Saturday, April 8th at the Rose Garden Arena Believe me when I say that Sportfight has the makings and potential to be a major player in the future of MMA. Held in the home of the Portland Trailblazers, Matt Lindland and Randy Couture’s Sportfight has always lived up to its promise of dynamic matchmaking and first class production. Sportfight 15 was everything and more then an MMA enthusiast could anticipate, and with Matt Lindland wearing the hat of the ringmaster the production was attentive to the needs of the fans, fighters and media.

The fights were all action packed, with the most improved fighter looking like it was Eddie Ellis from Victory Athletics who fought Ray Peralis. Ellis submitted Peralis, but not before delivering a barrage of bone-crunching blows to the head prior to submitting him with a rear naked choke.

Dennis “The Pirahna”Davis was up here from Salt Lake City, fighting Dave Padilla from Hawaii. This bout only took less than 30 seconds. “It was an easy payday, but I really wanted it to last longer. I was hoping to stand with him for awhile, but the submission came and I had to take it.” I asked Dennis what was next. I’m open to whatever comes my way, I’m very marketable, personable and a pretty damn good fighter. I have a great manager in Robert Roveta and I’m confident that he will do his job. I’m in Utah with Josh Burkman training right now, Evan Tanner was just down there training with us, and we have about 25 or 30 guys in the gym. Train and train that’s all there is to do there. Not much else. I partied a little too much in Las Vegas so this is a good place for me. I’m 100% focused on my fight game.”

Pat Healy took out Brandon Melendez in just under 3:00 min in the second round. This was viewed a bit of an upset, Melendez came with Jeremy Horn in his corner, but Healy, known for his heavy hands proved a bit too much for Melendez. Healy beat Melendez down with strikes and mounted for the eventual rear naked choke. Much to Melendez’s’ credit he had his chin tested on more than one occasion in the fight but battle through.

Team Quest’s Ryan “The Lion” Schultz took on the Desert Dog, Dave Cochran. Schultz came out in the first round delivering a looping right hand that could be heard hitting Cochran’s jaw from the first 10 rows. Cochran with stood it and continued to hang in there with the much more experienced Schultz until 3:42 of Rd. 1 when Ryan ended the bout with a rear naked choke.

In the main event Team Quest’s Ian Loveland took on OJJ’s Enoch Wilson. This was an all out war. At one point Wilson had Loveland in a Kimura so tight and so deep it appeared as though Loveland’s arm would surely dislocate, or snap via compound fracture. Unbelievably, Loveland was able to escape, and they both stood delivering blows that rocked them both. In the second round Wilson hit Loveland with a knee to the head out of the clinch that staggered Loveland, and as he hit one knee Wilson seized the advantage with a back mount and choked his opponent out. There will surely be a re-match.

There was also tribute paid to Randy in a ceremony that produced overwhelming emotion, even though it has been quite some time since he announced his retirement from the sport. Couture spoke about Sportfight and he attributed its success to Matt (Lindland). “Matt’s the one beating the pavement. He’s the nuts and bolts of this thing. I’m just another pretty face.” He paused and laughed, “Well maybe not so pretty, we’re really trying to take Sportfight to recognition on more of a national level.” It is  hard to believe he won’t fight again…. The next Sportfight will take place at the Wild Horse Casino on June 24^th in Pendleton Ore

If you have any questions for Mr. Atchley feel free to contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it