Strikeforce's Kaufman On Upcoming Rousey Title Fight: Now's As Good A Time As Any


Sarah Kaufman is willing to eat a punch to dish out a few.

As the personable 135-pounder said after her win over Alexis Davis at this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event, you simply needed to look at her bruised-up face for proof of that philosophy.

But despite a grueling three-rounder that she ultimately won, Kaufman today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (http://www.mmajunkie.com/radio) she's ready to challenge for new champ Ronda Rousey's belt whenever Strikeforce officials want to do it.

"I feel absolutely great," Kaufman said two days after her win, which came on the Showtime Extreme-broadcast preliminary card at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. "I mean, I like always like a black eye. It means you were in a fight. It means I was there to have a fight – not just trying to get a win without getting dirty."

And dirty she got. Davis, a fellow tough-as-nails Canadian, took some of Kaufman's best shots, but she kept ticking and took the former champ the distance. In fact, Kaufman narrowly edged her with a majority-decision victory.

On a night all about women – Olympian Ronda Rousey submitted champ Miesha Tate in a headliner that was one of the biggest in women's MMA history – Kaufman and Davis dazzled in their featured preliminary-card matchup. Kaufman's hands are well known, but few casual fans were aware of Davis' chin.

"I knew Alexis was going to be tough," Kaufman said. "I knew she wouldn't be a one-punch knockout. You can see she has heart, and she'll stay there and fight. In the end, I think that's what made it the fight it was.

"Those are the kind of fights I want I want to fight. In a fight, you want to go in there and you feel like you've been in a fight. ... It's the first time in a long time I've had someone who was actually willing to fight me."

Soon after the victory – Kaufman's third straight since losing the Strikeforce title in 2010 – she made her way cageside to see the night's featured attraction. With the win over Davis, Kaufman was all but assured she'd meet the Tate vs. Rousey winner, so it was a great scouting opportunity for the top contender.

Tate struck early with punches, but Rousey got the fight to the mat. Tate escaped the first armbar, but she wasn't as lucky the second time. Rousey picked up her eighth straight first-round victory via the submission when Tate's arm was badly hyper-extended, which ultimately forced a tap-out.

Kaufman isn't sure what Tate was thinking in the fight.

"Everyone knows Ronda doesn't like to get hit," she said. "Ronda said she doesn't like to get hit. It's very obvious. Miesha landed some good, hard hits and kind of froze Rondo there for a second. But then she ran after her and kind of put herself in positions to get thrown.

"As for the [armbar], I don't know what Miesha was thinking. I think maybe it was pride that she just didn't want to tap. But once your arm is that far extended, I think maybe the ref – when it's clearly that extended – should stop it. Or you just need to tap because you're not getting out of an armbar like that."

Rousey's judo game is legendary, and it carried her to a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics. Those skills have carried her to a dominant MMA career in which she finished the first seven of her amateur and pro opponents within 57 seconds each. Tate, of course, made it past the four-minute mark, but the outcome was the same.

In preparation of the likely title fight, Kuafman works on her judo twice a week. She joked after Saturday's event that with her yellow-belt skills, she's coming after Rousey with her new skills.

But when the two do actually tangle, expect Kaufman to throw hands. Unlike Tate, she'll make Rousey eat punches, and as she saw in the Tate fight, it's something the new champ clearly doesn't like.

As far as when the fight actually takes place, Kaufman said now is as good a time as any. At 5 a.m. the morning after he fight, she got in her daily running. She'll be back in the gym shortly. And whether it's that upcoming May 19 card – or one later this summer – she's good to go.

"I have no injuries," she said. "I feel great. Just some superficial bruises.

"I'm always ready to fight, and I always want to fight. Whenever Strikeforce decides, I'll be ready, and I'll be excited. I don't know what they're planning ... But I'm excited to get back to training and getting going and getting ready for the champ."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27732/strikeforces-kaufman-on-upcoming-rousey-title-fight-nows-as-good-a-time-as-any.mma

With Twice-Broken Hand, Cormier Hopes He's 'Good Enough' For Strikeforce Tourney Finale


Apparently, American Kickboxing Academy fighters hit opponents too hard.

Standing at a sponsor booth amid bronzed bodybuilders at this past weekend's Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, Daniel Cormier and teammate Luke Rockhold both were nursing broken hands from previous fights.

Rockhold can now shake hands, confident that iron-gripped fans won't hurt him, but recovery is going longer than he expected. Cormier is a little further along and said he's back to full steam in the gym.

