Canada’s longest running MMA promotion returns for the first time since May, as MFC 41 takes place from the organization’s normal stomping grounds of the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The card was originally scheduled to be headlined by a bantamweight title bout, but Anthony Birchak was signed to the UFC (and then ended up seeing his opponent receive a UFC title shot in his debut at UFC 177 while Birchak sat on the sidelines with no fight). Next, a lightweight title bout was set to top the card, but lightweight champion Tom Galicchio was forced out of the bout with an elbow injury. Now, half a title fight gets main billing. If Marcus Edwards is victorious in the main event of MFC 41, he will be crowned interim lightweight champion. If Shane Campbell wins, he will be the #1 contender at welterweight. The fight is taking place at 164lbs. Truly one of the stranger scenarios we’ve seen in MMA recently. Circumstances aside, the main event is a solid bout, as are many of the AXS TV televised bouts. Former UFC light heavyweight Victor Valimaki finds himself in the co-main event as he hopes to extend his winning streak to three against prospect Jeremy Osheim. Lightweights Andrew McInnes and Ryan Healy could determine a future lightweight title challenger as the veteran looks to stop the four-fight win streak of the young submission artist. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting lines for the top four fights on MFC 41 today at Several Bookmakers. Take a look: ——————– MAIN CARD (AXS TV, 10pm ET) Marcus Edwards -260 Shane Campbell +180 Jeremy Osheim -270 Victor Valimaki +190 Miles Anstead -350 Jared McComb +250 Ryan Healy -130 Andrew McInnes -110 ——————– Brad’s Analysis: As a Canadian MMA fan, it’s a bit troubling to me that MFC hasn’t been able to fill this card with fighters who are even known to me. They have had a significant amount of cancelled fights on this card however, so it deserves a bit of a pass. I really like this main event bout though. Marcus Edwards is one of the top lightweight prospects in MMA right now, and Shane Campbell is a talented and fun striker. I think Edwards has the better overall game, and his aggressiveness standing should allow him to close the distance against Campbell before he absorbs too much damage on the outside. If it turns into a striking bout, that obviously favors the former K-1 striker, but Edwards should be smart enough to avoid that, even though this fight was made on short notice. I was glad to see Jeremy Osheim get a win over Todd Stoute in his last bout, as Stoute is one of those fighters who just begs to be cheered against (google him if you really want to know why). That said, I’m not sure Osheim is ready for the step up in competition that Valimaki presents. The UFC vet was successful in his return to MMA after a two-year break at MFC 40, but it’s difficult to trust him or his opponent in this spot due to inactivity and inexperience, respectively. Anstead and McComb is a fight I really have no read on here. With two UFC cards and Bellator, I simply haven’t been able to take a look at McComb, but Anstead is one of the more highly touted prospects in Canada. I lean Anstead for that reason, but you’re on your own if you want to bet this one. There seems to be a lot of support for Ryan Healy out there, but I think he’s on a decline and Andrew McInnes is a solid prospect. This will be McInnes’ toughest test since facing Chad Laprise in his pro debut, but I think he can pull off the victory. It won’t be easy, as Healy is skilled, durable, and probably the better wrestler here, but McInnes is the type of grappler who doesn’t need traditional takedowns to initiate his submission game. I think McInnes will pull out a decision, and be one of the next fighters to emerge in MFC.
