Thousands of Mixed Martial Arts fans embarked on the Broomfield Event Center for Ring Of Fire 35 which was the inaugural “SUMMERBRAWL” as local MMA standout Tyler “Thunder” Toner had his eye on the 145lb ROF Championship belt in the main event of the evening along with other great match-ups on a night of controversial endings, submissions and a former two-time ROF champion making his long awaited return to the cage.

Toner, the crowd favorite and Fabio Serrao of Brazil squared off for the ROF featherweight title.  Serrao wasted no time in shooting in for the takedown to start the first round and Toner had no problem defending off the BJJ black belt from taking his back after a successful takedown.

The persistent single and double leg takedowns continued by Serrao and so did the great ground defense by Toner.

Although Toner was not receiving much damage on the bottom he could not seem to stop the takedowns handed out by Serrao throughout round one.

Toner began round two by letting his stand up do the job with knees from the clinch and strikes while standing. Serrao had enough of the stand up and went in for another takedown but Toner responded well with a sprawl stuffing the takedown leaving his opponent disappointed.

The timely sprawls had become less frequent as the round continued and Serrao appeared to be losing his wind but the striking from Toner was being fired at will, landing a clean flying knee followed up by combinations to the head and body. Serrao continued to take the punishing knees and strikes to end the second round.

Round three was more of the same with Toner wisely picking his shots and Serrao wanting this fight on the ground but unable to take it there. Toner never let up keeping Serrao at bay with countless strikes and stuffing every takedown he had to offer.

Serrao began to become flustered as he would remain on his back for a few seconds after being stuffed on the takedown attempts. The third round ended and it was now in the hands of the judges.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Toner as he picked up the coveted ROF crown and now has his sights set on the big leagues as it appears WEC awaits Thunder.

Fabian Acuna and Jon Gunderson fought for the ROF lightweight title in a highly anticipated bout that would place either fighter in the driving seat for a possible future in a larger promotion down the line. 

Acuna struck first with a good right kick that was caught and used for the takedown as Gunderson moved to his GNP from the side position.

Acuna performed a great reversal to improve to the top position but Gunderson stayed on his attack and immediately locked his arms for a Kimura from the 1/2 guard.

Acuna worked to free his arm but Gunderson worked diligently to keep it in danger and at the 2:18 mark of the first round referee Curtis Thrasher jumped in to stop the fight due to a verbal submission that was quickly disputed by Acuna.

After a long ground battle with Acuna stuck in the Kimura, Acuna worked his way to the cage and shot himself up to the standing position, but in the process he let out a very loud yell and Thrasher appeared to be very concerned with the arm of Acuna and called a stop to the action by jumping between the two combatants to ensure no further damage to the arm.

There looks to be a great opportunity for a rematch come ROF 36 as promoter Sven Bean took the mic and asked the many in attendance if they wanted the rematch, as both fighters and the crowd responded with a resounding applause.

Brian Wood faced off with Jesse Henley for the 145 lb Young Guns Championship.

Wood scored first moving in for the takedown and gaining side control but that was short lived as Henley quickly scrambled to his feet.

Both fighters clinched up and the fight once again hit the canvas as Henley went for a leg lock and Wood quickly countered.

During the scramble Henley found the opportunity to lock up an arm.  Henley continued to threaten the arm as he moved to side control and at the 2:33 mark of the first round Henley finished the fight by Kimura.

Henley put on a great performance despite only two weeks notice and went home the newly crowned champion in the process.

Christian” Relentless” Allen stepped back into the ROF cage at 135 lbs to face Chad Obermiller of Hastings Nebraska. Both fighters took a brief moment in the center of the cage to get acquainted as Allen peppered Obermiller as he circled the cage.

Allen found his mark first landing a big left hand dropping Obermiller to the floor.  Allen immediately rushed his downed opponent quickly establishing the north-south position.

Sensing a prime opportunity, Allen locked in an anaconda choke and rolled with it while Obermiller pushed away but Allen tied up the leg holding on to his choke.

