Clinch Matchmaking, LLC, DBA Northwest Fight Promotions (NWFP) is essentially a continuation of Brian Halquist Productions, Inc. (BHP). BHP successfully promoted MMA and Boxing shows (CageSport and Battle at the Boat) in the Pacific Northwest, mainly at the Emerald Queen Casino (EQC), since 1997. Due to the pandemic, Halquist decided to close (BHP) to take a position at the EQC. George Dodd then formed NWFP, hired all former members of BHP’s staff, and began to promote MMA matches at the Seven Feathers Casino, the Yakima Dome, and the Clark County Event Center. NWFP was recently notified that it was selected, over several other companies, to promote three MMA events in 2024 at the Legends Casino Hotel.

NWFP is a combative sports promotion company dedicated to providing quality and entertaining combative sporting events throughout the Pacific Northwest. The NWFP team includes seasoned combative sports professionals who combine the responsibilities of promoting and coordinating successful events for both the company and the venue. Our experience and methods are proven over many events over the years. We believe in providing our customers with great shows to ensure loyalty and trust. Our experienced staff works directly with casino staff to ensure events run efficiently. We not only promote the events, we also manage press releases, social networking, help with ticket sales, local direct marketing, and publicity. We are committed to building a strong working relationship with the casino and its staff since it is essential to the success of each event.

NWFP staff have been involved in more professional combative sporting events than any organization in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to the recent pandemic and closure of BHP, our staff has been an integral part of the longest running boxing series at a tribal casino in the United States, Battle at the Boat and the longest running mixed martial arts series in the Pacific Northwest, CageSport. We work closely with each regulator body, whether it be the state athletic commission or outside organization, to ensure that the events are properly regulated to promote fighter safety and the protection of the tribal casino. We are open to MMA events, or Boxing events, or both.

 

Following is an overview of our staff.

 

George Dodd – Owner

George Dodd’s experience in combative sports began in 2008 as the Manager for the Washington Department of Licensing Combative Sports Division. There he helped regulate all events held throughout Washington, including the EQC and other tribal gaming casinos. In 2010, following a national search, Dodd was selected to become the Executive Officer of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) where he regulated over 400 combative sporting events on tribal land and at other venues throughout California. At CSAC, Dodd worked with top promoters throughout the United States including UFC, Bellator, Golden Boy, Top Rank, Goosen-Tutor, and BHP. Seeking a return to Washington, Dodd left CSAC and worked as a licensed inspection and judge for Combative Sports in Washington while exploring other opportunities in the sport. In 2018, Dodd was hired as the General Manager for BHP. In partnership with the EQC, Dodd organized eight (8) boxing events and ten (10) mixed martial arts events annually until being shut down by the pandemic in the spring of 2020. BHP then closed its business and Dodd formed NWFP. In April of 2022, NWFP held the first professional MMA event at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Three weeks later, NWFP promoted CageSport 63 at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, OR. On November 19, 2022, NWFP promoted an MMA event at the Clark County Events Center.

 

Randy Aliment – General Counsel

Randy Aliment is a leading Pacific Northwest lawyer and partner at Lewis Brisbois, the sixth largest law firm in the United States. Aliment now concentrates his legal practice on Higher Education, business, and sports industries. Dodd and Aliment first worked together at BHP where Aliment had worked with Halquist since 2015. In addition to the combative sports, Aliment has worked on matters related to the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, several PNW universities, and the Olympics. Aliment currently serves on the Board of Directors of USA Bobsled | Skeleton.

 

Grant Clark – Publicist

Grant Clark has been working for over 25 years in the communications, media relations, marketing, and public relations fields in several capacities. Dodd first met Clark at BHP where Clark managed public relations and communications. Clark has written over 4,000 bylines for The Tacoma News Tribune, The Olympian and other newspapers. In 1997, Clark covered his first boxing event while serving as the Tacoma New Tribune’s boxing beat reporter. In 2009, Clark joined BHP, and in 2022, he was hired by NWFP.

 

Julie Guerin – Assistant Matchmaker/Executive Assistant

Julie Guerin, a resident of Yakima, has been involved with mixed martial arts since 2004. As the Co-Owner of Yakima MMA, Guerin promoted and sanctioned over 100 MMA events throughout Washington. Guerin was instrumental in helping to write and establish rules and regulations when Washington started to regulate MMA. In 2022, she was hired by NWFP.

 

Kenny Davis – Announcer/Podcast Host

Kenny Davis has been a professional combative sports ring announcer since 2008. Davis had been the BHP ring announcer for CageSport MMA and Battle at the Boat boxing since 2013. Davis has announced MMA and pro wrestling events throughout Washington and Oregon for Fight Night Entertainment, Wrestle Sport and Super Fight League America. His work as a ring announcer has been featured on nationally broadcast events on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights as well as Showtime’s Showbox: The New Generation and Root Sports Northwest. Prior to his ring announcing work, Davis was the public address announcer for the Bellingham Bells baseball team from 2008 through 2010. He is the creator and lead host of the upcoming comedic combat sports focused podcast Ken’s Fightin’ Words which will serve to promote NWFP events and local fighters. In 2022, he was hired by NWFP.