SFL America Lightweight championship bout
highlights MMA show at Emerald Queen Casino
TACOMA, Wash. – Justin “Ruckus” Harrington will make the second defense of his Super Fight League America Lightweight championship when he squares off against Woo “Why So Serious” Johnson in the main event of CageSport presents SFL 46 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma on Feb. 20.
The Brian Halquist Productions card will also feature undefeated CageSport middleweight champion Brent “Mankill” Knopp facing Jared Torgeson in showdown of light heavyweights.
Tickets are available through the EQC box office and all Ticket Master outlets. Doors open at 6 p.m. with preliminary bouts starting at 7 p.m.
Harrington (8-2) captured the SFL Lightweight crown with a second-round TKO of Harrison Bevens on July 11, 2015. He made his first defense at SFL 44 with a thrilling first-round submission of challenger Bobby McIntyre on Sept. 26, 2015. Harrington overcame a brutal early offensive onslaught from McIntyre to end the bout with a Triangle Choke late in the first round.
Johnson (5-1) brings a three-fight winning streak into the championship bout. He earned his title shot with an impressive win by third-round submission over Chris Aparicio at SFL 41 and was originally slated to face Harrington for the title at SFL 44, but was sidelined with an injury.
Now healthy, he looks to wrestle the championship away from Harrington in a clash of the Northwest’s top 155 pounders.
“This is the fight fans wanted to see,” promoter Brian Halquist said. “They’ve had to wait almost six months for it, but now it’s here and it’s going to be worth the wait. You have two of the best young fighters in the business facing off with a prestigious title on the line. We haven’t had too many main events that have been as highly anticipated as this one.”
Knopp showed little rust after he ended his two-year hiatus during his last time out by defeating Jordan Currie by first-round TKO on Dec. 12, 2015 at SFL 46. It was the first fight for the hard-hitting Knopp (6-0) since his victory over former Strikeforce fighter Cory Devela on Dec. 7, 2013. All six of Knopp’s bouts have taken place at the Emerald Queen Casino with each one ending in a knock out.
Torgeson brings a strong resume into the 195-pound battle, registering 17 wins during his professional career. Knopp will be the fifth current or former CageSport/Super Fight League champion Torgeson has faced – a claim no other fighter can make. That list includes current UFC fighters Anthony Hamilton and Trevor Smith, former heavyweight champion Kyle Keeney and light heavyweight champion Alfonso Gonzales.
Highlighting the undercard will be Dylan Potter (2-0) as he looks to stay undefeated when he takes on Rob Burgess in a 185-pound bout.
Super Fight League 46 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA. For more information, please visit halquistproductions.com and the CageSport MMA Facebook page.
CageSport Presents Super Fight League 46
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 – Emerald Queen Casino
Main Event
SFL America Lightweight Championship
Justin Harrington (champion) vs. Woo Johnson
Semi-main event (light heavyweight)
Brent Knopp vs. Jared Torgeson
Undercard
Fay Bursell vs. Joey Pierotti
Armando Best vs. Jeremie Montgomery
John Marc Cortez vs. Justin Hugo
Dave Purnell vs. Thomas James Pierce, Jr.
Dylan Potter vs. Rob Burgess
Nick Coughran vs. Ryan Schecterson
ABOUT BRIAN HALQUIST
Brian Halquist Productions is the Northwest premiere fight promotion company creator of the famed "Battle at the Boat" boxing series promoting two decades and 100 fights at the Emerald Queen Casino. BHP has also built the largest professional MMA series on the USA’s west coast with “CageSport MMA” promoting over 40 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.
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