Edmonton, Alberta (Canada): Aggression MMA, Edmonton’s top MMA promotion, is proud to announce that its forthcoming March 11th event will feature its first ever eight-man lightweight tournament. The winner of the tourney will be crowned the Aggression Lightweight Champion. Fighters scheduled to participate include Shane “Shaolin” Campbell, Tim Jenson, Ryan Machan, Estavan Payan, Mitch Clarke, Trevor Wright, Brad Cardinal, and Kurt Southern. In addition, recent Aggression signee and top Canadian welterweight Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford is slated to headline the event.
Here’s a rundown of the tourney participants:
Shane “Shaolin” Campbell (4-0) holds an undefeated record in MMA, and is considered one of the most decorated Muay Thai practitioners competing in the sport today. “Shaolin” was the 2009 WMA World Muay Thai Champion, as well as the 2007 WKA World Muay Thai Champion. All told, Campbell has competed in over fifty Muay Thai fights.
Estevan Payan (9-3) holds a pro MMA record of 9-3, and is a two-time Bellator veteran. A member of the well-respected Arizona Combat Sports fight team, Payan has trained with former WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner in the past, and is known for showcasing his skills in crowd-pleasing fights.
Ryan Machan (12-6) returns to the 155-pound division after trying his hand at welterweight. Machan is a formerly nationally-ranked lightweight who holds notable victories over currently ranked competitors Kajan Johnson, Gavin Neil, and fellow tourney participant Brad Cardinal.
Mitch Clarke (8-0 was the last lightweight champion of The Fight Club. The undefeated Clarke is hoping to win the Aggression title and prove that he belongs higher in the national rankings.
Tim Jenson (6-1) has been on the sidelines since 2007, working to improve his game, and has chosen Aggression as his new home to display his evolving skill set. Working under world-renowned trainer David Lea of Toshido Fighting Arts in Kelowna, Jenson is set to make his mark on the Canadian fight scene. He’s is a former Rage in the Cage champion, and holds notable victories over Ben Greer and the highly regarded Jordan Mein.
Trevor Wright (5-3) started his career with a bang, but has hit a tough streak recently. He is now looking to rebound under the guidance of Kent Brown. Hoping to prove to Canadian MMA fans that he is a legit contender, Wright will look to take flight at the Aggression MMA lightweight tourney.
Brad Cardinal (11-5) is currently the number six-ranked lightweight in Canada, and holds notable wins over Myles Merola, Musa Toliver, Thierry Quennville, and fellow tourney participants Trevor Wright and Kurt Southern. Cardinal is riding a seven-fight win streak heading into the tournament.
Kurt Southern (7-3) is a tough fighter looking to utilize the tournament as a springboard to regain his national ranking. He holds notable wins over Mukai Maromo and Martin Grandmont.
“This tournament is set to help Aggression MMA really explode on the Canadian fight scene,” stated promotion co-owner Harvey Panesar. “The talent featured in the tourney is second to none, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top!”
The four winners will square off at the next Aggression event, and the finals will be held at the following event. The tournament winner will get the lightweight championship, as well as a cash bonus. Fight pairings and other matchup announcements for the March 11th event will be released soon.
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