Photos by Karla Rivas

MMA action returned to the North Coast for the first time in over a year last weekend with a sold-out Hard Fought Championships at the Blue Lake Casino Hotel.

And, according to fight promoter Brian Wilson of Hard Fought Productions, the night was a huge success and they are hoping to put on additional fight nights in Blue Lake in the not-too-distant future.

“It went fantastic,” Wilson said. “I think it was probably one of the smoothest shows we’ve ever had. All the fights went well. We had a great response from the crowd. The place was packed.”

Fans were treated to 11 fights, with several local fan favorites in action.

Andrew Guisa of the Lost Boys gym in Arcata headlined the event and won a heavyweight kickboxing fight with a third-round TKO.

“He looked great,” said Wilson, who has trained and worked closely with Guisa over the years. “I thought he definitely looked crisp and he looked strong.

“He definitely showed some power and had a varied attack.”

Guisa’s Lost Boys teammate Titus Balliett also impressed on his way to victory in an MMA welterweight amateur title bout.

Balliett won with a first-round submission and was in control throughout.

“He looked like the more composed fighter,” Wilson said. “He definitely controlled the range.”

The unofficial fight of the night featured another Lost Boys fighter, Nate Cruz.

Cruz won a 125-pound flyweight fight in the third round, ending it with a rear naked choke.

“It went back and forth,” Wilson said of the entertaining fight. “Nate had some really good moments.”

Jacob Hodge and Brian Hone also won their fights to cap a very good night for the Lost Boys against some talented opponents from out of the area.

Hodge took the victory in a 185-pound fight with a first-round rear naked choke, while Hone won a heavyweight clash with a third-round knockout.

Gerardo Salas out of the Redwood Muay Thai in Fortuna also had a successful night, winning his 155-pound fight with a second-round knockout.

All in all, it was an entertaining and welcome return for the sport here on the North Coast.

“It felt good to be back out there doing the show,” Wilson said. “Humboldt County came out and supported us.”

Wilson added that he hopes to promote more fight nights in Blue Lake in the near future.

In the meantime, local fight fans can satisfy their appetite at a Tuff Man event, The Rumble at the River V, which will take place at the Bear River Casino Resort on Oct. 19.