Fresh off the success of Night of Champions III in Nashville, Xtreme Fighting Championships has now set its sights on a new territory. December 13, 2013 will mark the traveling promotions first trip to the Northern U.S., when XFC 27: Frozen Fury invades Muskegon, Michigan. The weather outside will be frigid, but the action inside the LC Walker Arena will be red hot when XFC President John Prisco and crew treats the crowd to 12 action packed fights. Frozen Fury will not only see the return of a former champion, it will see the crowning of a new, as the company’s Featherweight Tournament comes to a climactic end. The doors open at 6 pm Eastern, with the first bout starting promptly at7pm. MMA legend Pat Miletich and the iconic Aussie Michael “The Voice” Schiavello take their seats cageside and go live on AXS TV at 9 pm.
Former XFC champion and UFC veteran Junior Assuncao has found his way back home and in the Main Event at XFC 27. It’s been nearly four years since XFC fans last saw Assuncao on AXS TV. His last fight under the Xtreme banner ended with a first round submission victory over John Mahlow, to capture the XFC Lightweight Title. First in line to welcome Assuncao back to the XFC is promotional newcomer Daniel “Agent Orange” Swain. Swain is a 10-2 fighter out of Spokane, Washington. Although Swain brings a career filled with international experience into his Main Event match up with Assuncao, he will undoubtedly be facing his toughest opponent to date. Swain and Assuncao both should be watching the Featherweight Title fight closely, as the winner could be next in line for a shot at the belt.
The Muskegon crowd will also get to see the finals of the XFC Featherweight Title Tournament, when 145 pound veterans Frank Sharipov and Deivison Ribeiro battle in the Co-Main Event of the evening. Sharipov punched his ticket to the big dance by beating Stephen Bass at XFC 25 in September, while Ribeiro made quick work of Jason Hicks at Night of Champions III on October 18th. The XFC Featherweight Title hasn’t been worn since late 2010 and both men are hoping to make the shiny gold belt a part of their daily wardrobe.
The televised portion of the card also features several fighters climbing their way up the XFC ranks, with some hoping to close in on title shots of their own. Lightweight Eric Reynolds will look to win his 3rd fight in a row, eager to align himself with 155 King Scott Holtzman, while females Angela Hill and Stephanie Skinner go to war for Atomweight bragging rights. A fight card just wouldn’t be a fight card without sprinkling in a little bit of crazy, so the XFC has sent in “Insane” Dave Courchaine to shake things up. Courchaine faces Michigan’s own wild card, Alex Trevino, in a Lightweight match guaranteed to please the fans. The televised card will start with bang when Welterweights Dom Steele and Ryan Thomas hit the cage. Steele is hoping to continue his current win streak and earn a multi-fight deal with the XFC, while Thomas could be positioning for an XFC mega fight with Luis Santos.
For the fans in attendance, the XFC 27 preliminary card will feature the best in area talent. Twelve fierce competitors will look to use the opportunity put in front of them to impress XFC President John Prisco and either earn another shot on a future card, or, be rewarded with that coveted multi-fight contract. The preliminary card is set as: Ray Lopez vs. Shamir Garcia, Marcus Reynolds vs. Dequan Townsend, Kenneth Green vs. Andy Carter, David Rohn vs. Drew Morais, Roy Saldana vs. Andres Torres, and Jacob Butler vs. Joel Vincent.
XFC 27: Frozen Fury is presented by ICRealtime Security Solutions and will air live on AXS TV from the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, MI Friday Dec. 13th, 2013. For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, visit www.XFCMMA.com. For daily updates and news direct from the media desk, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @OfficialXFC.