It's because of Rockhold that Cormier was not fighting at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." The two were sparring this past December as Rockhold neared a fight the next month with Keith Jardine. Cormier grabbed a headlock as they got close, and as he puts it, "barely" uppercut Rockhold. He re-broke the hand he had cracked on Antonio Silva's skull this past September to advance to the semifinals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand-prix.

With his long-awaited fight with Josh Barnett (31-5 MMA, 2-0 SF) announced for May 19, Cormier (9-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) is out of time to recover. Barring a choice to withdraw, he's set for the grand-prix's finale, which is likely to take place in his current hometown of San Jose, Calif. It's the last fight on his contract with the promotion, whose broadcast partner, Showtime, wants to book him once more before Strikeforce's heavyweight division is completely disbanded.

As you'd expect, Cormier is confident that he'll be ready when it's time to fight Barnett. But he admits this training camp hasn't been ideal.

"The biggest issue for me was that I didn't improve as much as I usually do in between fights because of the injury," he said. "I'm normally improving constantly because I'm so young in the game. I haven't been able to do that, so it's whatever.

"I'll depend on my partners, I'll depend on my coaches, and hopefully, they'll have me ready when Josh and I step in the cage."

Getting ready at this point, Cormier said, means focusing on Barnett's ground game, which he believes is the biggest threat of the matchup. Cormier is an Olympic-caliber wrestler; Barnett employs the aggressive submission grappling of catch wrestling. Limbs will be attacked. Position will be pivotal. Having Barnett on top of him is the last thing he wants, and having him in the bottom doesn't get him off easy, either.

Perhaps more threatening is the reality that Barnett has had about twice the amount of time as Cormier to prepare for the fight. The longtime veteran was recently told by his manager to take a break from training in order not to burn himself out for the real camp, which runs between eight and 10 weeks.

Cormier had planned to develop new skills before fighting Barnett and said he wouldn't rush into a fight for which he wasn't fully prepared. He wanted to have time to prepare for a five-round fight, which he calls "scary."

"And not the fighting for five rounds, but training for a five-round fight, is going to be pretty crazy," Cormier said.

Now, he's going with what he's got.

"I've just got to hope that what I have now is good enough," he said. "Before, I was like, 'Maybe I can't beat this guy with what I have now. But by the time we fight, I'll get better and then I'll feel comfortable going into the cage.'"

For a guy who's been fighting professionally all of two-and-a-half years and has less than half the experience, it's a lot to ask. A loss would leave him without a contract in a division that's going bye-bye. But Cormier chooses to see it as a call to action, a way to make his own luck.

"It just tells you that, hey, you can win the lottery," he said. "You don't have to be lucky. You train, you prepare, and you win the lottery. People go to the grocery store every day and bet a bunch of numbers and hope that those numbers get picked. All I've got to do is train hard, and I can win the lottery."

A win over such an established fighter as Barnett, Cormier said, would rank up there with the birth of his children in the happiest moments of his life.

"Then to go over into the UFC with the belt, undefeated, it would be a pretty good situation," Cormier said.

But, as he also said, this is it. There is no more delay. So he better wrap those hands well. After all, Rockhold's jaw isn't getting any softer.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27763/with-twice-broken-hand-cormier-hopes-hes-good-enough-for-strikeforce-tourney-finale.mma

With Changing TV Landscape, UFC President Envisions A Day Without Pay-Per-View


Pay-per-view is the engine driving the UFC's explosive growth of recent years.

But as the media landscape continues to change and new broadcast platforms compete with networks, the UFC thinks there may be a time when the pay-TV takes the back seat in producing revenue for the promotion.

"Lorenzo and I talk about this all the time – I do believe there will be a day when this probably isn't pay-per-view," UFC president Dana White said of his promotion during a press conference in support of UFC on FOX 3.

At the moment, the bulk of UFC fans shell out between $44.95 and $55.95 to order a numbered UFC card through providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network. That's meant big bucks for the UFC as its grown from a company of dozens to one of hundreds around the globe. Estimates of the UFC's pay-per-view revenue reached as high as $400 million in 2010, and the promotion is believed to be worth in excess of $1 billion.

A report this past November in the "New York Times" said pay-per-view earnings were down this past year, the likely result of a string of high-profile main events that fell apart due to injury and a busier schedule that prompted customers to get choosy on which events to buy in a down economy. But the UFC keeps its pay-per-view numbers secret, so getting exact figures on the company's health is impossible.

