Ryan McGillivray knows he has a big job ahead of him.
But he’s conquered a lot in a short period of time. He’s overcome a
broken back. He has bounced back from losses. And he jumped headfirst
into the responsibility of being a single dad.When MFC 33: Collision Course rolls around on Friday, May 4, though, McGillivray admits that the task at hand will be the toughest of his mixed martial arts career, yet it also comes with the greatest reward he’s ever had a chance to obtain.
McGillivray (12-5-1) will lock horns with Nathan Coy (10-4) at MFC 33 with the winner claiming the MFC welterweight title. The bout headlines the Collision Course card airing live from the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, on HDNet Fights. The six-bout main card begins at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).
“The Kid,” now all of 25, has been through a lot. It will all be worth it if he wears the MFC crown after conquering Coy.
“I am very excited to have a chance at a very respected title,” said McGillivray. “It has been a very long road and feels like all I have been through – good and bad – has been worth it. It has always been a dream of mine to have this title fight.”
McGillivray has been eyeing an MFC title for years. He has fought 13 times under the organization’s banner – a total second-only to Dwayne Lewis’s 15 appearances. McGillivray’s run in the MFC has included nine straight shows to start his career, as well as brief stints at both lightweight and middleweight.
Home-field advantage will be in McGillivray’s favor in his quest for the belt. A growing legion of fans, the McGillivray Mob if you will, offer up encouragement, but Coy is as unflappable as they come.
“Coy is probably the toughest guy I have fought in my career and I have no doubt I am going to need to be at my best to win the title,” offered McGillivray. “I know he has had a long road as well and will be equally motivated to take that belt.”
Coy is far from an easy foe. Now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, Coy demonstrated a good chin and stiff hands in upsetting Dhiego Lima at MFC 32 back in January. Without a doubt, though, Coy’s strength is his wrestling as the former NCAA champ from Oregon State University mauled Lima with a heavy ground game. On the same card, McGillivray pulled his own contendership victory from the grip of defeat. Bloodied and behind on the scorecards, McGillivray found an open spot and seized the win with a third-round submission over Diego Bautista.
Getting Coy on the ground could play into McGillivray’s favor as 10 of his 12 victories have come by way of submission, six of those by his favored method of stoppage – the armbar. McGillivray knows he’ll need everything in his arsenal including an ever-improving striking game to have a chance to derailing Coy.
“I don’t think it’s any secret the pedigree he has with him with his national level wrestling,” noted McGillivray. “I am aware he is going to be looking to take me down and finish me there. I plan on making him pay on his way in and working my submissions in all areas so my BJJ is better than ever.
“He has a lot of decisions so I will be more than ready to go six rounds. Yes, six rounds. I want to be able to outwork him and at the very least out-heart him. It should be a tough, entertaining fight.”
Tickets for MFC 33: Collision Course are on sale now and available exclusively through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 .
