(PRESS RELEASE) -- Two fighters riding incredible streaks will face each other for the Maximum Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight title at MFC 21: Hard Knocks.

Reigning champ Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid” Newton (13-3) will defend his title for the first time against the well-accomplished Trevor Prangley (19-5). The two will battle for the championship belt on Friday, May 15 at the River Cree Resort and Casino just outside Edmonton, Alberta. MFC 21: Hard Knocks will air live on HDNet Fights throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Newton captured the 205-pound crown at MFC 19 with a convincing five-round decision over former champion Roger “The Hulk” Hollett. That victory stretched Newton’s undefeated streak to 11 straight fights and the Norwalk, California, native has not lost since 2004.

The 25-year-old, who will have MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee in his corner, made an immediate splash in the organization back at MFC 18 when he mowed over David Heath en route to a second-round submission victory.

Meanwhile, Prangley, who is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, has won eight of his last nine fights and holds career wins over such notables as Ultimate Fighter reality show winner Travis Lutter, Yuki Kondo, and Chael Sonnen.

“This is a very strong matchup – two fighters who will get into the ring, square off and go to war,” noted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“Emanuel Newton has proven himself against tough competition before and he is prepared to show again that he is the best light heavyweight in the MFC. But to do so, he is going to have to beat a very dangerous opponent in Trevor Prangley. Our fans deserve to see the best title fight we could put together and the winner of the fight will truly deserve to wear the MFC championship belt.”

The Newton/Prangley title fight will be one of three bouts that will be officiated by one of the most-recognizable faces in all of mixed martial arts as “Big” John McCarthy, a veteran of 535 bouts in the UFC, will be the head referee for the event.

McCarthy, the former head instructor of tactical self-defense at the Los Angeles Police Academy, is also one of the premier instructors in martial arts and runs his own training center in Valencia, California. McCarthy, who holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is also the lead trainer of the only internationally recognized mixed martial arts officiating and judging certification program.

Other bouts already signed for MFC 21: Hard Knocks include:

David Heath (11-4) vs. Travis Galbraith (16-6), light heavyweight

Marvin Eastman (15-9) vs. Aron Lofton (6-1), light heavyweight

Bryan Baker (9-1) vs. Brad Zazulak (6-0), middleweight

Tickets for MFC 21: Hard Knocks are going fast. Remaining tickets can be purchased by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 or through Ticketmaster at (780) 451-8000, www.ticketmaster.ca, and Ticketmaster outlets.