Pay-TV, of course, isn't the only moneymaker. The start of 2012 brought a new broadcast partnership with FOX that's been estimated to be worth around $90 million a year. The deal calls for events on the network's flagship channel and affiliates FX and FUEL TV. The first FOX-televised event, which took place this past November and preceded the start of the partnership, drew an average of 5.7 million viewers while the second event drew 4.7 million. Both events were a success with advertisers.

But the UFC also needs other sources to feed the till, and it's embraced other platforms to bolster revenue from TV and pay-per-view. The promotion's online business sells fights through the UFC's website and through online partners. It has yet to replace the revenue brought by pay-per-view. That could change, however.

"A lot of people believe everything is going to go to the Internet, like now when you buy your cable, and there's basic cable and you add other stations, we're probably going to get to a point where you can pick exactly what you want," White said. "So it's very interesting to see where all this goes over the next several years."

The idea of a la carte cable service was pursued early on by the Federal Communications Commission and in subsequent years by consumer advocates, though it remains a topic of debate whether the ability to pay for individual channels would actually save TV watchers money. Major cable companies have nevertheless been resistant to the idea, and as of now, the status quo of offering bundles of channels in different sizes remains.

Meanwhile, subscriber-based content continues to gain popularity on the Internet. Many media companies are experimenting with a pay model, and networks are offering shows online for a fee. The younger demographics that flock to MMA are on the Internet more than any other age group, and as that trend continues, the UFC's online business could become a more profitable as many consumers cut their bills by cutting cable.

The web probably won't replace TV and pay-per-view, of course. But the idea of escaping monthly 100-dollar cable bills is a welcome idea for any fan.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27747/with-changing-tv-landscape-ufc-president-envisions-a-day-without-pay-per-view.mma

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta last month let the cat out of the bag that former UFC heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir would soon square off, but neglected to say when or where.

The two big men now know the details.

Mir and Velasquez will square off at UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas. Fox Sports first reported the date and location of the fight.

The fight will determine the No. 1 contender to the UFC heavyweight strap currently wrapped around Junior dos Santos’ waist. UFC 146 will also determine who Mir or Velasquez will face for the title.

The champ will also defend his belt at UFC 146 against Alistair Overeem in the night’s main event.

Velasquez (9-1) captured the UFC title from Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in late 2010. He was then sidelined for a year mending from shoulder surgery.

Velasquez returned to face dos Santos at the first UFC on Fox event last November in Anaheim, Calif., where JDS wasted no time ending Velasquez’s reign, knocking him out in little more than a minute.

Mir (16-5) fought a month after Velasquez’s last bout, finishing Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for a second time with an arm-breaking Kimura.

Though Mir failed in his last two title bids, he is currently riding an impressive three-fight streak, which also includes Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and Roy Nelson.

Now, one of the two former champions will get another shot at the belt.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/cain-velasquez-and-frank-mir-set-for-ufc-146

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson Says He’s One More And Done With The UFC


Is Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s time with the UFC coming to a close?

After a series of messages on his Twitter account, it certainly appears that way. The former UFC light heavyweight champion, who has dropped his last two bouts in a row, says that after one more trip to the Octagon he’s exiting the UFC.

And just to clarify, he’s leaving the UFC, not retiring from fighting altogether.

“I will fight whoever they put in front of me, I always have, but it will be my last fight in the UFC,” Jackson wrote. “I have other things on my mind.

“I didn’t say I would be done fighting, I just said I’m not fighting for the UFC (u fight cheap). Said I have other things on my mind (big head).”

From the sound of Jackson’s messages, he’s obviously unhappy with the UFC for both their pay structure as well as advice they are giving him on his career.

He responded to another fan question when quizzed about why he was leaving the UFC, and Jackson stated, “Why should I stay? I don’t need them or anybody else negative dealing with my career.”

This isn’t the first time Rampage has lashed out after a loss in the UFC. Following his defeat to Jon Jones in September 2011, Jackson stated he was considering a career in boxing.

UFC president Dana White threw cold water on the situation after Jackson’s initial statement because he was still under contract with them at the time.

“He’s under contract. He’s not boxing until… I mean, if he wants to box when his contract is up, that’s up to him,” White stated.

Jackson’s current contract situation is unknown, but if he does have only one fight left on his deal, his time with the UFC may indeed be coming to a close.

