The Fight to knockout kidney disease
Here’s a detailed look at the partnership between Prospect Fighting Championships (PFC) and Showdown in the Downtown — how it started, what it does, and why it matters.
Background: Two Entities, Shared Purpose
Prospect Fighting Championships
PFC is a Canadian combat-sports promotion based in London, Ontario, founded in 2013.
The promotion stages mixed martial arts (MMA), kickboxing, and sometimes Muay Thai events — giving fighters across many weight classes (from Atomweight to Super Heavyweight) a platform to compete under professional/regulation-compliant rules.
Over its history, PFC has become one of Ontario’s most active and longest running promotions.
Showdown in the Downtown
Showdown in the Downtown is a charity-driven event founded in 2009 by Dr. Faisal Rehman. Its original mission was to raise funds for kidney transplant / kidney-disease research via the Matthew Mailing Centre for Translational Transplant Studies and the Lilibeth Caberto Kidney Clinical Research Unit.
Over the years, the scope of the fundraising has grown: now the event supports many causes beyond kidney disease — including homelessness, mental health, special needs services, renal patient support, and other community- oriented charities.
The format of Showdown mixes combat sports (boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing), along with gala dinners, auctions, raffles — aiming to create a “Las Vegas-style” entertainment night while raising funds.
Over 13 years, Showdown in the Downtown in conjunction with PFC, has cumulatively raised over CAD $3 million for its charitable causes.
The Partnership: How PFC & Showdown in the Downtown Work Together
With the partnership forming in 2013, PFC and Showdown in the Downtown collaborate annually (or regularly) to stage major fundraising fight events.
This partnership leverages PFC’s expertise and infrastructure in organizing combat-sport contests, and pairs it with Showdown’s charitable mission and community outreach. The result is fight cards that are professionally run and philanthropy-driven.
For instance: the 2023 edition of Showdown raised $225,382 — a substantial contribution toward the overall charitable total.
In addition to the fights, PFC’s events often include dinner, auctions, and social aspects — diversifying the appeal beyond hardcore fight fans to community supporters, donors, and local businesses.
Why This Partnership Matters
For the Community & Charity Sector
The fusion of combat sports and charitable fundraising helps attract a broader audience — people who might come for the entertainment, the social event, or the cause — bringing together different segments of the community.
Funds raised go toward critical services: kidney-disease research and care; support for individuals with special needs; mental-health initiatives; help for homelessness; and more. This means the partnership directly benefits vulnerable populations.
Over time, raising over $3 million is a non-trivial contribution in the local health and social services ecosystem, showing sustained impact and community engagement.
For Combat Sports & Regional MMA Scene
PFC and Showdown are committed to producing high-profile events that blend professional-level fights with a charitable purpose — giving fighters exposure, experience, and a platform in a regulated, well-organized environment.
The partnership helps normalize and legitimize MMA / kickboxing / Muay Thai as community-centered sports, tied to civic causes rather than being solely entertainment.
It also helps grow the fanbase locally — not just among fight fans, but among community supporters, donors, and people who care about the causes behind the event.
Conclusion
The partnership between Prospect Fighting Championships and Showdown in the Downtown exemplifies how combat sports and community-oriented charity work can join forces for positive impact. Through professionally organized fight events combined with dinners, auctions, and social fundraising, the collaboration has generated meaningful funding for medical research, patient support, mental-health services, homelessness, and more. For fighters, fans, and community stakeholders alike, it offers a rare synergy of entertainment, competition, and compassion — making every punch count not just inside the ring, but in people’s lives.