GFS2: Absolution

After a successful first show, Jared Daniels-Block and his Gateway Fighting Series team return with an encore titled "Absolution".

Gateway Fighting Series 2 will feature more of the formula that made his first show successful, fairly-matched K1 with a sprinkling of MMA. GFS returns to the Heart of St. Charles, a familiar venue for fight fans that has seen many local luminaries compete including UFC-vet Josh Sampo, Invicta flyweight champ Barb Honchak, and current UFC featherweight Alex White among others.

"After the first show we got a lot of feedback," Daniels-Block said. "We've done things to improve the overall experience. We got a lot of feedback about the main event, I thought it was a great fight. All the fights were fair on the first one. People seem to like the seating arrangement a lot better than it was previously."

In the main event two scrappy women will trade leather in what could be a very exciting K1 match-up when Mimi Kutzin faces Tiffany Gilbert

Kutzin does the bulk of her training out of Title Boxing Gym in Rock Hill and has had a bit of trouble finding opponents.

"I keep on matching Mimi and she keeps getting backed out on." Daniels-Block said. "I've matched her six times in the last year and a half and she's fought twice, and one of them was a last minute deal against Marissa Smith. Then she also fought Tara Walker on a day's notice."

Gilbert is from Blooming Fight Club and has a bevy of experience from boxing to kickboxing to MMA.

"She's older, but a lot bigger than Mimi." Daniels-Block. "She's a lot longer, and stylistically, I think it's going to be a great fight. I think it will go the distance."

Modern Combat Systems' Jamese Taylor, will return after winning the main event of GFS1 to face Brandon Pearson in a MMA match-up. Taylor dropped Dirk Jones in a K1 bout last January and will return hoping to take home another GFS belt. Taylor has shown flashes of brilliance and has wins over Dan Busch and Demeterius Cannon and his losses have come to tough fighters including Dakota Bush, Nick Kreutz, and Evan Elder.

Pearson sits at 4-2 and will need to figure out the puzzle of Taylor's range He also has a victory over Cannon where he grabbed an armbar submission in the second round.

"Jamese is a very lengthy, squirrely guy," Daniels-Block said. "Over the last two years he's done a lot better at controlling a lot of the unnecessary movement he was doing. He's been working with Quinton O'Brien at Art of 8, working with his dad. Doing a lot to improve his strength and conditioning. The talent is there obviously, but he's been putting in some extra work to get to that next level."

On the undercard, watch for the match-up between Tim Jackson and Jace Burcham. Jackson showed a lot of promise in his last fight at GFS. Jackson has good wrestling, but seemed to tire as the match wore on. Oscar Ahuatzi from Seven Corner Road and Antonio Atkins should also be an exciting MMA match-up.

Full card: (Does not reflect bout order, subject to change)

Mimi Kutzin vs Tiffany Gilbert - Women's K1 Title
Brandon Pearson vs Jamese Taylor - 155 MMA Title

K1
TBA vs Clayton Whaley
Johnny Cox vs Trevon Crawford
Jared Medley vs Daniel Boyer
Aladin Hegic vs Adrian Ortiz
Nikk Willyard vs Da'Rell Fulghum
Eric Schmidt vs Alex Clymer
Chelsea Johnson vs Lillie Seggelke
Lorie Thrope vs Collette Gille
Richard Jones vs Kevin Harvey

MMA
Oscar Ahuatzi vs Antoino Atkins
Tim Jackson vs Jace Burcham
Christopher Peterson Jr, vs Matt Epstein

Gateway Fighting Series 2: Absolution
Friday, April 1st
Heart of St. Charles, St. Charles, MO