The XFC staff has put together a stacked card, featuring all the essentials for the exciting events they are known to produce. The card already includes Nick Newell, Women’s MMA star Felice Herrig, and two top Welterweights undefeated Jason South & Corey Hill as the last three bouts of the evening. If that wasn’t enough, 2010 Open Fighter Tryout winner Jason “The Ronin” Hicks has been added to the card to take on undefeated local, Shane Crenshaw. With XFC 19 just two short weeks away, Jason Hicks is our featured fighter in todays XFCinsider article.
Hick’s returns to the XFC cage for the first time since his contract-winning debut in late 2010. Hicks was the co-winner of the 2010 Florida OFT in Tampa and subsequently matched against fellow co-winner Mike Milmerstadt, in a fight for a 5-fight contract with the XFC. Hicks came into the fight on a mission that took him little time to complete, getting the KO in just 1:36 into the first round. The victory gave “The Ronin” just enough time to showcase his precision striking and KO power, as he earned his seventh straight win, dating back to his amateur career.
John Prisco announced the fight to media staff last week with great excitement for the event as a whole. “We have a sick main event, a women’s bout with Felice Herrig, Nick Newell, now an Open Fighter Tryout Winner to challenge a local up and comer.” More specifically Prisco said of Hicks, “I’m excited to have Jason back; he’s a very legit fighter. He finished his first 6 fights by submission, won a decision, and now he’s riding 2 knockouts.”
Hicks will need to have another strong performance to remain undefeated. His opponent Crenshaw has the ability to grind out long fights to a decision and can control the pace of the fight with his wrestling. Hicks does have the ability to fight from his back, if Crenshaw should take the fight in that direction. If he can stop the take down, “The Ronin” will hold the advantage in standup and will be certainly use his Muay Thai to potentially earn another TKO in front of the Charlotte masses.
Hicks has not fought, but has been training constantly, since his entrance to the XFC Lightweight division and a stellar performance against Crenshaw could get him right back into the mix of the one of XFC’s most competitive divisions. The Lightweight division has been entertaining from the top to the bottom with all of the divisions fighters staying very active, putting on very exciting fights. It is also the largest XFC division, which will challenge Hicks to be at his best in every fight. For now however, there is only one thing on Jason’s mind and that is his the next fight in Charlotte.
XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and will take place August 3 at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, NC. The fight will air live on AXS TV. For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, go to www.OfficialXFC.com. Also, follow the promotion daily on Twitter and Facebook ‘@OfficialXFC’ for all the insider news!
