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Canadas most successful MMA promotion, The Maximum Fighting Championship returns this Friday night for MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. "Im the forefather of MMA in this country and its going to continue to be that way -- When Im dead one day and they make (me) a statue. (Critics will) feel terrible about how they spoke about me. Thats whats going to happen." Pavelich told TSN.ca Founded in 2001, the MFC is the longest running MMA promotion in North America next to the UFC and has outlasted other organizations such as the IFL, Elite XC, DREAM, Affliction and most recently Strikeforce who have all ceased operations. "Im not a promoter; Im a fight pioneer thats what people dont understand. Fight promoters are guys that come around and do it once in a while Im a guy thats been in (the fight business) right from the beginning." While MMA has been thriving in Western Canada for years thanks to the success of the MFC, the province of Ontario hasnt been as responsive, only legalizing MMA back in 2010. Despite the UFC holding successful annual events in Toronto the last few years, local MMA promotions are essentially non-existent in Ontario. Even the MFC has only held one event in Ontario (MFC 29: Conquer, in Windsor, Ontario) and that was back in 2011. Whats keeping local MMA out of Ontario? According to Pavelich it is the governing bodies in charge and not Ontario Athletic Commissioner Ken Hayashi. "Its not (Hayashi), its the provincial government that makes these regulations and fees. Thats the thing they have to fix and alter before (the MFC) returns because these fees are astronomical, theyre the highest in the world. Las Vegas is cheaper (to run an event), Albertas cheaper, and Quebec is cheaper." Pavelich believes MMA cant grow properly in Ontario if the UFC is the only promotion running events. "Thats just something (the governing bodies) have to take a look at. If they really want to see MMA develop properly in Ontario, I think (the MFC) is the only brand of MMA that can actually do it. I mean if you want to wait around for the UFC to come once a year and you think thats going to develop MMA, its not going to happen that way." One of the catalysts for the MFCs success has been their out of the box type thinking, including their recent "Punch The Vote" contest where fans had the opportunity to pick which of the three title fights would serve as the main event for MFC 38. This included Canadian Smealinho Rama vs. Anthony Hamilton (for the heavyweight title), Sam Alvey vs. Jason South (for the 185lb title) and Anthony Birchack vs. Tito Jones (for the 135lb title). "What I loved about the voting -- It really showed were not a local a brand of MMA, were not even a Canadian brand of MMA, and we had people voting from all over the world. That proves thats lots of people are paying attention and thats really exciting." Proof of this was the Calgary native Rama who received the least amount of votes and bantamweights Birchack and Jones (both of whom are American) earning the main event slot. Rounding out MFC 38s main card, aside from the three title fights is a lightweight affair between Canadian Kurt Southern and Jason Novaes. Pavelich believes this rematch from MFC 36 will be nothing short of fireworks. "Kurt Southern is the best 155er in Canada. I think Novaes is a special individual as well. Theyre going to go at it again for the second time and Im super excited about that. But like I said its unfortunate because there are three titles and nobody is talking about (this) fight." On the topic of fighters on the MFC roster, many fans have been wondering why welterweight superstar Dhiego Lima hasnt been competing inside the MFC ring this year. The answer is simple, hes a free-agent. "Problem with Dhiego is we have too many American Top Team guys in our organization. He was crossing (fights) with them -- a few times he was going to have title fights with other American Top Team guys and then it got really weird. They wouldnt fight each other." "We released him and let him go to where he wants to go, because (not fighting teammates) is going to be a problem." This is the second time Pavelich has let a Lima brother leave his organization as a free-agent. Dhiegos older brother Douglas left in the Alberta based promotion back in 2011 and has recently found success in in the Bellator Fighting Championships, winning two welterweight tournaments. "Im happy for (Douglas) although I dont think hes fighting for the right organization, sometimes agents make the mistake. I dont blame him whatsoever." "Go check Limas twitter today, you know what it still says "MFC Champ" at the top of it. That tells you whats in his heart. He told us at our home one time that made a mistake going to (Bellator). He could have walked into the UFC, and not just walked in, he could have walked in like a star" "I dont think he gets the publicity like he did when he was with the Maximum Fighting Championship any more. (Bellator) fails to promote that end of stuff" As the sport of MMA continues to grow, the addition of women fighting is always a hot topic. With UFC introducing females into their organization earlier this year and debuting them on the Ultimate Fighter, could we see the same thing in the MFC? "I respect all female fighters. Im a huge Miesha Tate fan, I like Sarah Kaufman. I think theyre great athletes. The problem is I dont think I can get a quality ten girls together to make this a great division." Another budding issue with the MFC is their broadcast rights. Currently their events only broadcast live on AXS TV (formally HDNet) in the States. Canadian cable companies pulled the plug on AXS TV in Canada last year. The only way fans can watch MFC events in Canada is on a two-week tape delay on speciality channel the Fight Network. "Andrew Simon and Mark Cuban are very intelligent at AXS TV and everybody knows that. I know they want to be in Canada. Sometimes being Mark Cuban is difficult because people might charge too much for what (the network) is really worth. The cable networks and the fans have to realize that its your obligation to tell the cable company that