Much-anticipated showdown headlines July fight card
The Maximum Fighting Championship’s own developmental organization, Heat XC, is set to unleash another explosive show featuring two internationally known middleweights alongside a lineup of top prospects.
Heat XC 5: Punishment will take place Friday, July 16 at the Mayfield Trade Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, with a card headlined by a clash between crowd favorites David Heath and “King” Solomon Hutcherson. The two were initially slated to be part of the MFC 25: Vindication lineup until an injury sidelined Hutcherson, but it will now be the main event on the upcoming Heat show.
“Heat XC is growing into a much more prominent position and having a great main event to go with a strong lineup of up-and-coming talent is exactly how Heat XC will continue its rise to even greater heights,” said Mark Pavelich, Owner of the Maximum Fighting Championship as well as Heat XC under its banner of Pavelich Sports.
Heat XC has taken off with four consecutive sellouts and it shared the spotlight with its parent company at MFC 24: Heat XC. Not only has Heat XC started developing fighters for the Maximum Fighting Championship, it is truly standing on its own as a frontrunner on the Canadian mixed martial arts scene.
Heath (14-6) will make his debut at middleweight following a notable run in the light heavyweight ranks that included a first-round submission victory over the MFC’s former 205-pound champion, Roger Hollett. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, product shared the recognition for the MFC’s 2009 Fight of the Year for his toe-to-toe encounter with Mike Nickels at MFC 22. Hutcherson (11-6) captured his organization debut with a thorough three-round decision over Dave Mewborn at MFC 20 and then, after recovering from shoulder surgery, the Racine, Wisconsin, native dropped a controversial decision to Jason MacDonald at MFC 23.
“I said when I first booked the fight between Hutcherson and Heath that it would be an all-out war and it still will be – probably now an even a bigger battle since the animosity has had a chance to brew longer,” said Pavelich.
“Plus the fight now has the opportunity to really stand out on its own as the main event. I know that these two fighters will put on an effort worthy of main-event status.”
Heath personally called out this matchup back in February and both fighters have stated their definite willingness to get down to business.
“I don’t think it’s going to be about what game plan I have for him, it’s more about what I think his game plan will be for me,” noted Heath.
“This fight is right up my alley,” responded Hutcherson. “The fans know we both like to bang. Heath’s a banger too so I think the fans are really going to get their money’s worth.”
A number of Heat XC’s top fighters will be on the card including Nick Hrynchyshyn, Jason Gorny, Dami Egbeyemi and Jason Kuchera. The card will also feature a rematch from the MFC 25 undercard between Garret Nybakken and Jevon Marshall plus a heavyweight clash that will pit longtime rivals against each other. Former minor pro hockey enforcer Marty Melnychuk, who registered over 300 penalty minutes in a season three times during his career, will settle the issue once and for all against massive Ryan Getschel in what will undoubtedly be a wild affair.
Tickets for Heat XC 5: Punishment are on sale now by calling the Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 and via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca and charge-by-phone (780) 451-8000.