Undefeated Brittany Anic will be featured in the main event card for Xtreme Fight Party March 6th

Brittany was easy to spot when I walked in the gym and not because she was the only female fighter in the room (because she wasn’t) but because she was laying some serious leather on the focus mitts. Her stand up training sounded like someone hitting a side of beef with a two-by-four and her feet had a similar effect. She was more than brute strength though, this young lady had quick jabs, good movement, and excellent combinations.

Nineteen year old Brittany has been training in TKD and kickboxing since the ripe old age of nine. Since she started competing in MMA she has a perfect 2-0 record. Her next fight at Xtreme Fight Party on March 6th will be her first time participating in a main event. This will also be her final fight as an amateur before turning pro.

Brittany typically trains five days a week only taking Sundays and Fridays off. When she has an upcoming fight her schedule goes to seven days. Training goes from 3:30 – 6:30 pm every night and she trains exclusively at Finney’s MMA in St Louis, Missouri. The time is divided equally with kickboxing/boxing, ground n’ pound, grappling/wrestling, clinch fighting, and strength and conditioning.

I asked her about her thoughts on women in the sport of MMA. She says “Kim Couture, Kerry Vera, Chris “Cyborg”…. they are making a name for themselves in the sport. I think Strikeforce has done a great job at promoting woman’s MMA.  There’s a place for it and a demand for it. Hopefully other organizations will catch on”.

Brittany is facing a very competitive opponent in Amanda Burch. Amanda, an Iowa native, sports a 3-1 record and is known to have an excellent wrestling and jiu-jitsu game. I asked Brittany if she trains differently when facing someone who likes to take the fight to the ground. “I train as a complete martial artist. Whether the fight goes to the ground, stays on the feet, or in the clinch I train for everything because anything can happen in a fight” . When asked about how she sees the fight going Brittany said “I want to give the crowd what they came for – three rounds of good fighting. I’m excited to be in the main event and I want to put on a good show for the audience”. In the future, Brittany sees herself continuing to compete with professional top-tier athletes and there’s no doubt she has the tools, talent, and heart to do so.

Twenty one year old Jimmy Donahue is another fighter who is one bout away from his professional debut. Jimmy has an excellent 7-1 amateur record (four by KO/TKO, three by submission).Jimmy has been described by club/promotion owner Rob Donaker as one of those guys who “lives in the gym”.  Aside from his rigorous training schedule, Jimmy works at Finney’s as a personal trainer and an instructor.  He is one of the lucky few who get to work and train at the same time and place.  At 6’1”, Jimmy is a big 155 pounder. His influences are Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn and, like his influences, Jimmy is a well rounded fighter and is equally comfortable on the ground or standing. I definitely look forward to watching Jimmy’s career take off and I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before we see him with professional success under his belt.

This article was written by FightPros contributor Scottie Farrow.  You can follow Scottie on Twitter @yodade37

7-1 Jimmy Donahue is a fast rising member of Finney's MMA of St Louis, Missouri

Shamrock Promotions – the Midwest’s premier MMA fight promotion – is co-owned by Finney MMA co-owner Jesse Finney and Rob Donaker. Rob instructs fighters at his gym in St Louis, Missouri and has been in the promotion business for the better part of twelve years. Shamrock holds events approximately every six weeks. Venues range in size from four hundred to over one thousand spectators with each one consistently selling out weeks in advance. Shamrock was also responsible for bringing Strikeforce to St Louis, co-promoting their Lawler vs. Shields event last June at the Scottrade Center. When asked about their relationship with Strikeforce, Rob says “…Strikeforce does it right. In other large MMA organizations the fighters are not allowed to fight outside the company. If you are a new or mid card fighter it can prove hard to make a living with only a couple of fights a year. Strikeforce allows it’s fighters to step out of the organization, fight for different promotions, and make enough money to support their families. Strikeforce puts on great shows and keeps the fighters’ best interest in mind”. While recently visiting Finney MMA, I asked some of the fighters where they see themselves five years from now. The answer was universal – “competing in Strikeforce”. Considering the talent pool of young fighters at Finney’s, the probability of seeing these fighters’ dreams come to fruition is very possible.

If you can still get a hold of a ticket for this event, get one!  It promises to be an unforgettable night of hard hitting action. Shamrock Promotions wants to remind you “It’s not just a fight, it’s also a party”.

For more information about Finney’s MMA in St Louis, Missouri you can go to http://finneyskickboxing.com/

For more information about upcoming Xtreme Fight Party you can go to http://extremefightparty.com/

Scottie Farrow is a writer/contributor for Fightpros.com, you can follow him on Twitter @yodade37