EDMONTON, Alberta -- All fights are a go for the 16th installment of Maximum Fighting Championships to be held Friday at the River Cree Casino and broadcast live on HDNet. Twenty-two fighters will enter the ring, though some could not make weight.
The semi-main event has changed some in the past three weeks. Eric Pele (Pictures) (11-4) will now fight young, undefeated California prospect Chase Gormley (5-0). Originally Pele was supposed to fight Gary Goodridge (Pictures) and then IFL vet Wayne Cole (Pictures).
Another fight of note is between undefeated welterweights Matt Veach (6-0) and Matt MacGrath (Pictures) (5-0).
The winner of the bout will face the winner of the main event for the vacant MFC welterweight title in the near future. MacGrath has already expressed his desire to fight Ryan Ford.
Both Jeremy Martin and Ryan McGillivray failed to make their respective weight limits. Martin was five pounds over and McGillivray was four. Their opponents agreed to step into the ring anyway, though both Martin and McGillivray will be docked a reported 25 percent of their fight purse for failing to make weight.
MFC 16 lineup:
Ryan Ford (171) vs. CJ Fernandes (170.5)
Chase Gormley (266) vs. Eric Pele (Pictures) (263)
Matt Veach (171) vs. Matt MacGrath (Pictures) (170)
Ben Henderson (155) vs. Mike Maestas (154.5)
Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Dwayne Lews (186)
Aaron Lofton (204) vs. Jason Kuchera (203.5)
Gavin Neil (165) vs. Ryan McGillivray (174)
Jeremy Martin (175.5) vs. Mike Sorenson (169.5)
Brandon Curts (Pictures) (184.5) vs. Sean Wright (183.5)
Troy Sorenson (155.5) vs. Mike Tubbs (154.5)
Dave Nippard (151.5) vs. Evan Sanguin (154)