GFS 4: Domination - Preview

Gateway Fighting Series returns for its fourth event at the Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center on Friday.

Jared Daniels-Block has consistently put on fun, mixed-combat shows featuring exciting amateur match-ups in both MMA and K1. For GS4 he's doubling down on the women's matches with two of the three main card matches featuring women's K1 and an additional two on the prelims. Although the night is very heavy on K1, MMA fans will be entertained to a a title eliminator tournament for the promotion's 145-pound MMA belt at a future event.

Long-time training partners Marissa Smith and Wendy Julian will fight along side each other as both return to action after extended layoffs. Julian, once considered the best women's prospect in Missouri, is returning to the cage after the birth of her first child. We last saw her in action in January of 2014 when she traveled to Las Vegas for King of the Cage, winning the promotions title over now 7-1 pro, and KotC Straweight Champ, Danielle Taylor. The tall, lanky kickboxer from Alton will face Lizzy Crowley in the evening's main event.

Smith will face Nora Hamilton out of Poplar Bluff, MO. Recently switching her training to St. Charles MMA alongside boyfriend and pro fighter Hugh Pulley, Smith is a ferocious fighter with a good gas tank. Hamilton will have a long night if she can't get her offense going early and starts backing up.

In the other main card attraction, Johnny Cox will face Dirk "King" Jones. Cox proved he can throw with power,scoring an impressive out-of-nowhere KO of Trevon Crawford at GFS2. Jones, training under Micah Bagby and Jason Ciluffo at Watson Martial Arts, is a tough, traditional fighter and will have a significant height and reach advantage over Cox.

Two featherweight title eliminator matches will be held to setup up a title match for the 145 MMA title at GFS 5. In one half of the bracket, Dillon Pousson and Trevon Crawford will compete. Pousson looked great in his most recent outing, despite dropping a decision to James Cowan. Crawford is well-traveled and has mixed it up with some of the area's best and consistently provides a tough out including a win over the recently crowned Shamrock FC 145 pound champ Auhston Midkif.

In the other half of the eliminator tournament, Keith Gorden will face Aaron Clarke. Gorden is a very unorthodox and can be a tough match-up if you're caught off guard by his surprisingly good submission game. Gorden's opponent Aaron Clarke is returning after a really long layoff, and will hand his work cut out for him.

Keep an eye on the Jamey Kroessen and Dillan Schreiter match-up. You will want to make sure you're present for what could be an exciting back and forth between two scrappy young fighters.

The full card:

K1 Main Card
Wendy Julian vs Lizzy Crowley -- K1
Johnny Cox vs Dirk Jones -- K1
Marissa Smith vs Nora Hamilton -- K1

MMA Prelims
Dillon Pousson vs Trevon Crawford -- 145lb Title Eliminator
Keith Gorden vs Aaron Clarke -- 145lb Title Elminator
Cody Sparks vs Jacob Cruzen

K1 Prelims
Cody Nauke vs Jimmy Timmerberg
Jamey Kroessen vs Dillan Schreiter
Brandon Jones vs TBA
Lillie Seggelke vs Chelsea Johnson
Lorrie Thrope vs Gabby Lentz
Edwin Rowe vs Calvin Williams
Richard Jones vs Kevin Harvey
Jack Reiff vs Matthew Matteson
Adam Link vs TBA
Cortez Burnett vs Eric Schmidt

Gateway Fighting Series 4
Friday, July 15th
Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center, St. Charles, MO