Banner Promotions, in conjunction with Ringside Tickets Inc, presented the latest Conquest of the Cage from the Northern Quest Casino near Spokane on Sept 8th. The show featured 3 pro and 8 amateur MMA fights, including the main event for the U.M.M.A. Lightweight Championship. Initially the matchup was scheduled to be between Ryan "The Irish Assassin" Healy out of Team Quest and talented local Spokane fighter Mike Hanks, but when Hanks broke his foot in training just a week before the bout, Charon Spain stepped up. While Spain has had numerous amateur bouts, this was only his 5th pro fight against Healy's 23+ and Healy's experience was a major factor. Soon after opening bell, Healy closed the gap and dumped Spain against the cage with much of the rest of the round spent on the mat as Healy worked his ground and pound game. In the 2nd round, Healy again quickly got the takedown and started to work, although Spain at one point was able to get to his feet and actually take Healy's back standing where he went for the choke as both fighters went to the mat. Healy was patient though and it didn't take him long to work out of the choke and gain dominant position again where he peppered Spain with shots before taking his back and sinking in the rear naked choke for the win and the belt. Healy, who's twin brother Pat fights for Strikeforce, is undefeated in 2010 and riding a five fight win streak. 

UMMA Lightweight Champion Ryan Healy

The night had 2 other pro fights, both at 145 lbs. The first featured C3's Alex Zuniga from Everett taking on Team Blackout's Omar Avelar who hails from Moses Lake. This fight was a back and forth high-paced affair in the first until Zuniga picked up a scrambling Avelar and slammed him to the canvas on his head. Referee Jeremy Suanders immediately called a time-out and Avelar took the five minutes allowed to recover. No point was taken from Zuniga for the spike as it was ruled accidental. Avelar was clearly not the same after this and although he gamely fought on, Zuniga was able to wear him down with takedowns and punishment on the ground and eventually Avelar succumbed to a rear naked choke midway through the final round.

The other 145 lb pro fight had Arlington Kickboxing Academy's JJ Lopez take a Unanimous Decision win over Cody Cox out of the Idaho Lion's Den. Lopez dropped Cox a couple times in the first round and looked as if he would finish it, but Cox hung in and made it through the round. Lopez controlled the 2nd round with Cox on his back much of it daring Lopez to engage him on the ground where he could work for submissions but Lopez would have none of it, punishing Cox with leg kicks and forcing him to his feet to engage. The third was spent mostly on the feet as well and although Cox was able to land and score more as both fighters slowed, it was too little too late and the well deserved win went to Lopez.

8 amateur fights also took place and included two title fights. The COTC 145 lb Title was won by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Spokane's Joey Becker over Jordan Cook from the Idaho Lion's Den by way of Unanimous Decision after five rounds. Becker had the better of the standup exchanges and when the fight went to the mat maintained top control for the most part while patiently working out of Cook's numerous submission attempts from bottom.

For the 170 lb COTC Title, Ben "Fear The Flaptop" Fodor out of Alderwood MMA came out of the gates firing and simply overwhelmed Spokane's Rick Parkins. Fodor is now 19-2 as an amateur and certainly looks like he has all the pre-requisites to make the move and do well in the pro ranks if he decides to make that jump.

Banner Promotions will be holding more MMA events in the future at the Northern Quest Casino so stay tuned to banner-promotions.com & northernquest.com.