MFC 35: Explosive Encounter takes place October 26 at Mayfield Trade Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and airs live in the U.S. on AXS TV at 10 p.m. (ET) and on tape delay in Canada on TSN 2. The main card features five bouts that have the potential to produce exciting finishes, including a title-fight headliner, and as always MMAOddsBreaker.com has you covered with the opening MMA odds. In the main event of the evening, the MFC will crown a middleweight champion as the vacant title is on the line in a matchup between Joseph “Leonidas” Henle (8-0) and Elvis “The King” Mutapcic (11-2). MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas has installed Henle as a -160 favorite (bet $160 to win $100) while Mutapcic comes in as the underdog at +130 (bet $100 to win $130). Henle was on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter and submitted Costas Philippou to get into the house but then lost a decision to Seth Baczynski in the first round. But that was an exhbition bout so he is still undefeated in his pro career, where he has four wins by submission and two via knockout, including a TKO of Luke Harris in his MFC debut to get this title shot. He trains out of Reign Training Center in California alongside Jake Ellenberger and Mark Munoz and seems to be improving every fight. At 29 years old, the gritty fighter nicknamed “Leonidas” is in the prime of his career. His opponent, Mutapcic, grew up in war-torn Bosnia before relocating to rough-and-tumble Des Moines, Iowa, so you know Mutapcic is tough as nails. The 26-year-old has six career wins via submission and four via knockout, including a notable KO of TUF winner Cezar Mutante Ferreira and a TKO of Jacen Flynn to earn his MFC title shot. The powerful Mutapcic is also known for his vicious leg kicks, and seems to really be hitting his stride. This fight, which is set for five rounds, will likely end in a finish. The co-main event of the evening is a featherweight bout between Shane Nelson (15-6) and Graham Spencer (8-1). Kalikas has tabbed Nelson as a -210 favorite with Spencer a +160 underdog. Nelson is a veteran of the UFC and went 2-2 there including a decision over George Roop and a controversial TKO win over Aaron Riley. The 27-year-old also appeared on TUF 8, but he was eliminated with an opening round loss to eventual winner Efrain Escudero. He trains of out of B.J. Penn’s gym in Hawaii and really exemplifies the fighting spirit of the island, as he’s hard to stop, having only been finished in his last outing, a submission setback in Shooto. His opponent Spencer is the No. 1 featherweight prospect in Canada. He is a grinder who holds four wins via submission and four via decision, but none via knockout. The 27-year-old British Columbian – who will enjoy homefield advantage in this fight – also holds a notable victory over MFC lightweight contender Mukai Mamoro. Up next is a middleweight bout between Sabah Fadai (6-2) and Cody Krahn (11-5). Fadai opened as a -205 favorite and Krahn a +155 underdog. Fadai is a very exciting fighter and boasts four wins via knockout, as well as two more by way of submission. However, since coming to the MFC, he is just 0-1 with one No-Contest, and the B.C. resident needs to prove on Friday that he can win when he steps up in competition. His opponent Krahn has 11 wins, of which the Edmonton native has eight submissions and three knockouts, including a notable TKO victory over Shannon Ritch. Like Fadai, Krahn hasn’t fared well in the MFC, going only 1-2 in the promotion, so with both men badly needing a win, this fight should end with someone getting either knocked out or submitted. Following that matchup is a heavyweight contest that will see Ryan Fortin (6-3) square off against Smealinho Rama (4-0). Rama opened at -165 compared to Fortin at +135. The 20-year-old Rama only began competing in pro MMA this year, and he has already picked up two submissions and two knockouts, including a notable TKO victory over Lee Mein (father of Jordan Mein) at the last MFC event. It’s obvious the 260-pounder from Calgary has a ton of potential, and he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. Like Rama, Fortin is a finisher with two wins via submission and four via knockout, including a notable TKO over UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn. The 27-year-old Fortin, who also hails from Alberta, will hold a seven-inch height advantage over Rama (Fortin is 6-foot-6). Make no doubt about it, these big boys are going to bang, and someone is getting finished in this fight. And finally, the first fight on the main card is a light heavyweight matchup of Paul Grandbois (4-4) vs. Jason Kuchera (5-5). Kuchera opened as a -230 favorite with Grandbois a +170 underdog. All of Kuchera’s five wins have come via TKO/KO, but he has been knocked out or submitted in all five of his losses, so he’s the kind of guy that lives by the sword, dies by the sword. The Edmonton native will also be dealing with cage rust in this fight, as he hasn’t competed since a 2010 TKO loss to former UFC fighter David Heath. Like Kuchera, Alberta’s Grandbois either finishes or gets finished, and he has four knockout victories to his credit, but has also been knocked out twice and submitted twice in his losses. Perhaps Grandbois’ biggest advantage will be that he’s fought six times since Kuchera last competed in MMA. Expect someone to get knocked out in this MFC 35 main card opener.
