Drew Brokenshire wins the 155 lb Title in the main event of CageSport XXX

Halquist Productions held their 30th Cagesport MMA event Saturday May 3rd at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, with 9 pro fights playing out in front of a sold out crowd. KISW radio personality Thee Ted Smith hosted the event, and newly signed UFC fighter (and reigning CageSport Heavyweight Champ) Anthony Hamilton spoke to the crowd during the intermission. But the fans were there for the fights and the one everyone was anticipating was the big main event.

CageSport XXX's main event was for the CageSport MMA Lightweight Title and the crowd support was split down the middle, with half there to cheer on 155 lb Champion Justin Harrington of Combat Sport & Fitness, and the other half for 145 Champ Drew Brokenshire of Ludus FC who moved up in weight to challenge Harrington. Brokenshire relied on his skill, speed, and cardio against the bigger champion. Harrington matched Brokenshire's speed, and held the center of the cage while Brokenshire circled and tried to pick Harrington apart. Harrington landed the first few heavy shots, but then Brokenshire found his range and planted a few good shots of his own. Harrington was strong in the clinch and got a few takedowns, but Brokenshire kept himself out of danger. On the ground Brokenshire kept moving and making space to transition to attack positions. Harrington defended well and would pop back to his feet.

Starting the second round, Brokenshire's deadly cardio was evident as he continued to bounce around the cage and kept a hard pace on the bigger man. During an exchange on the ground, Brokenshire got a choke on Harrington that looked like it may finish the fight, but Harrington gator-rolled across the cage, 6 or 7 rotations, while Brokenshire hung on, but couldn't keep Harrington from escaping. Changing tacks, Brokenshire worked hard to take Harrington's back and went for the rear naked choke. Harrington defended the choke - Brokenshire went for strikes. Harrington defended the strikes - Brokenshire went for the neck. Back and forth until Brokenshire sunk the rear naked choke he wanted and got the tap at 3:52 to become CageSport MMA's first two-division Champion.

The Co-Main Event was just as exciting as NW Elite's Alfonso Gonzales and Irish Hit Squad's Jared Torgeson battled it out for the chance to fight CageSport Champion Brent Knopp for his 185 lb title. Gonzales looked sharper with his technique and accuracy, but Torgeson was wily and moved well to stay out of danger. Gonzales kept working to close the distance and pin Torgeson against the cage so he could work his submissions and strikes. Torgeson would push off and work from the center of the cage as best he could, but Gonzales was ahead on two judges scorecards when the bell rang at the end of third, giving hism the split decision and the title shot versus Knopp at CageSport XXXI on July 19th.

In a female 115 lb matchup, Katie Howard and Reagan Benedetti had a battle that was decided on the ground. On the feet, Howard would spin in order to get close enough to strike Benedetti. while Benedetti moved in on Howard with her hands up and worked the clinch and some very nice knees. Late in the first round, Howard fought long and hard to get out of a deep choke Benedetti had secured. Late in the second, Howard sunk in her own rear naked choke and with her longer arms was able to keep it locked in against Benedetti's defense attempts. Benedetti kept fighting until she went out at 4:14 of the 2nd.

Tyson Cunningham and Eric Ramsey kept up a fast pace in a battle of 2 undefeated welterweights. Ramsey was full of energy and angles on his feet, and quick movement on the ground. Cunningham used his solid stand-up and wrestling experience to keep control of the fight while trading heavy blows. Ramsey dropped Cunningham first but Cunningham quickly recovered and got Ramsey to the canvas with a solid punch. He then was able to capitalize on the dazed Ramsey to pin him against the cage and strike his way to a TKO victory at 4:17 in the first.

Ivan Salaverry MMA fighter Emanuel Russell used his superior ground skills against Riley Buzzard in their 135 lb fight. Russell worked smart for the takedowns against the wiry Buzzard who had good footwork and was looking to strike. Buzzard had good takedown defense, but Russell knew where he wanted the fight to be and was able to pull Buzzard down and sink in a rear naked choke to earn the tap at 2:48 of the first.

In his 145 lb pro debut, Paul DeVeglio was able to out-strike Aaron Martin. Martin wasn't able to settle in and get to work against DeVeglio who was landing heavy and accurate shots. Martin pushed into a clinch, but DeVeglio was able to turn the favor his way and took Martin's back and neck for the rear naked choke finish at 2:56 of round 1.

Victory Athletic's Woo Johnson was able to stay on top of WCFT's Ricky Satterwhite for the first two rounds of their 155 lb fight, working to pass guard or throw strikes. Satterwhite used his length to control Johnson's movement as best he could on the ground, and rallied in the third to stay in dominate positions, but lost by unanimous decision, two rounds to his one.

United Fight Team's Corey Watson battled Trent Tyler to exhaustion in the first round of their 170 lb match up, and was able to quickly capture a guillotine on Tyler and get the tap just 0:28 into the second round.

American Combat Academy's Zach Conn kept to what he is well known for: length, aggression, and tenacity against Raven Guice in a 170 lb contest. Conn pushed the pace, circling in and jabbing his way to throwing Guice off his game. Once on the ground, Conn maintained that relentless style, taking Guice's back and sinking in the rear naked choke at 3:21 of round 1.

Halquist Productions next event at the Emerald Queen Casino is the all-pro boxing Battle at the Boat 96 on June 7th, followed by CageSport XXXI on July 19th. More info about CageSport and Battle at the Boat at HalquistProductions.com.