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It’s step up time for Colorado featherweight Tyler “Thunder” Toner.

After dominating the Ring of Fire promotion’s Young Guns division, Toner moves up to challenge for the show’s 145-pound title this Saturday night against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Fabio Serrao.

“That was actually one of my goals when I started fighting; to grab the Ring of Fire title and then move on from there,” Toner stated to MMAWeekly.com. “I’m glad I’m able to try to accomplish that now.”

Since making his debut for Ring of Fire in 2005, Toner has steadily climbed up the promotion’s ranks, facing increasingly difficult opposition, taking the Young Guns title in the process.

When it comes to his career path, Toner feels he’s made the right moves at the right time to place him where he’s at now.

“I think it’s gone really smoothly for me,” he stated. “I’ve always had tough, but winnable, fights.

“I try to make sure I get a lot better in between my fights. I have a great training camp (where) everybody puts all their effort into me when I have a fight coming up. I think I’m getting better every fight, so it’s progressing nicely for me.”

Conventional wisdom says that during Saturday night’s title fight Fabio Serrao will look to use his jiu-jitsu skills against the more striking-oriented Toner. However, Tyler is quick to point out he’s no slouch on the ground himself.

“The main school I train out of is deep in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I’m a purple belt there, and it’s a well respected school that has world class black belts – so I’m definitely not short on jiu-jitsu training,” he commented. “I have a great wrestling coach in Reid Delman, so I’ve got great grappling coaches everywhere, and I work very hard on every aspect of that game.

“I definitely think striking is my strong point, but if I do get taken down it isn’t going to be a big deal for me, I’m ready for that too.”

In order for Serrao to get the fight to the ground in the first place he’ll have to get past Toner’s takedown defense, an area Toner says he’s much improved in.

“I’ve worked on my takedown defense hard over the last couple years, and it’s an aspect of my game that’s definitely improved recently,” stated Tyler. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to take advantage of that and he won’t be able to take me down.

“If he can’t take me down, he’ll be in big trouble.”

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Toner is feeling even more confident heading into this fight, having come off an impressive outing in the Shootbox promotion in June, where he knocked out 2006 National Champion Kenichi Ogata in just under three minutes.

“That was the first time I was definitely a huge underdog, and I performed well, so it gave me peace of mind knowing that I can go in there and get it done, no matter who the opponent is,” said Toner.

Even with his success in Shootbox, Toner is focused firmly on his MMA career, and more immediately on Saturday’s Ring of Fire 145-pound title match.

“I think I’m ready for some bigger competition,” he exclaimed. “Obviously I don’t want to look past Serrao; he’s tough as hell, so I’ve got to get that done first before I start jumping to conclusions.

“Hopefully after this fight I can move on to bigger promotions and take it from there.”

Taking a title in the highly respected Ring of Fire promotion could very well be the elevating point for a career that has already risen quickly for Toner, and it’s an opportunity he intends not to pass up.

“I want to thank all my training partners: Eliot Marshall and Duane Ludwig; my sponsors: Rapture Clothing, Ultimate Takedown and PerformanceMMA.com,” he concluded.

“This may be my last fight in Ring of Fire, so hopefully I put on a good farewell performance for everybody.”

Courtesy of Mick Hammond/MMAWeekly.com

Fotos by Joe Cordova/Brawlin.net

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