TACOMA, WA --Northwest Combative Sports promoter Brian Halquist, president of Brian Halquist Productions Inc., has teamed with MMA fighter/matchmaker, Dennis Hallman, to form CageSport-a Mixed Martial Arts company. 

Brian Halquist Productions has been promoting boxing, concerts and MMA for over 18 years. Brian Halquist Productions is the Northwest premier fight promotion company, and creator of the famed "Battle at the Boat" boxing series now in its 12th year with nearly 100 fights at the Emerald Queen Casino. In the past year Brian Halquist Productions has promoted events for ESPN, ShowTime and HBO and was recently featured on Showtime's historic boxing event in St. Lucia. On August 2, 2008 Brian Halquist Productions promoted the Dimitri Kirilov vs. Victor Darchinyan IBF World Title Fight broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing. 

In February of 2008 Brian Halquist Productions ventured into the world of Mixed Martial Arts with a fight at the Tacoma Dome. This resulted in a Washington State combative sports gross receipt record with a crowd of over 7,500. 

Brian was born in Spokane, Washington. When he was young his family moved to Tacoma, Washington where he attended Foss High School. While at Foss, Halquist played on the 1975 "AAA" State Championship football team and was an All-State and All-American heavyweight wrestler. In 1976, Brian finished 8th in the nation at the U.S.W.F. Freestyle Nationals at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, earning him All-American honors. Brian attended Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington (1978-1980) on a wrestling scholarship. It was at Columbia Basin College where Brian broke the single season and career pin records at the school finishing his career at CBC with a 37-6 record (24 pins) wrestling in both the 190 pound and heavyweight divisions. He wrestled in the NJCAA nationals in 1978. From Pasco, Brian went to Havre, Montana on a wrestling scholarship to the NAIA power house Montana State University Northern, where he wrestled and majored in Physical Education. 

Dennis Hallman was a 1994 Washington State High School Wrestling Champion who pursued a career in MMA instead of collegiate wrestling, and soon became the Northwest MMA amateur champion where he had a perfect record of 15-0. Hallman started fighting professionally in 1997 with 10 straight wins. During his professional career Hallman has compiled a MMA record of 48-12-2, which includes 2 wins over former UFC World Champion Matt Hughes. During the Extreme Challenge Lightweight tournament Hallman had a :17 second submission victory over Matt Hughes. In addition Dennis has competed in Japans prestigious SHOOTO organization, King of the Cage, Hook and Shoot, Strikeforce, the Absolute Fighting Championships (where he was the middleweight champion), and the IFC. Hallman has also fought for the UFC lightweight world title. 

Halquist and Hallman teamed up to promote their first MMA show together on June 8, 2008 at the Emerald Queen Casino, which resulted in a sold out crowd. Due to the immense response received from this show, as well as the growing love of Mixed Martial Arts, Halquist and Hallman formed CageSport-a company committed to bringing quality Mixed Martial Arts shows to the public. "This is a great opportunity for both Brian and I to build CageSport as a major market competitor in the MMA community," said Hallman, "It's good to be working with a fellow wrestler. Our strengths together will make for a very competitive company in MMA." 

"CageSport is growing quickly," said Halquist. "We have dates set for 2009 and are working on arena shows in the Northwest. We have a national merchandising deal already in place. I couldn't be more excited about this project. We want CageSport to be known for quality MMA shows."

CageSport is currently working with other Casino's and venues. "Our goal is to have at least 20 MMA shows in 2009," Halquist said, "We will be announcing two arena shows soon."

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christianne Smith (253) 564-2090; bhmainevent1@qwestoffice.net
Brian Halquist (253) 564-2090; bhalquist@qwestoffice.net

TICKETS:
Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone (253) 627-8497 (Tacoma) (206) 628-0888 (Seattle) and at the Emerald Queen Casino Box Office.

Check out the CageSport website at: www.cagesport.net 

2009 CageSport Show Dates
February 21 Emerald Queen Casino
April 11 Emerald Queen Casino
June 20 Emerald Queen Casino
August 29 Emerald Queen Casino