Regardless, Jackson will be in the UFC for at least one more fight and will then make a decision on where his fighting future will take him.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/quinton-rampage-jackson-says-hes-one-more-and-done-with-the-ufc

Roy Nelson's Bet: He Will Drop To Light Heavyweight If He Can Get 100,000 'Likes' On Facebook


Dana White has been nudging Roy Nelson, and trying to convince him to drop to 205 for a while now. Today, "Big Country" suddenly made a pretty smart bet by saying that he will finally drop to light heavyweight, IF he can add 100,000 'likes' in Facebook.

Here's Nelson explaining it in his own words:
The reason is my friend and I had a discussion about what was better? I think twitter just because of use and for fans interaction, but Facebook is 20x bigger. So we decided to bet. I said if it so easy and great I should be able add 100K fans in 2 weeks because I have that on twitter. Facebook is bigger and better so this should be easy. Right?
Bet is I will try to get to 205 if I can add 100k to Facebook.com/RoyNelsonUFC in two weeks. I love to win bets. Plus he will have to give me a part in his next movie.

It is also interesting to take note of a few things:

- A slightly slimmed down Roy Nelson weighed in at 246 lbs. for his last bout against Fabricio Werdum.

- He said he will "try" to get to 205, if he can "add", (not reach) 100,000 likes on Facebook.

- Nelson has again reiterated his belief that heavyweight is the place for him. He also says he will "win" this bet and won't need to drop to 205, simply because it's harder to get likes on Facebook.

As of this writing, he has 234,710 followers on twitter, and just below 32,000 likes on Facebook. I think it's a very good ploy, where Roy Nelson wins regardless of how this bet turns out. Why? He gets more attention, and he also gets more "likes" and "followers" either way

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/5/2845757/roy-nelson-bet-light-heavyweight-205-facebook-likes-mma

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Still Negotiating To Re-Sign Middleweight Champ Hector Lombard


Middleweight fighter Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1NC) and the Bellator Fighting Championship promotion still have not reached a deal to re-sign the 185-lbs champion according to company CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Lombard is the promotions first middleweight champ and is supposed to defend the title for a second time in a rematch with Alexander Shlemenko who won his second tournament to fight for the title.

In a recent interview with MMAMania.com, Rebney had nothing but praise for the fighter who is on an incredible twenty-five bout undefeated streak, saying that the two sides have yet to reach an agreement but if Lombard does opt out Bellator still has the right to match any offers.

Alexander Shlemenko came out with a video blog a couple days ago saying he was frustrated with the Hector Lombard situation and he doesn’t think that the fight’ seven gonna be made this spring. There was some talk that Lombard’s contract ran out and you guys are in a negotiating period. I was wondering what your thoughts are on that whole situation and what’s going on right now.

Bjorn Rebney: Well, Hector remains our champion right now. We are in the midst of a pretty substantial negotiation relative to his future with the organization. I’ve said many times I think he’s the best middleweight in mixed martial arts so it’s not an easy negotiation by any stretch of the imagination. Alexander Shlemenko, who has earned the right to face our champion, has been prepping for that fight for over a year, has been to a certain extent caught in the crossfire and he’s not the beneficiary of these negotiations.

We’re in a state now where we’ve got to negotiate with Hector and potentially resign him. People forget, Hector Lombard and Ed Alvarez have been with this organization now for four years so you lose track of it because our initial distribution platform was ESPN Deportes and Fox Sports Net and it’s been a long build up but Ed and Hector have been with us from the very start. You know, all good things come to an end at some point and four years is a very long time on any kind of agreement.

We’ve got the right to match on any deal. We’re either gonna sign him before he goes out to the marketplace or he’s going to go out to the marketplace and we’re gonna have a determination as to whether we’re gonna match or not match and we’re gonna see where it ends up. I love the guy and he’s an awesome talent. He’s been nothing but a pure pleasure for me to work with. He’s been a great guy for me to work with and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and every time I’ve put him in a cage, he’s knocked people silly. You can’t really ask for more than that from a guy.

It would certainly be a blow to Bellator to lose such a dominant champion in Lombard, but fans could certainly expect that if he doesn’t re-sign with the Chicago based promotion that a trip to the Octagon would likely be in the Cuban-Australian’s future.

http://www.themmanews.com/bellator-ceo-bjorn-rebney-still-negotiating-to-re-sign-middleweight-champ-hector-lombard/

Sean McCorkle Follows Comeback To Bellator 60, Still Eying UFC Return


Sean McCorkle talks a big game and often wages legendary trash-talking campaigns against his opponents.

