185 lb Champion Brent Knopp with CageSport promoter Brian Halquist

Tacoma, WA (June 24, 2014) – The Northwest’s most intimidating MMA fighter, Brent “Mankill” Knopp (5-0) is stepping back into the cage on July 19th for CageSport 31, looking to defend his highly coveted middleweight title for the second time, taking on Idaho’s Will Noland (12-4). Knopp and Noland have emerged as the two top middleweights in the Northwest and Noland will get his first crack at the West Coast’s premier MMA middleweight title.

Tickets for CageSport 31, scheduled for Saturday, July 19th, at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA are on sale and can be purchased at the EQC box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices start at $35 and fans are encouraged to get their tickets early as CageSport has exploded in popularity selling over capacity of the 1500 seat EQC showroom.

At CageSport 30, a title eliminator match between Alfonso Gonzales and Jared Torgeson took place with the winner, Alfonso Gonzales, getting the opportunity to fight Brent Knopp for the middleweight title in July. After defeating Torgeson, Gonzales took a fight with Legacy promotions thus taking him out of consideration for the July middleweight title fight.

Replacing Gonzales is Idaho’s Will Noland who will be making his CageSport debut. Noland has won six of his last seven fights and has all the momentum he can ask for riding into his matchup against the CageSport middleweight champion.

"Iron" Will Noland

“It’s a pleasure promoting Brent’s fights,” said CageSport promoter, Brian Halquist. “He’s a good guy in and out of the cage. Still undefeated with great power, Brent always puts on an exciting display for the fans. Will Noland is a worthy opponent for Brent, and July 19th will certainly be a memorable night.”

Brent Knopps’s fight moniker, Mankill, has been backed up and proven throughout his five CageSport appearances. All five of Knopp’s wins have come via TKO/knockout usually being ended by devastating hammer fists that his opponents are still figuring how to defend. Knopp’s most recent fight may have been his most memorable yet, taking on StrikeForce veteran, Cory Devela, in a fight that featured two sluggers using every ounce of energy to get that Knockout. Midway through the fourth round, Knopp prevailed, getting the TKO victory and the first sense that he has the potential to become a national MMA star.

Brent Knopp en route to victory over Cory Devela at CageSport 28

Nine undercard fights are also scheduled throughout the night, featuring the West Coast’s best up and coming professional MMA fighters. Doors for CageSport 31 open at 6 PM with the first fight scheduled for 7 PM. For more information about CageSport 31 and all other Halquist Production events, please visit the official Facebook and Twitter Pages of CageSport MMA and Battle at the Boat.

About CageSport MMA
Halquist Productions’ CageSport MMA continues to be the longest running and leading professional MMA promotion on the West Coast. The promotion has drawn fighters from all over the region such as: Miesha Tate, Bryan Caraway, Sam Sicilia, Michael Chiesa, and Anthony Hamilton, who have all fought on former CageSport cards and going on to become UFC superstars. CageSport has become a top MMA promotion in the country for prospective West Coast fighters to gain experience and exposure as they continue to dedicate their lives in hoping to one day become a UFC champion.