COGA MMA and the Snoqualmie Casino presented the 18th Rumble on the Ridge inside the casino's Ballroom to yet another sold-out and enthusiastic crowd of fight fans. The event was streamed live around the world on fightflixx.com, and highlights from the evening's fights will be re-broadcast on Root Sports NW (formerly FSN NW) on Friday May 20th at 11 PM. A total of 10 fights, 4 professional and 6 amateur, took place with great action from all the bouts giving the fans their money's worth. MMA Star and current Strikeforce fighter, Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine, was in the house cornering Anthony "The Freight Train" Hamilton.

Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine

In the main event, Jeff "Hellbound" Hougland wasted little time in getting in and out of the cage by jumping guard and latching on a super-tight guillotine choke that Chris Ross, training out of Jeremy Horn's Elite Performance, was powerless to get out of. Time of victory: 1:06 Rd 1. The 135lb Hougland, who heads Combat Sports and Fitness in Enumclaw WA, is 4-0 in the Rumble on the Ridge cage, with 1st round submissions in all four victories.

Two big heavyweights, both over 260 lbs, went to battle in the co-main event. Anthony Hamilton, training out of Jackson's MMA and with Keith Jardine in his corner, took all three rounds by getting opponent Jesus Rodriguez down to the mat early in each round, through a wresting takedown in rd 1 and a barrage of punches in rd 2 and 3. Once on the floor, Hamilton worked his ground and pound on Rodriguez and wore down the Irish Hit Squad fighter to take home the decision win with all judges seeing it 30-27.

In a pro 145 lb contest, Sikjitsu's Roy Bradshaw beat local favorite Dex Montenegro of Coga MMA, by escaping nicely out of a Montenegro armbar attempt and locking on a tight guillotine against the cage that Montenegro refused to tap to. Ref Ryan Hoisington stepped in and stopped the fight at 3:12 in Rd 1 as Montenegro went out. 

At 155 lbs, pro fighters Matt Coble (AKA) & Dave Courchaine (Sikjitsu) both entered the cage with some serious intent and from the get go, the fight was a barn burner. Courchaine caught Coble early and got the takedown against the cage, immediately going for the guillotine. Coble powers out & gets Courchaine's back but Courchaine is able to escape the choke, and in the scramble gets Coble's neck again and then goes for the arm. Ref Ryan Hoisington briefly called a stop to the action as he saw the possible fighting ending submission but immediately instructed both fighters to continue. Coble, perhaps a little quicker to react to the restart, has Courchaine's back and locks in a Rear Naked Choke forcing Courchaine to tap at 2:32 Rd 1.

On the amateur undercard, AKA's Ken Alexander caught Base Fitmass MMA's Frankie Orr with a barrage of punches early in the 2nd round, after a good round from both fighters in the first, to force a TKO ref stop and take home the 205 lb belt.

Rumble on the Ridge XIX will be August 27th in an special outdoor event.

Tickets go on sale May 24th at noon on Ticketmaster. More info at SnoCasino.com.