By Larry Snyder

New Cumberland, WV – Are you set for robust MMA action? Angelo Magnone and Made Men Promotions are back at the Ballroom at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort Saturday, March 23 for Shamrock Showdown: In The Cage, a live professional and amateur mixed martial arts competition.

Serving as a matchmaker is Nichole Castillo, the 2018 MMA Matchmaker of the Year for the NJ/NY/PA region, per the MyMMANews website. This excellent fight card is sold out.

East Liverpool, Ohio’s favorite son, Joey Holt (8-2-0) seeks the ninth victory in his MMA career against Scott Futrell (11-7-0) from St. Louis, Missouri in the main event. The welterweight matchup is slated for three rounds, lasting five minutes each.

Holt, 33, claimed his last MMA triumph in June 2016 with a technical knockout at 3:39 of the third round over Mike Pope (7-3-0) at Gladiators of the Cage MMA 21, held at the Stage AE complex along the North Shore in Pittsburgh. For the warrior known as “The Hitman,” his last endeavor was in the boxing ring in June 2018 at Rivers Casino in the Steel City. It was a unanimous decision, for his 10th career win, against Pittsburgh’s Lawrence Blakey (5-9-2).

Futrell, who turns 28 in May, lost in his last outing, by a D’Arce Choke at 2:58 of the first round, to Mike Shipman (13-1-0) at Bellator 210 in November 2018 in Oklahoma. The proud combatant known as “The General” collected his last win, by unanimous decision, earlier in November against Josh Streacker (10-6-0) at HFC 37 in Indiana. He is ranked 22nd among active USA pro middleweights by Tapology.com.

The next pair of professional matches has bantamweight Chris McKinney, 31, squaring off against Donny Korbel, 33, and 21-year-old Jason Mullen taking on 23-year-old Ardit Hysa in lightweight action. Both bouts go three rounds at five minutes apiece.

My prediction on these three bouts is Holt by knockout in the third; Korbel with a choke late in the second or early in the third; and Mullen finishes it on strikes in the first.

Shamrock Showdown Professional Bouts:

Welterweight – Joey Holt ( East Liverpool, OH) Vs. Scott Futrell (St. Louis, MO)

Lightweight – Jason Mullen (Youngstown, OH) Vs. Ardit Hysa (Elbasan, Albania)

Bantamweight – Chris McKinney (Beckley, WV) Vs. Donny Korbel (Columbus, OH)

Amateur Bouts (Three Rounds/Three Minutes Each):

MMP Welterweight Title – Jarod Shaw (Follansbee, WV) Vs. Sam Lemin (Youngstown, OH)

MMP Flyweight Title – Alex Poinar (Canton, OH) Vs. Jose Leon (Cary, IL)

Bantamweight – Nolan Stahl (Erie, PA) Vs. Dante Pennachio (Warren, OH)

Middleweight – DJ Jacobucci (Mentor, OH) Vs. Cody Prior (Covington, VA)

Lightweight – Darnell Truett (Cleveland, OH) Vs. Jeremiah Leviege (Warren, OH)

Welterweight – Chase Boyde (Pittsburgh, PA) Vs. Klevon Hill (Youngstown, OH)

Featherweight – Cameron Mueller (Erie, PA) Vs. Kiran Shah (Erie, PA)

Featherweight – Stephanie Lehecka (Akron, OH) Vs. Hannah Elswick (Pounding Mill, VA)

Welterweight – Elias Buhl (Erie, PA)  Vs. Chaz Hudson (Toledo, OH)

Welterweight – Mitch Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh, PA) Vs. Will Hopkins (Steubenville, OH)

Cruiserweight – Eric McPhilomy (Monaca, PA) Vs. Chase Stafford (Oceana, WV)

Super Welterweight – Daniel Smith (Washington, PA) Vs. Cody Dunson (Wellsburg, WV)

Keep in mind the lineup of bouts is subject to change. Doors to the ballroom unlock at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell is 7:00 p.m. Thank you to Made Men Promotions for providing an update to this writer on the lineup of bouts.

From Made Men Promotions FB Page…

Top Of The Article Photo Courtesy Of Made Men Promotions