This Saturday in Tacoma, Washington at The Emerald Queen Casino, Super Fight League-America returns for a unique event that features many of the Pacific Northwest’s most promising up and coming fighters. This card is being dubbed Team Challenge: Seattle VS. Portland and brings fighters from each city to square off under the guidance of a local coach for each team. For team Seattle, the coach in question is UFC veteran Jeff Hougland. While for team Portland, one time NW Fightscene coach of the year Nick Gilardi will take the reins. The fight card is set with eight bouts in all and features a lightweight title fight in the main event.
The fight card is as follows:
TEAM SEATTLE TEAM PORTLAND
Lightweight – Justin Harrington(c) vs. Bryan Nuro
Strawweight – Cindy Hales vs. Liz Tracy
Bantamweight – Shane Friesz vs. Journey Newson
Bantamweight – Zach Skinner vs. Benny Vinson
Welterweight – Joey Pierotti vs. Chris Evans
Middleweight – Rafael Brewster vs. Jose McKay Rodriguez
Bantamweight – Anthony Zender vs. Sean Gee
Leightweight – Chris Stone vs. Kody Hammond
*****As always card is subject to change
This card is going to give fans a good look at what is on the horizon for the two mixed martial arts metropolises. In a featured bout at bantamweight, two of the more talked about young fighters from each region square off in what will surely be the most difficult fight of their respective careers as Enumclaw, Washington’s Shane Friesz takes on Journey Newson. Newson is one of Portland’s brightest young stars. Explosively athletic and powerful for the weight class, he is sure to be a handful for any fighter not prepared for a full three rounds. Friesz certainly seems like a fighter who will be up for the challenge. After opening his professional career off with a loss, Friesz has won four consecutive fights. Securing wins via submission, knockout, and decision, Friesz has shown he is well rounded and well coached. This matchup will test these young fighters as they prepare to reach the championship level on the regional circuit.
In the night’s co-main event, two fighters will throw down at strawweight as submission ace Cindy Hales takes on Liz Tracy. I hesitate to call this fight a classic striker versus grappler matchup since Tracy has above average skills on the mat. However, she does not have the grappling credentials of Hales, not even close. Hales has been inactive in mixed martial arts since 2008, but as lead instructor at Gracie Bara in Kirkland, Washington, she has kept in shape and only improved her already world class Jiu Jitsu. There is one place that Hales will want this fight to take place and that is on the mat. For Tracy, keeping this fight standing will be her best path to victory. The work she has put in at Fisticuffs Gym in Vancouver, Washington will aid her in outstriking Hales.
Rounding out the night is a lightweight title fight that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Portland, Oregon’s Bryan Nuro will put his perfect record on the line as he challenges Justin Harrington for the lightweight strap. Harrington has more than twice the professional experience in the cage as Nuro and he will need that veteran savvy against the well-rounded skills of the Oregonian. Both Nuro and Harrington are known as fighters who look to finish fights; between the two of them, only one of their professional victories went to the scorecards. When you add to this title fight the bragging rights for your hometown there is enough on the line Saturday night to make all 16 fighters turn up their intensity.
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