The Armageddon Fighting Championship is expanding with an aggressive move into Alberta B次元官网网址� literally.

The AFC, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 top mixed martial arts organization and one of the most stable outfits in B.C., is aligning with Aggression MMA of Edmonton and AX Combat of Calgary under the new brand Aggression Fighting Championship.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a deal with immediate benefits and a long-term goal to be CanadaB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 MMA league, said Armageddon co-founder Darren Owen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e as big as we can get in Victoria. Now we can pool our resources and move into other cities across Canada,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�

Working hand in hand with professional fighter Jason Heit, Owen, a former Victoria Rebels football player, spent years doing the heavy lifting needed to get Armageddon off the ground. Owen and Heit finally got the green light from Colwood in 2009 to begin hosting the B次元官网网址渆xtreme fightingB次元官网网址� events that the city of Victoria wouldnB次元官网网址檛 allow.

This Saturday (April 14) is the eighth Armageddon show, but the merger wonB次元官网网址檛 impact what fans see just yet. Vengeance still has a card built almost exclusively around Victoria- and Island-produced talent.

B次元官网网址淢oving forward weB次元官网网址檙e going to become a national brand,B次元官网网址� Owen said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to become the biggest MMA brand in Canada and attract the best fighters in Canada.

B次元官网网址�(Once we reach that goal), the AFC title-holder will either be the best free agent fighter not in the UFC, or is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top fighter for that weight class.B次元官网网址�

Going forward, the events will continue in numerical succession from AFC No. 8 this weekend, to AFC 9 in Edmonton on June 8 and AFC 10 in Calgary on June 15. (Coincidentally, Aggression just did their eighth show, while AX has only held two, so itB次元官网网址檚 the best compromise as the trio of brands become one.)

Branding is a key piece of the puzzle for the AFCB次元官网网址檚 success going forward, as the burgeoning organization seeks to be broadcast on TV.

B次元官网网址淲e feel we are closer now to the opportunity of securing a live TV deal, which is fundamental to our growth,B次元官网网址� Owen said.

Atop the list of immediate returns is the pooling of fighters.

Since AFC 1 at Bear Mountain Arena in August of 2009, Armageddon has featured dozens of fighters, with a specific core of national-ready talent. VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Derek Medler leads a group with Diego Wilson, Nick Driedger, Ryan Janes, Karel Bergen and others who will benefit with a chance to fight within the AFCB次元官网网址檚 suddenly expanded weight classes.

The merger is a great opportunity for fighters to fight more often, Owen said. B次元官网网址淪ome guys want to fight five to six times a year, and now they can.B次元官网网址�

The AFC also has two of the top non-UFC welterweight (170 lbs.) fighters in Canada, with Medler and EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Ryan Ford. Ford has a history of training with Zuma Martial Arts in Victoria.

Armageddon also brings Robert Drysdale, who is perhaps the new organizationB次元官网网址檚 top name. The Brazilian jiu jitsu expert is a multi-time world champion and has coached UFC champions. His MMA campaign began with the AFC and he just signed a new four-fight deal, Owen said.

As exciting as the new venture is, the AFC has its challenges, too. AFC is in a battle for Edmonton-based fans and fighters, with the Maximum Fighting Championship, run by boisterous promoter Mark Pavelich. The MFC was recently struck with a tough blow, however, losing its TV deal when Shaw dropped cableB次元官网网址檚 HDNet last month.

sports@vicnews.com