Professional MMA descended upon Spirit Mountain Casino July 29th as they held their 4th Caged Combat event, presented this time by Roy Jones Jr's Square Ring Promotions. The Boxing legend himself was cageside watching the action, and MMA stars Lyle Beerbohm & Benji Radach were backstage warming up their teammates for the start of a epic evening of MMA action of 8 all-pro fights with all NW Fighters ably put together by matchmaker (and UFC fighter) Dennis "Superman" Hallman.

Roy Jones Jr

The main event was a Welterweight clash between "Fast" Eddy Ellis of the United Fight Team out of Olympia and last minute replacement James "Bird Dogg" Birdsley, who filled in for an injured Steve Lopez. Ellis didn't take long in taking control by using great punching combos and cage control to overwhelm Birdsley. After the first round it was clear Ellis was winning the fight by his devastating body combos and ability to cut the cage off and get to Birdsley quickly. After the second round started it only took a couple more body combos and Birdsley had enough and verbally quit at 1:33. Afterwards Ellis spoke to NWFS about the win and more.

The Co-feature was a 170lb bout that turned into the NWFS pick for "Fight of the Night" and "KO of the Night" as Jory "Iron Man" Erickson from Missoula MT's Dog Pound took on Ring Demon's Eric "The Demon" Dahlberg. Dahlberg, who trains such fighters as Bellator's Mike "300" Hayes and Strikeforce's Trevor Smith at his Ring Demon gym in Tukwila WA, was fighting for the first time in two years and only the 2nd time since 2004. This was a close match with Dalhberg inching out points in the first 2 rounds, getting in and out of Erickson's striking range and nullifying any ground game Erickson attempted to use. In the third round, Dahlberg was making Erickson chase and throw wild punches while landing strikes of his own. Going into the fourth minute it looked as if the fight was headed to a decision when BOOM!! Dalhberg lands a huge roundhouse kick and KO's Erickson cold at 4:10 of Rd 3 with the crowd going crazy. After the fight, an emotional Dahlberg talked about the win.

Team Quest fighter and IFL veteran Aaron Stark made his first trip to the cage since 2009 and awaiting him was Irish Hit Squad's Jared Torgeson. Stark came out looking in great shape and made a statement by immediately taking the fight to Torgeson and snagging a rear naked choke at just 1:11 of the first round. Afterwards, Stark spoke to NWFS about what it the victory after such a long layoff meant to him.

In a very action-packed bout, Peter Aspinwall representing Portland Thai Boxing took on Real World Fight Team's Tony King. Aspinwall took the first round by keeping King to the cage with punches and kicks and for a moment seemed as if King wasn't going to get out of the round as he was getting beat in every way. King did survive to the bell and between rounds his corner tended to him and poured water over his head and shoulders. According to the commission rules, they should clean up the mess left on the mat but they did not and the referee did not catch it.  When the 2nd round started, Aspinwall charged out hard, pushing King into his corner, went to throw and slipped on the water left on the mat. In getting up he was almost immediately rocked by King and the tables of the fight were turned for sure. King started in on Aspinwall landing shot after shot, finally finishing the hurt fighter with a TKO Ref Stoppage at 1:32 of round 2.

Tommy Liesman from Team Quest made his pro debut against Spokane's Lee Morrison in a 155lb bout, and it only took Liesman under a minute and a half to get his first pro win by sinking an armbar that Morrison could not break out of. After the fight, Liesman gave credit to his teammates at the Tulatin Team Quest for the win.

Team Quest fighter Tyson Nam came out against White Buffalo Warrior Chanti Johnson in a 140 lb bout, and Nam only needed two punches to take out Johnson and get the TKO. The one that counted was a left hook that landed flush in Chanti's eye and made him quit fast at the 45 second mark of the first round.

In a 205 lb fight that should that can be crowned "Bloodfest of the Night", Brandon Pitts took on Craig Sloan in a battle of attrition. Pitts from Team Quest and Sloan from Gibson MMA both came to fight. Pitts was winning the fight with distance, getting in punches and knees on a much smaller Sloan. Yet Sloan was tough and wouldn't get put away. He was cut early by elbows and kept his composure during the onslaught, but was unable to turn the tide and mount any sustained offense. In the end the judges awarded a the decision to Brandon Pitts with all scoring it 30-27.

Starting the night off at 165 lbs was Sikjitsu's Sam Sicilia, cornered by Strikeforce fighter and teammate Lyle Beerbohm, facing Real World Fight Team's Josh Snodgrass. Sicilia was able to gain back control early and sink the rear naked choke making Snodgrass tap at a 1:48 of the first.

More fight action is coming to Spirit Mountain later this year.

Visit spiritmountain.com for more info.