MFC 40 ‘Crowned Kings’ Gets 3 New Bouts for May 9 Event in Edmonton

Jonatas Novaes will square off with Andrew McInnes at MFC 40. | Jacob Bos/Sherdog.com

MFC officials announced late Tuesday that Jonatas Novaes will square off with fellow lightweight Andrew McInnes at the May 9 event, which takes place at the Shaw Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The evening’s main card airs live on AXS TV and fill feature three championship fights, including a lightweight title headliner between Kurt Southern and Tom Gallicchio.

The event will also showcase a 155-pound showdown between Marcus Edwards and Aaron Gallant, as well as a rescheduled light heavyweight confrontation pitting Sean O’Connell against Victor Valimaki, who were originally supposed to collide at MFC 39 before Valimaki took ill.

Novaes, 32, has gone 1-1 since joining the MFC last year, submitting Southern in his promotional debut only to fall in their rematch this past October, with Southern scoring a first-round technical knockout over “Peixe Frito” at MFC 38.

McInnes holds just five pro fights to his credit but rides four consecutive victories into his second MFC appearance. “Andrewconda” most recently competed on Jan. 17, submitting onetime WSOF talent Dan Ring with a rear-naked choke at MFC 39.