you want AXS TV (in Canada)" Despite these hurdles, Pavelich believes the MFC is a unique brand of MMA and fans always get their monies worth seeing their events live. "Come watch our brand of MMA and then you tell me after that you didnt get your $60 worth or your $600 worth its impossible! (Quality fights) is the only thing were good at and weve been good at it for 14-years." "We have real fighters in the MFC. You cant pick who you fight in the Maximum Fighting Championships, you go in these other organizations and you can pick who you fight. We tell you youre going to fight because its our job is to the fans and we want to put on the best fight possible" MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines takes place this Friday (October 4th) at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton Alberta Canada and on AXS TV. Mike Modano Jersey .com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event. Cheap Dallas Stars Jerseys . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. http://www.cheapstarsjerseys.com/. The 27th-ranked Austrian underwent surgery on a torn tendon in October and needs more time to recover, the Austria Press Agency reports on Saturday. Cheap Stars Jerseys Authentic . You can watch coverage on TSN, TSN2 and CTV beginning today at 3pm et/Noon pt. The championships will feature approximately 250 of Canadas best figure skaters in senior, junior and novice as they vie for spots on the national team, international assignments and will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process. Kari Lehtonen Jersey . Berkman almost left the game last off-season before signing with the Texas Rangers. He then had another injury-plagued season and was limited to 73 games.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots stocked up on top free agent cornerbacks. Now its time to make their job easier by adding a young pass rusher. They hope to find one in the NFL draft starting Thursday night. "Theres a deep group of defensive linemen that are different types of players," Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said. Chandler Jones led the team with 11 1-2 sacks last season, but only two teammates had more than three. Outstanding pass rushers who could be available with the Patriots 29th pick are defensive ends Dee Ford of Auburn and Kony Ealy of Missouri. This weeks signing of defensive end Will Smith after 10 years with New Orleans could help fill that need, although hell be 33 in July, missed all last season with a torn ACL and averaged just six sacks in his previous three seasons. In their 26-16 loss to Denver in the AFC championship game, the Patriots allowed Peyton Manning to throw for 400 yards without a sack. In the off-season, they signed cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner while losing Aqib Talib to Denver. Browner gives the Patriots a physical presence, although he must sit out the first four games after being suspended for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. "Those guys have played a lot of good football," Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. "Every year you have new guys that have to learn the defence. Youve got to start working together." Five other things to look for when the Patriots draft: NEEDY POSITIONS: Tight end, a strength of the team from 2010-12, was a weakness last season after Aaron Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder and Rob Gronkowski was injured and sidelined for nine games. Gronkowski may not be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from knee surgery. So the Patriots could draft Jace Amaro of Texas Tech. They need depth at running back after LeGarrette Blount signed with Pittsburgh. That left them with just Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden. CHARACTER ISSUES: This draft is the first since Hernandez was arrested last June and pleaded not guilty to murder. Afterward, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the organizattion would review its procedures for evaluating players.dddddddddddd In 2012, cornerback Alfonzo Dennard slipped to the seventh round after an outstanding career in Nebraska. He started nine of his 13 games last season with the Patriots, then spent 35 days in jail after pleading no contest to driving under the influence, a violation of his probation for punching a police officer shortly before the 2012 draft. He was released from jail April 4. "You look at the entire body of work when you create the profile on a player," Caserio said. "If we dont feel comfortable, then we move on to the next player." BACKING UP BRADY: Tom Brady says he wants to play into his 40s. Hell be 37 in August and his successor could emerge from this years draft. Brady was taken in the sixth round, so the Patriots feel they dont have to choose a quarterback early. They took current backup Ryan Mallett in the third round in 2011, but hes thrown just four passes, all in 2012. So would the Patriots focus on drafting Bradys successor? "I would say were focused on improving our football team in whatever capacity we can do. Well always consider that," Caserio said. CATCHING UP: The Patriots moved to bolster their weak wide receiving corps by drafting Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce last year and signing free agent Kenbrell Thompkins. Dobson had 37 receptions, Thompkins had 32 and Boyce had nine. Then they signed free agent Brandon LaFell, who had a career-high 49 catches for Carolina last year. But with only Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola catching more than 37 passes at wide receiver, the Patriots might draft one. "You dont want to pass on a player just because he has a position where there might be numbers or volume," Caserio said. LETS MAKE A DEAL: The Patriots have eight picks in seven rounds and could package some in trades. Last year they sent their first-round choice to Minnesota for picks they used to take linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round, cornerback Logan Ryan in the third and Boyce in the fourth. Collins and Ryan had solid rookie seasons. They also obtained a seventh-round pick in the deal, then traded it to Tampa Bay for Blount. ' ' '