Shonie Carter to Headline Maximum Fighting Championship

Mr International is heading to Canada for his next fight.

Maximum Fighting Championship 14: High Rollers, on Friday, November 23 at the River Cree Resort and Casino, will be headlined by one of the most colourful characters in Mixed Martial Arts. Shonie Carter, a six-time UFC veteran and a featured fighter in Season 4 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, will make his first MFC appearance as he faces Alberta’s own undefeated Brad Zazulak in the main event of Maximum Fighting Championship 14: High Rollers.

“Shonie is a one-of-a-kind star athlete,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. “No one can match his style, his personality and definitely no one can match his wardrobe. But make no mistake – Shonie is a tremendous fighter and a very dangerous opponent. There are few fighters with his level of experience and even fewer who can finish a fight in so many different ways like Shonie can.”

Carter is truly one of the most flamboyant athletes anywhere in the world, but he backs up his flair with tremendous talent in mixed martial arts. He holds 37 career victories with the biggest win coming in dramatic fashion. Carter scored a KO win over current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra with nine seconds remaining in the final round, finishing the fight with his trademark spinning backfist.

Carter was named to the list of fighters taking part in the The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback, the fourth season of the UFC’s popular reality TV show. He drew instant reaction from his fellow fighters and viewers with his outlandish fashion sense and quirky personality. Then Carter drew everyone’s respect for his fighting abilities as he eliminated Rich Clementi in the opening round of the show before narrowly losing the semifinal by judges’ decision to Matt Serra.

But Zazulak, who is unbeaten so far in his MMA career, won’t be backing down from the veteran. Trained in the Miletich Fighting System, Zazulak has emerged as one of Canada’s top middleweight prospects. His raw talent, strength and skills have quickly made Zazulak a force to be reckoned with.

“Brad is absolutely no pushover and Shonie better be ready to fight,” noted Pavelich. “Brad has shown in past MFC events that his ready for bigger challenges and he eagerly accepted the opportunity to face such an accomplished veteran.

“He’s going to have a lot of fans behind him but I know that Brad can carry the load and deliver.”

The Carter vs. Zazulak fight moves into the main event spot previously occupied by a matchup between MFC light heavyweight champion Roger Hollett and opponent Ryan McClain. That fight had to be dropped after Hollett suffered a knee injury in a bout on Oct. 20 that will sideline him 4-6 months.

Maximum Fighting Championship 14: High Rollers also features a showdown between unbeaten welterweights as Ryan Ford faces off against Mike Sorensen, plus a battle of top young welterweights pitting Ryan McGillivray against Stjephan Vujnovic, and a clash between MFC lightweight title contenders as Ryan Heck squares off against Donald Sanchez.

Tickets are going fast for Maximum Fighting Championship 14: High Rollers – the last seven shows have all sold out and 1,000 fans were turned away at the door for Maximum Fighting Championship 13: Lucky 13.