Matt Lindland's Sportfight continues to provide a stage for Northwest fighters looking to showcase their talents and get noticed by the big players, with recent athletes competing there and moving on including: (UFC) Ricky Story, Mike Pierce, Mario Miranda & John Gunderson; (Strikeforce) Pat Healy, Lyle Beerbohm, Cory Devela, & Nathan Coy; (WEC) Bryan Caraway & Dave Jansen.

On July 10th, a new batch of hopefuls entered the Sportfight Ring as Sportfight returned to its home in Portland's Rose Garden with 5 Professional and 4 Amateur MMA bouts. In the main event for the Sportfight World Heavyweight Title, rising prospect DJ Linderman out of Team Do Somethin' looked extremely impressive in outlasting Team Quest's Daniel Stewart over five rounds to get the decision and the belt. This fight was a true war, and it was Linderman's ability to turn up the heat in the 4th and 5th rounds against a gassed Stewart that garnered him the victory. Linderman goes to 8-1 as a pro and is looking to move down to 205 for future bouts. (Read the NW Fightscene Post-fight interview with DJ HERE!)

The Co-Main Event was for the Sportfight World Welterweight Title and was won by Casey Manrique over Damian Dantibo with an early first round Guillotine Choke. This is the third 1st round submission finish at Sportfight for the young Manrique in as many tries and this last one gives him a nice shiny belt to hang on the wall.

In a Pro Featherweight contest, Lucca Franca, nephew of former WEC champ and UFC Fighter Hermes Franca, defeated Chaz Gurule via Armbar in the fourth minute of the 1st round in a very exciting back and forth contest. 

Pro Light Heavyweight Chris Folsom got the night's only knockout when he took out Justin Gardner midway through the first round in their fight. Ray Armstrong of Armstrong MMA got a quick Rear Naked Choke of Jon Clift in a Pro 180 lb bout. 

Amatuers Shams Moussaoui and Hamza Salim both won their fights by Unanimous Decision to start out the evening, and amateurs Travis Cavalli and Brandon Pitts both followed up with 1st round Rear Naked Choke finishes in their respective bouts.

Sportfight XXIX is currently scheduled for September 11th at the Rose Garden.

More info on at sportfight.tv.