(PRESS RELEASE) -- Derrick Noble has already built himself quite a career as a solid fighter in the welterweight ranks having fought and beaten some of the best 170-pounders out there.

But by making the foray into the MFC’s talent-rich lightweight pool, Noble figures to become an instant hit. And hit he can, as described by his manager Pat O’Malley.

“He hits like a Mac truck. There is nobody at 155 that can hang with him on their feet,” declared O’Malley. “He has proven time and time again at 170 that he could hang with anybody. Now at 155, I think things are going to go very well for him.”

The first lightweight test for Noble (22-11) will come at MFC 19: Long Time Coming. In a just-announced featured matchup, the Illinois native will tussle with another recently signed powerhouse lightweight in Ariel Sexton (6-1). Their clash will be one of the highlighted bouts on the televised card broadcast live on HDNet Fights on Friday, December 5 from the River Cree Resort and Casino.

“It’s fantastic because I believe this is going to be a phenomenal fight that the fans will love. It could very easily be a show-stealer,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“Derrick Noble is an absolutely dynamic striker and Ariel Sexton is so skilled at the ground game. There’s no doubt in my mind that the winner of this fight will definitely be the right guy to earn a place in the very first MFC lightweight title fight.”

Noble ventures into the MFC coming off a second-round knockout victory over Brendan Seguin back in February. While 2007 was a rough year with only two bouts, Noble had an impressive – and hectic – run in 2006, winning six of eight fights including victories over Jake Ellenberger and Carlo Prater. His only losses that year were to Eddie Alvarez and UFC’s top-ranked welterweight challenger Thiago Alves. For Alves it was a sweet revenge having been submitted via rear-naked choke by Noble in 2003.

Throughout his career, Noble has faced a standout list of 170-pounders – names like Josh Neer, Chris Lytle and Gideon Ray. During one impressive run when he went 9-1 over a 10-fight stretch, Noble even scored a second-round submission victory over current MFC welterweight champion Pat Healy.

While punching power and experience will certainly drive Noble’s effort towards the title shot, there is one other key factor in sizing up all the attributes of the fighter who is now training at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy alongside such notables as Sean Sherk and Brock Larson.

“Derrick is a super-confident guy. He knows he’s good at what he does,” said O’Malley. “He’s got over 30 fights and he’s fought and beaten a lot of upper echelon fighters.

“He knows the opportunity he’s got now. Derrick is not coming to the MFC just to get some fights and stay busy. He wants to prove to the world he’s in the right weight class and that he’s going to take all the steps he needs to so he can prove he’s where he belongs. There is no one at 155 that he won’t step up and take on. He wants the title. He’s never shrugged off any challenge and he never will.”

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