Seattle Superhero to Main Event Show at Emerald Queen Casino

TACOMA, Wash. - When Superman removes his cape and slides into the role of Clark Kent he puts on a pair of glasses and becomes the persona of the mild-mannered reporter whose characteristics are far different than the Man of Steel's.

When Ben Fodor, whose alter ego is real life Seattle superhero Phoenix Jones, removes the mask he puts on a pair of MMA gloves and there's nothing mild-mannered about him inside the cage.

Fodor returns to CageSport MMA on Oct. 14 at the Emerald Queen Casino and will attempt to capture some gold on the night when he fights for the vacant CageSport welterweight championship.

Fodor (7-2) will face undefeated Austin Vanderford, a NAIA national wrestling champion, for the crown.

"Vanderford is a solid wrestler and has an amazing right hand," said Fodor. "His undefeated record and reputation are well deserved. The difference between us is experience and truth. I know deep down inside that I am willing to die in the cage or on the street as Phoenix Jones. I have no hesitation, I have no fear. I know who I am and what I can do. Austin believes he knows himself, but being the warrior he is, I'm fairly certain he has never been tested by a being of my caliber. I'm the last of my kind, a flag bearer of a warrior race long forgotten, a champion who will win at all costs. October 14th, we are going to step into the fire and let the flames burn away the lies till only the truth remains and he knows the truth, the truth that I am the champion."

Tickets are available through the EQC box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Preliminary bouts start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

This will mark Fodor's third fight for the CageSport welterweight title. He fought Tyson Cunningham for the championship on Dec. 13, 2014 in a match that ended in a draw.

He followed up that fight by defeating Jason Novelli in Tacoma by third-round submission on Feb. 21, 2015 to be crowned the welterweight champion. Soon after, the title was vacated once again after Fodor signed with the WSOF.

Fodor makes his long awaited return to CageSport in the main event at CageSport 47.

"We are very excited to have Fodor back at CageSport," promoter Brian Halquist said. "The two times he has fought in Tacoma it has been electric. I think this one is going to be the best of the three, however. Ben is hungry for this title."

While the MMA community is well aware of Fodor, many outside the sport know him as crime-fighter Phoenix Jones, a masked superhero patrolling the streets of Seattle.

Fodor and his alias were featured on ESPN, which aired an SC Featured story titled "Phoenix Rising." The program brought mass exposure to Fodor's MMA career and he ended up signing with the World Series of Fighting.

Highlighting the undercard will be a battle of 145 pounders as Eric Higaonna (8-1) squares off against Ryan Hollis, who is looking to notch career win No. 12 in the bout.

Additional undercard bouts include a pair of 156-pound bouts with Dex Montenegro (6-3) facing Nathan Thompson (5-5) and Chris Stone (2-1) taking on Wyatt Gonzalez (1-2).

CageSport 47 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA. For more information, please visit the CageSport MMA Facebook page and www.halquistproductions.com

CageSport 47 - Saturday, Oct.14, 2017
Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Wash.

Co-Main Events - 5 Rounds
CageSport Welterweight Championship
Ben Fodor (7-2) vs. Austin Vanderford (2-0)

Undercard - 3 Round Bouts
145-pounds: Tyrone Henderson (3-3-1) vs. Steven Wing (1-1)
133-pounds: Eric Higaonna (8-1) vs. Ryan Hollis (11-11)
156-pounds: Dex Montenegro (6-3) vs. Nathan Thompson (5-5)
206-pounds: AJ Weber (2-4) vs. Nick Biron (1-2)
156-pounds: Wyatt Gonzales (1-2) vs. Chris Stone (2-1)
181-pounds: Steven Vasquez (0-1) vs. Dominique Smith (0-1)
206-pounds: Robert Burgess (1-3) vs. Brent Ockerman (2-1)
146-pounds: Armando Best (2-5) vs. Terrance McKinney (Pro Debut)

ABOUT BRIAN HALQUIST
Brian Halquist Productions is the Northwest premiere fight promotion company creator of the famed "Battle at the Boat" boxing series promoting more than 20 years and over 150 fights at the Emerald Queen Casino. BHP has also built the largest professional MMA series on the USA's west coast with "Cage Sport MMA" nearing more than 50 fights. Brian Halquist Productions has promoted events for ESPN, ShowTime and HBO and featured on Showtime's historic boxing event in St Lucia, West Indies. Brian Halquist Productions has been promoting fights and concerts for over 30 years in the Pacific Northwest.