Knopp, Clark main event MMA event at Emerald Queen Casino

TACOMA, Wash. – SFL America: Team Challenge returns to the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. on Oct. 22 when Team Seattle squares off against Team Central Valley.

Headlining the stacked card will be a 192-pound main event between Seattle’s hard-hitting Brent Knopp (7-1) and Josh Clark (9-3) of the California Central Valley squad. Knopp is coming off an impressive unanimous decision victory over Adam Dehart at the latest SFL America Team Challenge event, Seattle vs Los Angeles, where team Los Angeles took home the victory with a final score of 15-6. Fans may recognize Josh Clark from his time spent on the UFC reality show “The Ultimate Fighter” where he fought on the show’s 19th season with Team Penn.


Brent Knopp

Also appearing on Team Seattle will be a pair of undefeated fighters in Joey Pierotti (3-0) and Nathan Stolen (2-0), as well as Dylan Potter (4-1) and Thomas Hoeper (6-2).

In addition to Clark, Team Central Valley also features unbeaten Richard Brooks (4-0) and Mike Persons (7-3).

The 8-bout card will feature two preliminary and six Seattle vs Central Valley bouts, including one female flyweight bout between Seattle’s Liz Tracy (2-1) and Central Valley’s Christine Stanley (5-2).


Liz Tracy

Fighters in the team challenge will earn 6 points for a KO, 5 points for a submission victory, 4 points for a TKO, 3 points for a decision and 1 point for a draw with the winning team collecting the most combined points.

“Top to bottom, you would be hard pressed to find a better card than this in the Northwest,” said promoter, Brian Halquist. “Knopp and Clark will go to war in the main event, and then we have several up-and-coming fighters who are all looking to take that next step.”

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.

Highlighting the stellar undercard will be a battle of unbeaten when Seattle’s Pierotti meets Central Valley’s Brooks in a clash of 170-pound fighters.


Joey Pierotti

Also looking to keep an unblemished record will be Stolen, who is coming off an impressive victory at SFL America: Seattle vs Los Angeles. Stolen takes on A.J. Bryant at 145 pounds.


Nathan Stolen


A.J. Bryant

Additional Team Challenge bouts include Potter and Persons at 185 and Hoeper and Lew Polley (12-7) at 225.


Dylan Potter


Thomas Hoeper

SFL America: Team Challenge – Seattle vs Central Valley is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA. For more information, please visit www.superfightleague.com and www.halquistproductions.com.

SFL America Team Challenge: Seattle vs Central Valley

SFL 51 America - Undercard (bouts do not count towards the team score)
145: Armando Best (0-2) vs. Jorge Gaitan (Debut)
140: Anthony Zender (5-8) vs. Nathan Thompson (5-3)

SFL 51 America Team Challenge: Seattle vs. Central Valley
TEAM SEATTLE vs TEAM CENTRAL VALLEY
125: Liz Tracy (2-1) vs Christine Stanley (5-2)
145: Nathan Stolen (2-0) vs AJ Bryant (1-1)
170: Joey Pierotti (3-0) vs Richard Brooks (4-0)
185: Dylan Potter (4-1) vs Mike Persons (7-3)
225: Thomas Hoeper (6-2) vs Lew Polley (12-7)
192: Brent Knopp (7-1) vs Josh Clark (9-3)

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 19 years and over 100 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.