Cuba resident and professional mixed martial artist Jacob Highley will return to the octagon on Aug. 29 to fight in the Shamrock FC’s main event at Ameristar Casino Resort and Hotel St. Charles for its Shamrock FC 377 fight card. 

Highley, nicknamed “The Wildman” will take on Quartus “Cool Breeze” Stitt in his first official main event fight as he looks to stay undefeated in the professional ranks.

Highley is 4-0 after winning by a third round TKO over Cape Girardeau native Nathan Stearns on March 14 in his third professional fight.

After his victory over Stearns, Highley was quick to give credit to his opponent in an interview with Shamrock FC backstage correspondent Jason Gavril.

When asked how it feels to be 4-0, Highley said, “I don’t care about the record, really. That’s for DJ’s. Nathan Sterns is a warrior and the toughest fighter in Missouri.”

The interview concluded with Highley giving credit to his wife, Caitlin and his son, Maverick for their support.

“My wife and my son are the reason that I’m here and do what I do,” he said.

Highley has built and opened a private MMA gym, Highley House, in Cuba, which he co-owns with his older brother, Kenny Highley. The brothers help lead training sessions with aspiring fighters and Jacob Highley’s goal is to give the next generation a place to learn mixed martial arts.

Although Jacob Highley isn’t the first professional fighter to come out of Cuba, he said that he’s proud to represent the small town and has no plans to move away.

“Jake (Collier) made it first out of here, then Dakota (Bush) and Terry (Copling) and then now me,” he said. “But I think it’s cool. I think it shows the grit in our community. We’re hard workers, you know, just country boys, all that stuff. I think it just shows the grind here. And I love being from a small town and not making it from a big city. A lot of the guys leave whenever they make it. So I wanted to plant my roots.”

Highley spoke to the Cuba Free Press on Aug. 5 and reflected on what his first scheduled main event fight means to him.

“I’m feeling really confident heading into the next fight. With that being said I like to have short term memory with success and train like I just lost a fight. I don’t overlook anyone getting in the cage with me,” he said.

“I think this is a really cool fight for several reasons. I have fought in the main event before but this is my first scheduled main event. I was supposed to be the co-main event and the main event fell through so I stepped up to the plate. It’s a different feeling being the scheduled main event like it’s your show. I’m fighting Quartus “Cool Breeze” Stitt. This guy is battle tested to the max. He’s fought so much world class talent and that’s his M.O. so I’m glad my name will grace his list.”

There are 12 fights scheduled on the Aug. 29 card, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Highley’s main event fight is scheduled to be the last of the evening and its start time will be reflective on the duration of the fights leading up to it.