Xtreme Fight Night 5 - Event Preview

Shamrock FC's evening of mixed combat returns November 14 at the Lumiere Casino for XFN 5.

For the fifth installment, matchmaker Rob Donaker has offered up something old, something new, and something big with pro debuts, old grudges, and a main event between two heavyweight boxers.

Journeyman pro boxer Matt Greer, a veteran of over 30 professional fights, returns to action in the main event taking on John Turlington. The 6-foot-2 "Gator" has heavy punching powering having KO'd 10 of his opponents. Turlington is as tough as they come and despite giving up almost four inches in height he is a step or tw quicker.

Bosnian bantamweight Fazlo Mulabitinovic will make his pro kickboxing debut facing Jake Constant. Mulabitinovic (2-1 in MMA) last saw action at the May XFN show where he defeated Adame Dunnavant by heel hook 30 seconds into the first round. Constant, known mostly for his wrestling, has show-stopping power, as evident of his 24 second KO of Gustavo Rodriguez in Springfield, IL in April of last year. Constant should have a noticeable size advantage over the tall and lanky Mulabitinovic.

The "coach" is back as TJ Casey, out of Hahn's MMA, looks to continue his impressive run in a match-up with Raymond Handson. Thirty-six year-old Casey has defeated Kirk Huff and drew with Marlon Smith on his way to a 1-0-1 pro record and has shown he still has plenty of miles left in the old gas tank. Casey will have his hands full with Raymond Handson, making his professional debut. Handson competed for the World Team Trails for USA Boxing last December and has a solid amateur record.

In a match-up of two fighters with legitimate bad blood, Matt Murphy will face Sheldon Smith in kickboxing. The two faced off when they were both amateurs in the last part of 2013 with Smith winning a decision. Many words have been said prior to and since that December clash. For Murphy, it's a second chance, and for Smith it's an opportunity to prove it was no fluke the first time.

Hard hitting Kyle Walker, from Du Quoin, IL, will look to build off his professional boxing debut in August when he defeated Tim Mantle with a first round TKO. He will meet Kevin Brown, who will be making his professional debut.

Highlights on the undercard include a women's flyweight title bout between Tara Walker and Kenia Rosas. Walker was victorious in May over Lindsey Williams in an exciting bout that saw Walker getting dropped early with a liver kick before battling back to take home the decision.

One of the area's top amateur MMA middleweights, Wes Powers, will look to tighten up his striking when he faces Matt Ray in a kickboxing match. Ray was victorious at last weekend's Shamrock FC event with a nifty head kick to setup a TKO win on the undercard.


Professional Main Card
Matt Greer vs John Turlington - Boxing
Jake constant vs Fazlo Mulabitinovic - Kickboxing
Raymond Handson vs TJ Casey - Boxing
Matt Murphy vs Shelton Smith - Kickboxing
Kyle Walker vs Kevin Brown - Boxing

Amateur Undercard (Kickboxing)
Tara Walker vs Kenia Rosas - Amateur Flyweight Title
Matt Ray vs Wes Powers
Chris Krejchi vs Steve Barbee
Mike Offer vs Eric Williams
Kris Craig vs Kevin Harvey
Brad Hagendorn vs Deven Dillard
Kara Vaninger Katelyn Jesse
Olly Cunningham vs Patrick Keao
Jason Brown vs Aaron Kuhl
Dan Boyer vs Conor Huck

Xtreme Fight Night 5
Saturday, November 14th
Lumiere Place Casino - St. Louis, MO