On Friday night, MFC 26 will take place at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The card features a lightweight championship bout and the MFC return of top-prospect Ryan Ford. HDNet will broadcast the card live at 10 p.m. ET. Stay close to ProMMANow.com for live results and play-by-play commentary.
MFC Lightweight Championship
Antonio McKee (24-3-2) vs. Luciano Azevedo (16-8)
If this card was being broadcast on Showtime Mauro Ranallo, Stephen Quadros or both would say “this is a classic wrestler vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jistu match up.” In a lot ways they are correct. McKee has made it clear that he is out to win fights and does not care how boring the fights end up. That all changed during the lead up to this fight. “Mandingo” has promised to retire if he does not entertain the crowd. Azevedo is a respectable grappler, but Mckee has not been caught from the top since 2001. If McKee wants to show up some stand up, he can do it in this fight. If he gets in trouble, there is always the takedown.
Pick = Antonio McKee
Ryan Ford (12-2) vs. Douglas Lima (14-4)
Ford really is “a Jack of all trades, but master of none” kind of guy. He is a natural takedown artist but lacks the background to deal with trained wrestlers. He can throw some hays, but he will get picked apart by better strikers. With that being said, he should have no trouble dealing with Lima. Ford is way too physical and should win this one by stoppage.
Pick = Ryan Ford
Tom Watson (12-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (15-6)
You are not going to believe this. Watson is a British MMA fighter. He likes to stand and trade, but he has a weak wrestling game. I imagine the only thing less shocking would be Chael Sonnen losing by submission… Taylor may never win his way back to the UFC, but he will pick up a victory under the MFC banner. If you think about it the MFC is not that far from the UFC. The company has the “FC” part down, and their promoter is a close second in the inappropriate oaf rankings.
Pick = Jesse Taylor
David Heath (15-6) vs. Solomon Hutcherson (11-6)
Even if he was a top quality fighter, Hutcherson would join the ranks of Kendall Grove and Jon Goulet. He is one of those fighters who will always be held back by a weak chin. He will have a wrestling advantage in this fight, but Heath likes to strike. Rory Singer once knocked out Hutcherson with an incredibly awkward looking head kick.
Pick = David Heath
Dwayne Lewis vs. Mike Nickels
Lewis is one of MFC’s home grown stars. His coming out party was when he stopped Marvin Eastman back at MFC 23. Look for the promotion to feed him a heavy dose of beatable UFC veterans and Nickles fits that mold.
Pick = Dwayne Lewis
Thanks!
Richard you are crazy. You are wrong on everything and right on nothing! Wait, wait, wait, ok you are right on everything and wrong on noth….
I always thought it would be interesting to see Mckee go up against a guy who has a similar wrestling pedigree. Probably won’t ever happen because I highly doubt he will stop Azevedo.
McKee pulled off the unthinkable… a TKO!!!
and he did it without getting hit once, the magic of McKee
…aaannnd I’m wrong. Great GnP by Mckee.