Newton Out, Jimmo-Cummings Now Headlines MFC 29

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A training injury has forced No. 1 contender Emanuel Newton out of his light heavyweight title confrontation with Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder Ryan Jimmo, the promotion announced Tuesday.

Stepping in for “The Hardcore Kid” will be Bellator veteran Zak Cummings, who now meets Jimmo for the strap at MFC 29 on April 8 from The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. The event airs will live on HDNet.

“I’m a gamer. I don’t pick and choose easy fights. It would be amazing to come into the MFC and win the title,” said Cummings in the official release. “I break people. I’m a hard-nosed fighter. The fight’s going to start standing up, and I’m going to throw punches and kicks. And if it goes to the ground, I’m going to pound on him. I’m going to submit him, or I’m going to wear him out. I break people’s wills.”

Representing the Springfield Fight Club in Springfield, Mo., Cummings rides a three-fight winning streak heading into his MFC debut against Jimmo. Typically a middleweight, Cummings was submitted by former Strikeforce middleweight title challenger Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce Challengers 3 in September 2009. Cummings also locked horns with former UFC talent Terry Martin earlier in February 2009, besting Martin by split decision.

Jimmo lost the first fight of his pro career and has yet to taste defeat since. “Big Deal” has won 14 fights in a row, dating back to 2007. It will be Jimmo’s 10th appearance under the MFC banner when he squares off with Cummings.

Jimmo took the vacant title at MFC 28 in February, breaking Dwayne Lewis’ orbital bone and causing a doctor's stoppage.