Allen never let up squeezing tighter feeling this could be the end.

Allen felt no response from his opponent and letting the referee know Obermiller had went limp and was unconscious at which time he came to the defense of Obermiller at 1:43 of round one.

A two-time ROF champion at 145, Allen came out looking dominate after dropping to the 135 lb weight division and appears to be back on track and ready to regain his form of old.  

Capturing the 135 lb crown appears to be Allen’s next goal, with current champion and WEC veteran Noah Thomas in the wing, Colorado fight fans may be in store for a showdown between two of the states finest mixed martial artist in the near future.

I would love to see that one!!!

Orem, Utah’s Eddie Pelcynski met up with Green River, Wyoming’s Justin Salas in a 155 lb pro feature bout.

Both fighters squared off in the middle of the cage before Pelcynski landed a vicious knee that landed flush putting Salas on his back and seemingly out as Pelcynski moved right to the mount and began to rain down strikes before the referee was forced to step in and stop the fight at the 9 second mark of round one.

With a solid following at the fight, both the fans and Salas were not happy with the stoppage as a chorus of boo’s filled the arena as Pelcynski paraded the cage, hands raised in victory.

Mike Baldwin faced off with Nate Williams in the first pro fight of the evening. Round one found Baldwin on his back threatening with various submissions as Williams worked from the guard but delivered little punishment.

Baldwin maintained control of Williams for the duration of the round as Williams could not seem to shed Baldwin.

Williams shoot in for the takedown to start the second stanza only to be shoved to the ground by Baldwin.

Baldwin then worked to the mount then back control and locked in the body triangle as he began working towards the RNC.

Baldwin softened him up with strikes to lock in the choke as Williams continued to fight off the second arm but with no success.  At 3:40 of the second, Williams had enough and was forced to tap.

Ramico Blackmon faced Larry Williams in a 170 lbs preliminary fight in what many believed would be a great test for both combatants.

Blackmon immediately used his spectacular wrestling skills to instantly take the fight to the ground as Williams had no chance of stuffing his bull-rushing opponent

Blackmon quickly locked in the Kimura from side control to finish the fight in a fast :56 seconds once again stirring up a rouse of boo’s from the crowd as Williams would not tap and the referee was forced to call the fight given the predicament of Williams arm.

Jennifer Berg and Diana Rael entered the cage in what turned out to be an all out brawl as both fighters landed devastating strikes and kicks on one another leaving the crowd in awe, wondering how these ladies were still standing after a grueling first round of non-stop action.

The crowd had thought so much of the non-stop toe-to-toe action that they felt it necessary to give the fighters a standing ovation to end the first round as both fighters showed a wide array of stand up striking and tons of action within the clinch.

The second round started where the first left off with both fighters in the center of the cage letting it all hang out, brawlin’ from one side of the cage to the next.

Towards the end of the second round, Berg worked for the mount and started delivering continuous GNP forcing the referee to stop the bout at the 2:32 mark in round two via TKO due to strikes.

Chris Williamson defeated Matt Vanden by unanimous decision in a blood-fest as Williamson suffered a gash to the top of his head that forced a temporary stoppage to let the ringside physician have a look as the blood flowed freely down the face of Williams and covered his opponent.

Rory O’Farrell defeated Bogie Ison at 1:37 of round one.

O’Farrell showed great control once the fight hit the canvas as he instantly moved to the mount and started his GNP before locking in the match ending Kimura.  Unfortunately for Ison it appeared as though his elbow dislocated as O’Farrell applied the needed pressure to force the tap.

Vincent Lopez defeated Travis Bye at 1:37 of round one by TKO.

Justin Gaethje defeated Kevin Gonzalez by arm bar at 1:20 of the first round.

Ring Of Fire Ring Card Girls…

Written by Rick Teran/Brawlin.net

Fotos by Joe Cordova/Brawlin.net