Top award for "The Athlete" EBWC recognizes MacDonald as MMA Fighter of the Year

Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald of Pro Camp Sports Management has been named the first recipient of the Edmonton Boxing and Wrestling Commission's Mixed Martial Arts Fighter of the Year Award. He received the award on Tuesday night at a gala dinner and was joined by his wife Kelly, Pro Camp and Maximum Fighting Championship Owner/President Mark Pavelich and the entire Pro Camp/MFC team.

MacDonald was recognized for his accomplishments in 2006 when he went notched six consecutive wins.
"Everyone at Pro Camp and the MFC is extremely proud of Jason. No one in Edmonton, and except for UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, no one in all of Canada came close to having the type of year that Jason did in 2006," said Pavelich.

"Jason has always had a great legion of supporters in Edmonton, all over Alberta and throughout Canada. But everything exploded for him once he hit the UFC. He went from being a relative unknown there to becoming an international fan favourite in such a short period of time. It was hard work that got him to that point in his career and hard work that earned him this award."

The presentation to Jason included a videotaped message of congratulations from UFC President Dana White. Among Jason's victories in '06 were two outstanding performances in the UFC. In October, Jason made his UFC debut and coined the now-famous "I'm not a stepping stone for anybody" line when he used a perfect triangle choke to defeat The Ultimate Fighter reality show finalist Ed Herman on Ultimate Fight Night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Jason then made it consecutive victories over The Ultimate Fighter show stars when he scored a spectacular guillotine choke stoppage over Chris Leben in UFC 66 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In both of those UFC fights, Jason received the Submission of the Night bonus and his victory over Leben was No. 4 on the UFC's list of Submissions of the Year for 2006.

Jason's triumphs in '06 included a victory at MFC 10 - Unfinished Business in Edmonton and a hat trick of wins at ECC events in Atlantic Canada.

(Source)