Tonight on HDNet Maximum Fighting Championships will hold an event featuring two world championship matches.  It also features many names that have dotted the MMA landscape on the biggest stages.  Included on that list are former UFC fighters, Zak Cummings, Terry Martin, Hermes Franca, Pete Spratt and Marcus Davis.  It’s a huge event for MFC and should be an entertaining watch. 

Pete Spratt vs. Demi Deeds – Welterweights

Pete Spratt (21-19) always has the proverbial punchers chance.  He’s got tremendous standup but has lost A LOT of fights by submission.  He has just never been able to get comfortable on the ground and learn basic submission defense.  It has been his undoing time and time again but he fails to improve in that area.  Enter Demi Deeds (15-8) who just happens to have pretty solid submissions.  Standing, the edge is Spratt’s, but on the mat, he’s a fish out of water who likely would struggle with Deeds.  It comes down to whether or not Deeds can take Pete Spratt down, and he can.  Every minute spent standing is dangerous for Deeds, any time spent on the mat or in the clinch is nervous time for Spratt.  Most fights hit the mat at some point, and when it does, Deeds should finish Pete by submission.

Marcus Davis vs. Curtis Demarce – Lightweights

Marcus Davis was a mainstay in the UFC, but losing three of four was all it took to be shown the door, and nobody was happier to see him become a free agent than MFC President and founder Mark Pavelich.  He immediately snapped Davis up and will feature him tonight against Curtis Demarce, a young fighter who owns a (10-8) record.  Truthfully Demarce is likely a little out of his depth here, and Davis could utilize his superior striking in a showcase fight.  He’ll be fighting at Lightweight and with a win here, will likely fight for a MFC title soon with champion Antonio McKee.  It seems pretty safe to assume that Davis will be too much for Demarce and could win by knockout.

Robert Washington vs. Hermes Franca – Catchweight Fight at 160

Hermes Franca was once considered to be among the best of the best in the world at Lightweight.  He sports a (20-11) record, but is only 2-6 in his last eight fights.  Robert “The Beast” Washington is (9-2) and headed up, while Hermes is heading south career wise.  This is a fight where if Washington wins, he will continue up the ladder, known as a prospect, but with a loss to Franca, he’ll be left to start over at the beginning.  It’s a compelling fight in that sense. Robert trains at the HIT Squad with Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and others and will be looking to utilize his wrestling, while avoiding submissions from Hermes.  Washington is the safe pick here, likely winning by decision.

Douglas Lima vs. Terry Martin – Welterweight Championship

Douglas Lima is the MFC Welterweight Champion.  He has a (17-4) record and really brings an exciting style to the cage.  He has solid standup and very slick submissions, but will have his hands full standing with the heavy handed Terry Martin, who is known for his punching power.  Terry has been in the UFC, but he’s 4-6 in his last ten fights, and I watched him live against Julio Paulino at Arena Rumble a few fights ago and he looked significantly slower and had serious gas issues in the losing effort.  I don’t think Lima should have much to worry about in this fight, as he should be able to control the distance with his jabs and leg kicks, until he can take the fight to the mat and use his Jiu Jitsu to secure a submission and keep his Welterweight Title.

Ryan Jimmo vs. Zak Cummings – Light Heavyweight Championship

Ryan Jimmo hasn’t lost in four years, since he dropped his professional debut.  Since that fight, he’s run off fourteen straight wins, one of the longest current active winning streaks in the sport.  Zak Cummings is a tough guy, but he has the disadvantage of only having taken this fight on two weeks notice.  He filled in for injured Emanuel Newton.  Zak sports a solid (12-2) record, and if he can land early he has a shot at the upset, but as time goes by, he’ll fade because he didn’t have adequate time to prepare for Jimmo. Zak is a very tough kid though, and you shouldn’t expect him to without a fight.  Most likely he’ll do well early, but as the championship rounds come, he’ll fade, either being stopped in the fourth or fifth round.