But "Big Sexy," who continues a post-UFC run on the prelims of Friday's Bellator 60 event, said such bravado sometimes masks his own nerves and stress. For example, there was the time UFC president Dana White pulled him aside just before a massive UFC 124 co-main-event opportunity.

"You know, if you win this, it'll change your life,'" White told him before an eventual TKO flop to Stefan Struve.

As McCorkle told MMAjunkie.com Radio (http://www.mmajunkie.com/radio), the fight – which followed a UFC 119 submission win over Mark Hunt and a 10-0 start to his career – led to many sleepless nights. He grandstanded and waged an Internet campaign against Struve. His mouth wrote a check – one that got him a pay-per-view co-headlining slot – that he feared his butt couldn't cash.

"I was so stressed to lose and not embarrass myself," he said. "And that's exactly what happened.

"I gassed out in 45 seconds. I couldn't breathe, and my arms felt heavy. But it wasn't for a lack of cardio training. The pressure just got to me. I had talked so much trash."

In fact, McCorkle was feeling the nerves backstage at the event. White's words were meant to be encouraging, but they simply compounded the problem. And as McCorkle walked to the cage in front of more than 23,000 fans at Montreal's Bell Centre, he said he nearly passed out from the pressure.

McCorkle lost the fight via TKO, and in his next bout against Christian Morecraft, he fought "not to lose" because he was so scared to get cut. As often happens in such cases, it simply set him up for another loss. A few weeks later, the UFC cut ties with the fighter – one that many fans have written off as a flash in the pan.

But McCorkle is out to prove the doubters wrong. He's 5-0 with five first-round submission victories since the release. He looks to make it 6-0 on Friday, when the Indianapolis-based McCorkle (15-2 MMA, 0-0 BFC) meets Richard White (15-12 MMA, 0-0 BFC) on the Spike.com-streamed Bellator 60 preliminary card at The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind.

McCorkle is preliminary-card filler. He's a local guy to draw a local crowd to sell tickets. Bellator just wanted him for a one-fight deal, but McCorkle said he, too, simply wanted a one-and-done contract.

"Because my goal is to fight in the UFC one more time," he said. "I think I blew my chance with that Struve fight. But I'm going to have twice as many fights, experience-wise (if I come back). I'm not going to care this time. That first fight against Mark Hunt, I felt like I had nothing to lose. It felt like a dream.

"The next time, I don't want to say I'm going to go out there and not care, but I'm not going to stress about it. I've already been embarrassed. How much worse could it get?"

A post-UFC 6-0 record would certainly be a convincing case for the UFC, though it's impossible to know if the organization is interested. And critics could certainly point to the talent level of his recent opponents (or lack thereof) as a reason the UFC shouldn't rush to bring him back.

But it's not for a lack of trying, he said.

He wanted to fight former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in the recently resurrected ProElite, but he "turned me down twice," McCorkle said of Arlovski. He campaigned for a fight with famed heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko that ultimately went to Jeff Monson. He also pushed for a fight with former Strikeforce fighter Brett Rogers that never materialized.

So in the meantime, he takes what he can get. That includes this weekend's Bellator fight – plus another one later this month down in Texas.

A second UFC shot could give him that top-level competition he currently can't get. Until then, though, he has bills to pay.

"It's not like I'm not trying to fight someone known, but I can't wait three or four months trying to get something set up," he said. "I might as well fight and make some money and pick up a win in the meantime."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27722/sean-mccorkle-follows-comeback-to-bellator-60-still-eying-ufc-return.mma

Jorge Santiago Earns Knockout Win At Titan Fighting Champaionship 21 (Video)


Former Sengoku middleweight champion and UFC veteran, Jorge ‘The Sandman’ Santiago (24-10), lived up to his namesake Friday night by putting his opponent to sleep in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 21.

Santiago, who ended a two fight losing skid (watch the video after the jump), stopped fellow Brazilian Leonardo Pecanha at 1:48 of the first round by knockout.

‘The Sandman’ missed with an overhand right, slipping on the canvas, Pecanha moved in sensing an opportunity to finish. Both men would let their hands go swinging, but it was Santiago who would connect with a left stunning his opponent putting him back on his heels. Santiago would then press the attack and score with a big right hand straight through Pecanha’s defenses, sending him to the mat.

‘The Sandman’ would follow it up with a few more punches from top position finishing the fight at 1:48 of the first.

Santiago, who is a member of the Blackzillian team in Florida, earned his first victory since August 2010 after making two appearances in the Octagon.

