MFC 24: Yves Edwards vs Derrick Noble set for Feb. 26 main event

An expected intense showdown between two veteran lightweights will headline the card set for MFC 24: Heat XC on Friday, February 26.

Onetime MFC lightweight title challenger Derrick "The Eraser" Noble (25-12-1) will look to get back into 155-pound championship picture when he takes on "The Texas Gunslinger" Yves Edwards (36-15-1) in a clash that will top the lineup of fights at the River Cree Resort and Casino just outside Edmonton, Alberta.

Both fighters are known for putting a exclamation point on the fights. In his 25 victories, Nobles has 19 stoppages - nine by knockout and another 10 by submission including his somewhat surprising second-round guillotine choke win over jiu-jitsu practitioner Ariel Sexton at MFC 19. Edwards, meanwhile, has ended 29 of his 36 wins inside the distance - 14 by knockout and 15 by submission with his most-recent verdict being a first-round TKO of Kyle Jensen.

"This year, I’ve made it clear to the fighters in our organization that I want them to be exciting, get the crowd out their seats, and end fights in style," noted MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich. "Derrick and Yves are the kind of fighters that won’t sit back, they won’t lay around, and they won’t be looking to drag things out."

"Both of them know how important this fight is to their respective careers and they are both well aware what lies ahead for them with an impressive win. They won’t be hoping to win by lame decision. They both want a big, convincing victory."

Noble is eager to put his last MFC outing behind him. The Cuba, Illinois, native couldn’t pull the trigger enough times in his encounter with Antonio McKee, resulting in McKee being awarded a five-round decision and the MFC lightweight belt.

"I expect this fight with Yves to be full of fireworks and to be completely different from my last MFC fight," said Noble. "Putting Yves and myself in the ring together is a fight the fans are going to enjoy.

"I’m really excited about this fight. Fighting guys like Yves is what my entire career has been about. I always fight tough guys and have never turned down a fight, so as soon as I was offered the fight it took me all of 10 second to say yes. I’m looking to get back to the top and Yves is a good way to make that happen.

"It’s a dangerous fight for both of us. I’ve fought good strikers so I know how to deal with that. I respect Yves and what he has accomplished but come February 26th I’ll be looking to take him out just like anybody else."

Noble has won two straight since falling to McKee and holds career victories over such notables as MFC welterweight champ Pat Healy, Thiago Alves, and Jake Ellenberger.

Edwards, too, is no stranger to big-name fights as his career resume reads like a who’s who of opponents. A winner of five of his last seven fights, the Woodlands, Texas , product has beaten the likes of Hermes Franca, Rich Clementi, Pete Spratt, Thomas Denny, and Dokonjonosuke Mishima during his career. The 33-year-old has also been in against a long list of notables such as Joe Stevenson, Matt Serra, and Nate Marquardt.

The Noble-Edwards encounter highlights the MFC 24 card which includes two light heavyweight clashes pitting Dwayne Lewis against David Heath, and Nick Penner against Chris Price, along with a middleweight tussle between Tom Watson and Travis Galbraith.

Tickets for MFC 24: Heat XC are going fast and are available through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 as well via Ticketmaster at (780) 451-8000, www.ticketmaster.ca, and Ticketmaster outlets. MFC 24: Heat XC will air live via streaming webcast - check out www.maximumfighting.com for all the details.

Tickets are also on sale now for MFC 25: Vindication slated for Friday, April 9, at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton , Alberta . Vindication will air live throughout North America on HDNet Fights. Among the fights scheduled for Vindication is light heavyweight showdown between Ryan "The Big Deal" Jimmo and MFC newcomer Wilson Gouveia. Tickets for that show are available through the MFC Ticket Hotline and via www.winspearcentre.com.