Edmonton Alberta, Canada, Saturday, February 11, 2006, 1 – 2:30 p.m, Crowne Plaza Hotel – River Valley Room Featuring Mike Maurer of the Edmonton Eskimos, Jason “the Athlete” Macdonald, Victor “the Matrix” Valimaki and Kyle “the Prodigy” Dillman. Mr. Mark Pavelich, President and CEO of the Maximum Fighting Championship, would like to invite the media, fans and sponsors to an open training session this Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Edmonton.

This will be the first opportunity of its kind staged by the Maximum Fighting Championship and it is the perfect chance to see our mixed martial arts athletes up close as they prepare for MFC 9 – No Excuses to be held March 10 at the Shaw Conference Centre.

The training session will include an availability for the media to speak with:

Mark Pavelich, a Canadian pioneer in mixed martial arts and owner of Canada’s No. 1 MMA promotion.
Mike Maurer, Edmonton Eskimos running back and Most Outstanding Canadian at the 2005 Grey Cup game who will be making his professional mixed martial arts debut at MFC 9.
Jason Macdonald, the No. 1-ranked middleweight in Canada, who will be fighting in the main event at MFC 9 against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Patrick Cote for the MFC world title.
A number of other MFC fighters including Edmonton’s own Victor Valimaki, who defeated the legendary Dan “the Beast” Severn at MFC 8, and hot newcomer Kyle Dillman.

“The entire Maximum Fighting Championship family is tremendously excited about our upcoming show on March 10 and we are thrilled to be able to put on this open training session for the media and our fans,” said Mr. Pavelich.

“We have heard from countless sports fans in Edmonton and across Canada who have told us how excited they are to see Mike Maurer of the Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos step into the world of mixed martial arts (ultimate fighting) for the first time. Mike has told us he is in the best shape of his life which speaks volumes coming from a professional football player about the time it takes to prepare for our sport.

“And there are few athletes in Canada who have the dedication to excellence that is so prevalent in Jason Macdonald and I know that he is determined to defeat Patrick Cote.”

Media members are cordially invited to join us for lunch as well as sample the products of the Maximum Fighting Championship’s newest sponsor, Liquid Ice Energy Drink.

“No one in the media goes away hungry from our events,” added Mr. Pavelich.

Fans are encouraged to attend the training session which will include an opportunity for them to meet with the MFC fighters, chat about the upcoming show and receive an autographed photo.

For more information, please contact Mark Pavelich at 995-9095 and check out the MFC’s new website at www.maximumfighting.com.