He would debut at UFC 130 versus Brian Stann. Despite earning the “Fight of the Night” bonus, it was Stann who would finish things in the second round by TKO. Then Santiago would face Demian Maia at UFC 136, losing that match by unanimous decision and was issued with his walking papers.

Titan Fighting Championship 21 took place on March 2, 2012 at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The main card aired live on HDNet.

http://www.themmanews.com/jorge-santiago-earns-knockout-win-at-titan-fighting-champaionship-21-video/

Popular UFC veteran Nate (Rock) Quarry officially announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts.

A veteran of the influential first season of the Ultimate Fighter, Quarry was renowned for his knockout power and fan-friendly style of fighting. He retired with an MMA record of 12-4 (7-3 in the UFC).

His most notable wins were a back-and-forth slugfest with Tim Credeur in 2009 and TKOs of Jason MacDonald, Shonie Carter and Pete Sell.

Quarry challenged Rich Franklin for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 56 in 2006 but was knocked out. Following that fight, he thought his career might be over, but he underwent successful spinal surgery to repair a chronic back problem caused by years of hard training.

The 39-year-old hasn't fought since a TKO loss to Jorge Rivera -- who also recently retired -- in March 2010 but has spent much of his time working as an MMA analyst for various media outlets.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/2012/03/02/ufc_roundup_quarry_retires_ufc_on_fuel_3/

McGillivray In Hunt For Welterweight Title Against Coy At Maximum Fighting 33 Event On May 4th


‘The Kid’ wants his crown, McGillivray in hunt for welterweight title against Coy at MFC 33

Press Release – Ryan McGillivray knows he has a big job ahead of him.

But he’s conquered a lot in a short period of time. He’s overcome a broken back. He has bounced back from losses. And he jumped headfirst into the responsibility of being a single dad.

When MFC 33: Collision Course rolls around on Friday, May 4, though, McGillivray admits that the task at hand will be the toughest of his mixed martial arts career, yet it also comes with the greatest reward he’s ever had a chance to obtain.

McGillivray (12-5-1) will lock horns with Nathan Coy (10-4) at MFC 33 with the winner claiming the MFC welterweight title. The bout headlines the Collision Course card airing live from the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, on HDNet Fights. The six-bout main card begins at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

“The Kid,” now all of 25, has been through a lot. It will all be worth it if he wears the MFC crown after conquering Coy.

“I am very excited to have a chance at a very respected title,” said McGillivray. “It has been a very long road and feels like all I have been through – good and bad – has been worth it. It has always been a dream of mine to have this title fight.”

McGillivray has been eyeing an MFC title for years. He has fought 13 times under the organization’s banner – a total second-only to Dwayne Lewis’s 15 appearances. McGillivray’s run in the MFC has included nine straight shows to start his career, as well as brief stints at both lightweight and middleweight.

Home-field advantage will be in McGillivray’s favor in his quest for the belt. A growing legion of fans, the McGillivray Mob if you will, offer up encouragement, but Coy is as unflappable as they come.

“Coy is probably the toughest guy I have fought in my career and I have no doubt I am going to need to be at my best to win the title,” offered McGillivray. “I know he has had a long road as well and will be equally motivated to take that belt.”

Coy is far from an easy foe. Now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Coy demonstrated a good chin and stiff hands in upsetting Dhiego Lima at MFC 32 back in January. Without a doubt, though, Coy’s strength is his wrestling as the former NCAA champ from Oregon State University mauled Lima with a heavy ground game. On the same card, McGillivray pulled his own contendership victory from the grip of defeat. Bloodied and behind on the scorecards, McGillivray found an open spot and seized the win with a third-round submission over Diego Bautista.

Getting Coy on the ground could play into McGillivray’s favor as 10 of his 12 victories have come by way of submission, six of those by his favored method of stoppage – the armbar. McGillivray knows he’ll need everything in his arsenal including an ever-improving striking game to have a chance to derailing Coy.

“I don’t think it’s any secret the pedigree he has with him with his national level wrestling,” noted McGillivray. “I am aware he is going to be looking to take me down and finish me there. I plan on making him pay on his way in and working my submissions in all areas so my BJJ is better than ever.

“He has a lot of decisions so I will be more than ready to go six rounds. Yes, six rounds. I want to be able to outwork him and at the very least out-heart him. It should be a tough, entertaining fight.”

http://www.themmanews.com/mcgillivray-in-hunt-for-welterweight-title-against-coy-at-maximum-fighting-33-event-on-may-4th/