The two biggest names in the Maximum Fighting Championship are on quite a roll.

Both Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald and Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki had little trouble mowing through their opposition at Extreme Cage Combat-3 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. MacDonald needed only 1:41 to lock a vicious armbar on Fritz Paul – one which resulted in a broken arm for the Quebec fighter. Valimaki was just as impressive as he crushed “Sugar” Shane Lightle with a barrage of punches that led to a knockout win at 1:46 of the first round.

The dominating victories give both MacDonald and Valimaki three-fight winning streaks as they head toward major battles back into the MFC ring on Sept. 8 in MFC-10 Unfinished Business.

Both fighters took some time after their fights in Halifax to talk with The Z-Files.

Z-Files: Jason, you were subjected to some nasty pre-fight comments from Fritz Paul. Did that play a part in your particularly aggressive finish?

JM: I wouldn’t say I was angry about those comments, but here’s the thing. He’s a 7-2 fighter which is a decent record but he’s nowhere near my calibre. He was calling me out, talking like a punk, trying to intimidate me and telling the newspapers he was going to knock me out no problem. It was just disrespectful. I’m a veteran fighter and in my opinion one of the top guys in the middleweight division. He’s a guy who hasn’t beat anyone.

Z-Files: Did you change up your game plan then to go after him with a little more venom?

JM: Our game plan was no secret. He’s a stand-up fighter so I was going to take him down and dismantle him with my ju-jitsu. I got him against the fence and he tried to take me down. He went for a Guillotine (choke) but he left his arm out and I got a standing Kimura on him. I looked back into my corner and Josh (Russell) talked me right through it. I swept him, got him down to the mat and I got the armbar on. I took about 30 or 40 seconds but I got the arm straightened out and I got it exactly where I wanted it.

Z-Files: And then you really dished out some pain. Talk about what came next.

JM: I had both his arms trapped and there was no way he could tap. I heard his arm pop three or four times and he just started screaming and finally the ref jumped in. It wasn’t malicious on my part but there was no way I was going to let go. It’s kind of funny. I didn’t know that “tap, tap, tap” is the same in French as it is in English.

Z-Files: Since losing the dramatic MFC title fight to Patrick Cote, you’ve won three straight to take your record to 15-7. Do you have a new sense of confidence?

JM: I just have a confidence in the way I’m fighting. Josh and everyone at Gracie Barra in Calgary and Mark Pavelich with Pro Camp Management in Edmonton have my training really dialed in. There are no holes in my game right now so that makes me very confident. My boxing, kickboxing, submissions, ground game – everything is at the top and I’m learning new stuff and getting better every day. And I’m taking all of that into every one of my fights.

Z-Files: Did you get a chance to see any of (Pro Camp teammate) Victor Valimaki’s fight?

JM: I wanted to but by the time I was ready to go out and watch, Victor was walking back. They were still playing the entrance music and he was done.

Z-Files: Victor, you were all set to fight Shane Lightle at 205 pounds but he came in late and obviously not willing to cut weight. Did his size advantage concern you?

VV: I didn’t care if he came in at 240 or 250. All I had to do is be prepared.

Z-Files: Take me through the fight from your perspective.

VV: I landed a couple of shots and then I hit him with a big overhand right that knocked him on his butt. He got up and went for a takedown but I sprawled and we went to the fence. I stood in the guard and then I got side mount on him against the fence. The first punch I hit him with knocked him out and then I hit him with five or six more before the ref jumped in.

Z-Files: Like Jason, you too have won three straight and you now stand at 6-2. That smash-mouth approach must be very much a part of your new approach.

VV: I had something to prove. I didn’t want to win by decision. I want people to know I can go the distance or I can end it quick. I was seeking the knockout. I told the promoters just before I went out that it wasn’t going to go two minutes. I was really relaxed and my prediction was right on. The plan was executed exactly like I wanted.

Z-Files: Watching your beatdown of Lightle was Jason Day who you’ll be facing Sept. 8 in Edmonton for the MFC light heavyweight title. What do you think he learned about you?

VV: We talked after and he knows he’s going to be in a fight. It won’t be a cakewalk. Everyone is starting to see the new Victor.

Z-Files: We talked roughly a month ago about the “new Victor Valimaki.” You must be excited about coming out of your shell.

VV: I absolutely love it. It’s a new mindset. I’ve got a great new game plan from Mark Pavelich at Pro Camp Management and I’m ready to fight. It’s pretty much all in the mindset. Physically, I always had the tools to perform at any level. It was the mental side of things that I was lacking at the beginning. Now I have more of a killer instinct. I was too nice before and I didn’t want to hurt anybody. Now I just want to get in the ring and end the fight.