SFL America 155 lb Champ Justin Harrington submits Bobby McIntyre via triangle choke

Super Fight League 44 - presented by CageSport MMA - went down September 26th inside the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma WA in front of a packed house of NW fight fans. In the evening's final bout, SFL America Lightweight Champion Justin "Ruckus" Harrington took on challenger Bobby McIntyre. McIntyre came out fast and furious, staggering Harrington with a big punch and then executing a crowd-pleasing slam of Harrington. McIntyre put Harrington in a crucifix and started firing off elbows that had Harrington in serious trouble. Harrington though not only survived the onslaught, but moments later he locked on a tight triangle choke of McIntyre and got the tap for the win at 2:25 of the first round. Incredible fight!

In the SFL America 205 lb Championship, the grit and experience of 34 year-old Alfonso "Big Smooth" Gonzales was matched up against the youth and size of 6'7" 22 year old "Tiny" Thomas Hoeper. When the bout began, Hoeper went straight at Gonzales and the pair had some heavy exchanges, both landing big bombs. Gonzales took it to the ground where he punished Hoeper with some hard shots, winning the round. In the 2nd frame, Gonzales connected early with a series of strikes that staggered Hoeper. Gonzales then took him down and proceeded to connect with shot after shot on the ground before the referee stopped it at 1:29 of the 2nd.

In a much-anticipated featured featherweight contest, two veterans of the NW fight circuit matched up in Spokane's Daniel Swain and Tacoma's Drew Brokenshire. In the first round, Swain closed the distance and took Brokenshire to the mat. Swain dropped in a couple big shots, but Brokenshire's defense limited more damage and eventually Brokenshire got it back standing. Swain though kept it in the clinch and controlled Brokenshire against the cage to the end of the round, creating distance on occasion to sneak in a punch or elbow strike.





In the 2nd, Swain took Brokenshire down early and as Brokenshire tried to his work his way up the cage, Swain fired a big knee at Brokenshire's chest. The ref though saw it as an illegal knee to a downed opponent's head and stood the two up with no point taken. On the restart, Brokenshire moved in with a knee of his own but Swain shot perfectly for the takedown. Swain maintained top position while going for submissions and landing the occasional strike, while Brokenshire actively looked to escape. Though when he finally did, Swain again scored with another nice takedown to end out the round. In the final frame, the fight went almost immediately to the canvas where it was Brokenshire who got top position and looked to land strikes. Swain though stayed patient on the bottom and when Brokenshire tried to maneuver past his guard, Swain saw the opportunity and locked in a triangle choke, getting the tap from Brokenshire at 2:04 of the third.

Invicta FC vet Jenny Liou, fighting out of Lewiston ID, took on Colorado's Heather Denny at 120 lbs. At the opening bell, Liou closed the distance and eventually got the takedown, ending in Denny's guard. Denny though caught Liou in an armbar and worked to finish the Team Execution fighter. Liou stayed patient, twice telling the referee she was OK, until she was able to escape the submission and gain position on Denny. Liou then went for and secured an armbar of Denny at 4:01 of the first round. Liou moves to 4-3 as pro with the win, while Denny falls to 1-1.

Two fighters made their pro debuts at SFL 44 with Lyndon Hirai of Bellingham MMA and Warrior Camp's Allan Nickolauson matching up at 135 lbs. As the first round progressed, Hirai's standup became deadly accurate, connecting with kicks, knees and punches, before a big knee to the Nickolauson's midsection crumpled the Spokane fighter and forced the ref to stop it at 2:41 of the 1st.

The sole knockout of SFL 44 came in the 145 lb contest between Shoreline MMA's Jeremie Montgomery and debuting pro Jadon Johnson, with both fighters throwing hard leather from the opening bell. It was Montgomery though who found his range first, landing a big shot that dropped Johnson at 1:26 of the first round. Montgomery evens his pro record at 1-1 with the victory.

Some great grappling and jiu-jitsu were displayed in the 155 lb matchup between Thomas Pierce Jr. and Jesse Hardenbrook. In the first, Pierce shot in for a takedown but Hardenbrook sprawled and gained the positional advantage on the ground where he locked on triangle choke in the corner. Pierce defended against the cage and eventually was able to take Hardenbrook's back for the rear naked choke attempt. Hardenbrook also defended well and the round ended with Hardenbrook going for an arm triangle. In the second round, Pierce again shot and took Hardenbrook down. Hardenbrook briefly went for a triangle but Pierce fought through it and then took Hardenbrook's back where he sunk a deep rear naked choke. Hardenbrook was defending the choke when his armed seemed to suddenly go limp and hit the canvas. The referee took this as a signal Hardenbrook had passed out and so immediately stopped the fight, giving Pierce Jr. the technical submission win at 2:21 of the 2nd.

Dylan Potter and Chris Aparicio opened the fights in a 180 lb catchweight bout, Potter making his pro debut and Aparacio looking for his first pro win against 3 losses. Potter moved in early taking Aparacio down against the cage. Aparacio managed to get it to the feet but again Potter took him to the mat. There, he quickly locked on a triangle choke that Aparacio attempted to slam his way out of, but Potter held the sub. When it was apparent that Aparacio would not submit to the choke, Potter transitioned to an armbar where eventually got the tap at 1:34 of the first.

CageSport MMA is back at the EQC on Dec 12th for another presentation of Super Fight League. More information on CageSport and the SFL can be found at halquistproductions.com and superfightleague.com.