Shamrock FC: Fusion - Event Preview

Shamrock Fighting Championships returns to the Lumiere Place Casino this Saturday for Fusion. Injuries to Kevin Engel and Rob Washington have forced them to rebuild the top half of the card.

Shamrock's Jesse Finney is thrilled about Saturday's card despite a few setbacks.

"This has been a difficult one to keep together," Finney said. "From Engel who was fighting (Justin) DeMoney, and then Engel getting his (injury) suspension. Rob Washington is going to have thumb surgery. There's just been one thing after another, but the fight card itself is going to deliver."

The new main event features Lucas Lopes taking on Dan McGlasson. Lopes is a veteran of over 50 mixed martial fights including three scraps for Strikeforce. The Hit Squad coach has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he is not to be treated lightly should the fight go to the ground.

McGlasson has fought a plethora of St. Louis MMA including Kiko France, Jake Collier, Booker DeRousse, Ryan Sutton, and Dustin Jacoby. With seven of his losses coming by way of submission, McGlasson will be hesitant to take the fight to the ground with black belt Lopes.

"McGlasson has been on a big win streak," Finney said. "The guy's been on a tear lately. He's fought everybody that's anybody. He'll fight anybody at anyplace. He's durable tough guy, and he beat Jesse Sanders in his last fight."

McGlasson said that getting fights on short notice is all part of the business.

"It pays to stay in shape," McGlasson said. "I'm pretty excited about this fight. It is one I have wanted for a long time. It's nothing personal with Lucas, it would just be a good win on my belt."

Despite Lopes' stellar skills on the ground, McGlasson is not sweating it.

"I'm not worried about his BJJ," McGlasson said. "When I fought Kiko, I did OK on the ground. I want to stand and bang and get that knock out. Once I stand with someone, they usually don't want to do that for too long anyways."

The 33-year-old McGlasson got into the sport about seven years ago in order to curb his aggressive nature.

"I got into a lot of bar fights," he said. "I went out looking for them. I needed something to tame me down and this does it. I'm not near as hostile as I used to be. Training is a definite release."

McGlasson hasn't had lots of time to pour over video of Lopes but he thinks he has a good feel for what Lopes can bring to the table.

"I have been to a couple of his fights and I know that he is really good at jitz and has been around a long enough that I'm sure he has some hands," McGlasson said. "But I have a chin that can take it and hands that can deliver it."

Former Fiore/Watson Martial Arts welterweight TJ Thomas will be taking on Thomas Haney.

"Excited to have TJ Thomas back," Finney said. "He's an exciting fighter. Say what you want, but he's always an exciting fighter, and he's been training hard."

Thomas will be looking to end his streak of three losses, while Haney will be eager to get his first professional win after dropping his first two bouts.
Look for our feature on Thomas later this week.

Making his long awaited professional debut is flyweight Ken Porter. The 23- year-old Porter has been tearing up the amateur ranks in Missouri and Illinois, holding the No. 1 Spire ranking for a very long time.

Porter likes to look for weaknesses in his opponent and favorites leg kicks and is always looking to slap on a triangle choke. David Mirkitani has worked with Porter in the past and touts Porter's skills.

"A very athletic fighter with God given tools," Mirikitani said. "He is a fast twitch wrestler and explosive striker. A well-rounded fighter who has paid his dues fighting good competition."

Finney's MMA's top amateur, Dustin Fischer, will return to action. He's been very busy as of late fighting on almost every Shamrock card. Joining him on the card is Aaron Highfill someone who is also becoming a staple on the Lumiere fight cards. Highfill and submission ace Curtis Eller will headline the amateur preliminary card. Eller will look to defend his welterweight title that he won back in December from Anthony Livingston.

At bantamweight, Damian Newman will be taking on Jacob Trigleth. Newman always comes to scrap and has started 2013 with two impressive wins, Andrew Berger in January, and AJ Siscoe two weeks later.

Joquain Buckley and Terry Scott will start the night. Buckley is someone Jesse Finney is excited about both as a both coach and promoter.

"Eighteen years old, he's been training for about a year now," Finney said. "We've kept him under the radar, that kid, I'm excited to see him. He's the best prospect I've had in years."

Main card
Lucas Lopes vs Dan McGlasson - Main Event
TJ Thomas vs Thomas Haney
Ken Porter vs Zach Harvey
Brian Mason vs Nick Dioneda

Preliminary Card
Aaron Highfill vs Curtis Eller
Damian Newman vs Jacob Trigleth
Dustin Fischer vs Gojiko Milutinovic
Ryan Dennis vs Stacy Bacon
Rebecca Gullet vs Briannah Conestar
Shapen Jordan vs Herbert Morgan
Carlos Santana vs Mike Pulley
Joaquin Bucklley vs Terry Scott

Shamrock FC: Fusion
Saturday - March 23rd
Lumiere Place Casino