Three title fights on Kalispell Kombat card

Undefeated through his first four mixed martial arts fights, Kalispell’s Gus Nolte will be fighting for the Fightforce 185-pound title tonight at Kalispell Kombat at the Majestic Valley Arena.

Nolte, a jiu jitsu coach at Straight Blast Gym, will be facing off against Canada’s Jesse Day Rider in one of three title fights on the card. Day Rider is also undefeated.

“(Gus is) a really phenomenal grappler,” said Travis Davison, owner and coach at SBG. “His strengths are really on the ground.”

Davison said the goal for Nolte will be to get the action to the ground, where he feels he can take control. Along with Davison, Nolte has been working on his ground game with Kevin Wilmot, a former All-American wrestler at Wisconsin who works in Kalispell as a chiropractor.

“Standing there’s a lot more variables and that chance for that one lucky punch,” Davison said. “We’d like to take that out of the equation and kinda simplify things and just get the fight to the ground where he can focus on controlling his opponent and winning by submission.”

Nolte will be looking to join the ranks of a few other coaches at SBG who have also won belts through the promotion.

“He’s been waiting for the title shot for a while because all of the other coaches have belts hanging on the wall,” Davison said. “He wants to be added to the Wall of Fame.”

One of those guys with a belt hanging on the wall is Duran Flaget, who will be fighting for the 135-pound belt against Billings’ Ryan Ferguson. Flaget, a former Flathead wrestler, has won each of his last two fights.

Outside of SBG, Kalispell’s Thomas Lamarr will be fighting Polson’s Josh Williams for the 170-pound belt. All 12 bouts tonight will feature a fighter from the Flathead Valley.

“This is definitely the best fight card we’ve had in Kalispell,” Fightforce promoter Bryan Deats said.

“I think all of the fights are going to be excellent. We’ve got a full 12 fight card. This is far and above the best fight card we’ve been able to put together.”

The fights start at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets can be purchased at Fashion Plus, GNC, Army Navy and Withey’s Health Foods.

There will also be fundraiser at tonight’s fights for Michael Hader, a former Columbia Falls and University of Great Falls standout wrestler who is battling brain cancer. Another event for Hader is scheduled for Aug. 11 in Columbia Falls.