'MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines' set for Oct. 4 with pair of title fights

Canada’s Maximum Fighting Champsionship returns in October with a pair of title fights headlining its next card.

“MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines” will feature a heavyweight title fight with Smealinho Rama (6-0) against an opponent yet to be determined, plus the promotion’s inaugural bantamweight title will be on the line in the co-main event when Anthony Birchak (10-1) takes on Tito Jones (10-6).

MFC 38 takes place Oct. 4 at Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Tickets for the event are on sale now. The show’s six-fight main card will air live on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET.

Rama, widely regarded as Canada’s top heavyweight prospect, will fight in front of his home province once again. His resume includes six first-round stoppages with three by submission and three by knockout. At MFC 38 in February, he knocked out Mike Hackert midway through the first frame. He’s 3-0 under the MFC banner.

Birchak ran his win streak to four fights in May when he outpointed Ryan Benoit at MFC 37, his debut with the promotion. Prior to that, the onetime Bellator veteran had three straight TKO stoppages in 2012 against Matt Leyva, Roman Salazar and John Green.

Jones, a Strikeforce and Rage in the Cage veteran, will make his MFC debut on a three-fight win streak in 2012. Those wins got him well back on track after a rough stretch that saw him drop four of five fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Bao Quach at the first Strikeforce Challengers show in 2009.

“Anthony’s performance at MFC 37 was without a doubt one of the fiercest and most entertaining showcases I’ve ever seen,” MFC President Mark Pavelich stated. “I’m incredibly excited to be putting Anthony in a title fight and equally as excited to see Tito Jones go after the belt. Tito didn’t hesitate for one second to go face-to-face against Birchak, and that tells me he’s going to bring the fight right to him, which is what the fans of the MFC love.”

Also on the MFC 38 card, Jonatas Novaes (11-4) and Kurt Southern (12-4) will rematch after Novaes’ third-round armbar win at MFC 36 in February. That was his sixth win in seven fights. Southern got back on track with a submission win over Mukai Maromo at MFC 37 in May, but now wants revenge against Novaes in what is expected to be a No. 1 contender bout at lightweight.

As part of MFC 38, officials announced the promotion will honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its “Power of Pink” campaign. The MFC ring ropes will be wrapped in pink, and fighter gloves will have pink tape. A pink ribbon logo also will be used on the ring canvas.

The latest MFC 38 fight card includes:

• Smealinho Rama vs. TBA – for heavyweight title
• Anthony Birchak vs. Tito Jones – for inaugural bantamweight title
• Jonatas Novaes vs. Kurt Southern
• Sam Alvey vs. TBA
• Garret Nybakken vs. TBA
• Jared McComb vs. TBA
• Chase Degenhardt vs. TBA

For the latest on MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Anthony Birchak)