Elvis Mutapcic pounding Jacen Flynn at MFC 34 (photo via Maximum Fighting)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although Elvis Mutapcic has impressed since he turned pro in 2007, the fighter’s career has reached new heights since he signed with the Maximum Fighting Championship last year. Since arriving in the Canadian based promotion, Mutapcic has gone on to record two stoppage wins, defeat TUF veteran Joseph Henle and secure the MFC middleweight title live on AXS TV. The man nicknamed “The King” has a much larger following as a result.

“I think so yeah; I got a lot more media attention just leading up to that fight,” Mutapcic said recently while appearing on Full Contact Fighter Radio, while discussing the media attention he’s been receiving as a result of defeating Henle for the MFC belt. “I got a lot of media attention even after, so it feels good to be recognized for something you do.”

Mutapcic laid claim to the promotion’s vacant title at MFC 35 last October, thanks in large part to devastating leg kicks, which ended Henle’s night in the third round.

“It’s really easy to get used to it I guess,” said Mutapcic, when asked if he’s grown accustomed to life as a champion. “When someone talks to you and they call you champion it’s a good feeling.”

“Everything worked out the way I wanted to,” the 26 year-old Mutapcic added while discussing his championship win. “A few plans changed during the fight but you gotta roll with the punches and take what you get.”

Elvis Mutapcic celebrating his MFC championship win (photo via Maximum Fighting Championship)

Up next, Mutapcic (12-2) will defend his belt for the first time against another TUF vet in Sam Alvey (19-4), who competed in the recent season of the program that featured head coaches Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson. The 26 year-old veteran has also competed for organizations like King of the Cage and Bellator, and is coming off a first round stoppage win over Lucas Lopes at a ShoFight event last June.

“Honestly, until “The Ultimate Fighter” I really didn’t know much about him,” Mutpacic noted about his upcoming opponent, who is also 26 years old. “There’s so many fighters out there that are at the same level where we’re at. A lot of hungry guys. Unless someone has been in the bigger show it’s really hard to hear about somebody. Unless they’re making a big bang in my weight class.”

“I honestly think my name is out there already and right now, it’s more about getting a win and retaining my title,” said Mutapcic, when asked if he’s excited about the prospect of defeating another TUF vet and increasing his own profile. “I’m just taking one fight at a time and working my way up.”

Aside from his recent stint with the UFC, Alvey has gone 4-1 in his last five fights and is 8-2 in his last 10.

“His toughness,” said Mutpacic, when asked what concerns him the most about the Team Quest fighter. “You can’t look past that. The reason he fights and the reason he wins is how tough he is. He has a very good chin and he’s got very heavy hands. On top of that he’s a really good wrestler, but he prefers to stand, so that just shows how confident he is in his abilities to stand in there with the best and trade.”

“When he faces me I guess I’ll be another test for him to see if he changes his mind about that.”

And what kind of fight is Mutapcic expecting to go down, February 15th at MFC 36?

“I really do think it’s going to be a grueling fight for both of us,” said Mutapcic. “I don’t know why but I always see my fights ending in the fourth round, but if I catch him early then you know, that’s fine. He’s a durable guy, has a lot of power in his hands, but I’m going to say the beginning of the fourth round somewhere.”

MFC 36 will be hosted by Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Center and will be broadcast live on AXS TV.