Two pro title fights & 8 undercard pro bouts that saw it all in terms of drama and action went down Sat April 23rd, as Brian Halquist Productions and the Emerald Queen Casino presented CageSport XIV from the EQC I-5 Showroom in Tacoma WA.

In the main event for the CageSport 170 lb belt, longtime NW MMA fighter "Fast" Eddy Ellis was on the defensive early as 20 year old Tim Welch of Missoula MT came out throwing and landing accurate punches. Ellis absorbed the blows and quickly took Welch to the mat with a single leg. Once on the ground, it was all Ellis who worked the arm before transitioning to the rear naked choke finish at just over 2 minutes in. Ellis, a veteran of over 30 pro fights, had not fought in two years due to injuries, with his last fight happening at CageSport 5 in May 2009 with a win over Stryder Davis. Ellis talks in the video post interview below about winning the CageSport 170 lb belt. 

In the CageSport 205 lb Championship, Trevor Smith, representing Tukwila WA's Ring Demon, came out strong and finished strong by getting the Irish Hit Squad's Jared Torgeson to tap to a guillotine choke at 1:18 of Round 1. Smith got the early takedown and landed a few elbows from mount as Torgeson worked to escape using his feet as leverage against the cage. Torgeson eventually was able to do so but in the scramble to get it to the feet, he left himself open and Smith capitalized by sinking the fight-ending choke. Smith talks about winning the belt in the post-fight video interview below.

NW Fightscene's fight of the night was the 135 lb contest between Jon Maryanski out of Auburn WA's West Coast Fight Team, and Czar Sklovos from Twin Falls ID, both fighters coming in with identical pro records of 3-1. From the get-go, the two fighters came out throwing, Maryanski staggering Sklovos with punches numerous times throughout the fight and Sklovos taking the punishment and giving it back with accurate counter punches. In the end it went to the judges, with two calling it for Sklovos 30-27, and the third 30-27 for Maryanski, giving Sklovos the Split Decision.

Justin "The Hawk" Hawes got his first MMA win after a four year hiatus from the sport, by grinding it out in a clinch war over Ryan Hayes for a unanimous decision in a light heavyweight matchup. Hawes is a longtime veteran of the Northwest fight circuit having fought numerous times in WA and OR starting in 2001 against the likes of Chael Sonnen, Ed Herman, and others before taking a break from MMA after a loss to Justin Levens at WEC 24 in late 2006. After his CageSport win, Hawes talks about the victory and his comeback in the video interview below.

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Kyle "Kodiak" Keeney looked sharp in his performance against former CageSport Heavyweight Champ Matt "The Attack" Kovacs, eventually getting Kovacs to tap from a North-South Choke early in the 2nd round. After the fight, Kovacs took the mic and  in a f-bomb laden plea that Dana White would be proud of, asked for a shot at the CageSport Heavyweight belt currently held by 503 WCJJ's Nick Braker. Stay tuned.

In a 145 lb matchup, Lee Morrison of Okanogan WA looked to be in control of Sikjitsu's Roy Bradshaw midway through the first, getting Bradshaw in a bad way on the ground & throwing down elbows, until one landed square on the back of Morrison's head in a blow that resounded through the EQC I-5 Showroom. Morrison immediately stopped throwing, but unfortunately Bradshaw was unable to recover and Morrison was disqualified. Bradshaw apologized to the crowd for getting the victory in this way & both fighters were clearly disappointed with the outcome.

Yakima MMA's Julian Erosa moves to 3 and 0 with a 2nd round D'arce Choke submission of Spokane's Ryan Mulvihill who was making his pro debut. The Irish Hit Squad's Angel Diaz got Jerome Jones to tap to an armbar at 1:33 in Rd 1.

Team Redline out of Lynden WA brought down two fighters and both walked away winners. At 140 lbs, Tommy Huizenga TKO'd John Dawson late in the first round, while teammate Craig Jackson slipped on a slick 2nd round triangle choke that got the previously unbeaten Frank Ramsey to tap in their 155 lb fight.

Halquist Productions next event is June 4th, 2011 at the Emerald Queen Casino with Battle at the Boat 82 "Fight Night to the Playboy Mansion". This special show will feature a night of professional boxing action, along with appearances by a bevy of Playboy Playmates & a Ring Girl Contest. MMA returns July 16th with CageSport XV. For more info, visit HalquistProductions.com.