Fight Hard: Powers vs Williams - Preview

The area's largest amateur promotion returns Saturday with a surefire cure for the holiday hangover.

Fight Hard MMA will kick off a four-man lightweight title for the promotion's unified titles with the finals slated for February.

In a first round match-up, The "Hooligan," Buddy McGinnis will rematch Terrance Gant and Cody Huff will take on Dan Busch in the other half of the bracket.

Gant and McGinnis battled to a gritty decision last April at Cage Championships where both fighters attempted to out-point the other with tactical warfare. McGinnis took home at 29-28 decision and is considered the odds on favorite for the tournament having been previously ranked as the area's No. 1 lightweight for many months. Gant has a tricky ground game, but McGinnis has the knack for nullifying his opponent's strengths.

Busch earned an emotional, first round TKO over James Mottershead in November's Fight Hard, possibly the biggest win of his young career. The Berger's MMA product will take on Southeast, Mo.'s Cody Huff. Huff has battled some of the area's best including Jake Roberts, Kyle Kurtz and Anthony Livingston. Huff has the experience, but Busch has to be considered the favorite based on the strength of his camp.

In the evening's main event, Wes Powers, Fight Hard's middleweight champion, will return to defend his belt against Ed Williams. Powers defeated Kevin Roper in August to take home the title. Powers, out of Illinois, has an impressive 6-1 record with his only loss coming to Chad Williams in a strange bout from last December that oddly enough was contested at light heavyweight.

Powers is matched-up against Williams, a jiu-jitsu brown belt. "Predator" hails out of Fall River, Wisconsin.

Popular heavyweight Jason Huncovsky returns to action in what has been a very busy 2014 for the slugger from the Hit Squad in Granite City, Il. Huncovsky KO'd Tony Depreist earlier this month. This continues a string of three first round finishes including the memorable stoppage of Mario Hudgens in August in a fight that was featured on the Fight Hard TV show on ABC 30. Huncovsky (5-1) will take on Frank Cortez (7-2) (the Springfield-based Brawl Inc champ) in a match-up of two up and coming heavyweight prospects. This fight could steal the show.

Fight of the year Nominee Matthew Nall, will look to solidify his incredible 2014 with a win over Jordan Collins. Nall, out of Salem is 4-1 in 2014 with his lone loss coming at the hands of Charles Johnson in a fight nominated for 2014 Ammy Fight of the Year.

Full fight card:

Wes Powers vs Ed Williams - Unified MW Title
Terrance Gant vs Buddy McGinnis - Lightweight Tourney
Cody Huff vs Dan Busch - Lightweight Tourney

Frank Cortez vs Jason Huncovsky
Jordan Collins vs Matthew Nall
Byron Stevens vs Dusty Chandler
Ryan Walker vs Curtis Eller
Fred Freeman vs Cody Durbin
Marcus Brownee vs Lucas Clay
Markell Bolden vs Derek Clardy
Dustin Tucker vs Bryant Crites
Cody Weeder vs Justin Williams

Fight Hard: Powers vs Williams
Saturday, December 27th
St. Charles Family Arena, St. Charles, MO

Photo courtesy of Sara Levin Photography