championships announced on Monday that a featherweight division would be added to its ranks. MFC President Mark Pavelich said, “There is such an impressive field of 145ers out there that we felt it was very important to add this weight class and this group of exciting fighters.” Pavelich added, “We’re going to… sign a stable of 16-20 fighters at 145 pounds and they will all be upper echelon guys. We will have the deepest roster of featherweights and make this a high-profile division. The top guys will fight each other which will create a proper champion and a great cast of contenders.” The MFC’s first meaningful featherweight bout could happen at MFC 19 on 28 November. The MFC also announced that its heavyweight championship will be retired, effective immediately. The decision was prompted not only by the addition of the featherweights, but also because of the lack of depth in the heavyweight pool, and because the current champion, Scott Junk (6-2), has been unable to fight due to knee surgery. Heavyweight bouts will still be scheduled periodically. ...

Maximum Fighting Championship announced Thursday that UFC veteran David Heath (9-3) will make his MFC debut 26 September versus light heavyweight Emanuel Newton (9-3-1). The MFC also announced that “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (6-1) will face LaVerne Clark (25-16-1) in the featured welterweight bout. Heath, who lost his last three UFC fights, TKO’d Shepard Owens (1-1) in 1:19 at the Freestyle Cage Fighting in June. Newton won his seventh-straight fight this month when he submitted B.J. Lacy (10-9-1) by rear naked choke at Pure Combat. Ford suffered his first career defeat in July when “Bam Bam” Pat Healy (19-13) submitted him with an armbar in round three for the vacant welterweight title. Clark (25-16-1) TKO’d Matt Kelly (0-1) in round one at Courage Fighting Championships in June. ...

“Bam Bam” Pat Healy (19-14) took this fight for the Maximum Fighting Championship welterweight title on short notice and pulled the upset win over hometown favourite “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (6-1) Friday in Edmonton. Ford looked dominant for most of the fight but Healy defended well; Healy attempted submissions, but Ford escaped using brute strength. In the end, Ford left himself vulnerable one too many times as Healy secured the armbar and forced Ford to tap at 3:02 of round three. One punch was all it took for light heavyweight Aron Lofton (3-0) to defeat Dwayne Lewis (3-5). After faking a jab, Lofton threw an overhand right to knock out his opponent at 0:17 of round one. Lightweight Benson Henderson (5-1) dominated the first round with strikes, Ricardo Tirloni (3-1) controlled the second, but it was Henderson who jumped on Tirloni, locked in a guillotine, and ended the fight at 3:49 of the second round. ...

The MFC announced this weekend that “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (6-0) will now face “Bam Bam” Pat Healy (18-14) for the welterweight title 25 July. Ford’s previously-scheduled opponent, Joe Jordan (44-14-2), was removed from the card due to a back injury. Healy most recently fought in the IFL.  He lost his last fight to Jake Ellenberger (17-4) by unanimous decision in February. Healy will be cornered by “Short Fuse” Ed Herman (17-7), and Ford will be cornered by “The Athlete” Jason MacDonald (20-9), who submitted Herman in his UFC debut. ...

“Real Deal” Ryan Ford (6-0) will face veteran Joe Jordan (42-12-2) for the vacant welterweight title at MFC 17 in Edmonton 25 July, according to MFC President Mark Pavelich. Pavelich said, “This is going to be a phenomenal title fight.  It’s the combination of Ford’s athleticism and deep-seeded aggression against Jordan’s crafty skills and instincts.” Ford, Fighters.com’s original Fighter of the Month, won six straight in just over a year, most recently submitting CJ Fernandes (14-7-3) with a first-round rear naked choke in May. Jordan has won his last four fights, including a unanimous decision over Ryan Williams (5-3) at Adrenaline MMA’s debut event last month. Jordan replaces Drew Fickett (34-5), who was pulled from the card for breaching his contract. ...

Maximum Fighting Championship President Mark Pavelich announced Sunday that Drew Fickett (34-5) will not fight "Real Deal" Ryan Ford (6-0) for the MFC welterweight title. "Drew Fickettwill never fight in the MFC," Pavelich said. Fickett was contracted to fight Ford in Edmonton 25 July, but agreed on a day's notice to fill-in for "Diesel" Joe Riggs (27-10) Friday in San Jose after Riggs was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission. Pavelich said, "We were shocked to learn Drew agreed on one day's notice to fight as a middleweight in another organization's event this past Friday.  When I contacted this other organization, its owner immediately cancelled Drew's fight when informed that he was under contract to fight on the MFC show and as part of Mr. Fickett's contract he was not allowed to take another fight up to five weeks before the MFC show." Fickett told MMA Rated that, "Some jerk-off wanna-be like promoter, some tough guy, like calls us and he's like pullin' the frickin' contract card on me.  I'm like, 'Dude, I don't care.  I just want to fight.'  This guy's like, 'Oh, you M-F this, you M-F that, frickin' son-of-a-bitch.  I'm going to fly down there and I'm going to kill you.'" ...

The Maximum Fighting Championship has finalized its 25 July card taking place near Edmonton, Alberta. MFC 17 features a title fight between Fighters.com’s original Fighter of the Month “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (6-0) and UFC veteran Drew Fickett (34-5). The welterweight title is currently vacant. Edmonton-native Ford will look to extend his win streak. He submitted his last opponent CJ Fernandes (14-7-3) with a rear naked choke in 2:32 at MFC 16. Fickett is also riding a win streak. He has five consecutive victories, four of them by submission. Brad Zazulak (3-0) is also on the card, to fight Ron Faircloth (28-14). Zazulak in his last fight TKO’d veteran “Mr. International” Shonie Carter (41-17-7). ...

Fighters.com's original Fighter of the Month "Real Deal" Ryan Ford (6-0) notched another UFC vet in his belt Friday night in Edmonton. Ford must've had a hot date after the show because he shot right through UFC 27 fighter CJ Fernandes (14-7-3), sinking a rear naked choke submission after just 2:32 at Maximum Fighting Championships. Ford has set his sights on the MFC welterweight title, which is currently vacant. ...