MIKE NICKELS WINS; RING OF FIRE CHAMPS CROWNED

Posted on | April 14, 2009 | No Comments

by J.R. Gordon for MMAWeekly.com

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Colorado’s biggest fight promotion held its 34th installment Saturday night at the Broomfield Events Center.

“Judgment Day” featured multiple UFC veterans, title bouts, and locals looking to step it up on the area’s biggest stage.

In the main event, Mike Nickels, who recently received his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, faced off against James Funny. Funny had the biggest slam of the night early in the bout, but as Nickels is a ground specialist that was right where he wanted the fight to take place. Nickels wasted no time in trapping an arm, turning in to get full guard, and applying the straight armlock from the bottom to take home the win at 1:13 of round one.

Local favorite Tyler Toner landed several good knees in the clinch to set up a right hook that dropped David Fuentes. Toner followed him to the mat for a single follow up punch before the referee stepped in to give the win and the Ring of Fire Young Guns featherweight title to Toner by TKO at 3:35 of round one.

For the young guns heavyweight championship, local fighter Brendan Schaub, who trains regularly with UFC veteran Shane Carwin, took home the title by defeating Bojan Spalevic. Schaub worked in and out of striking range for several flurries before hurting his opponent enough to get the referee stoppage for the TKO win and the Young Guns title at 0:52 of round one.

Fabian Acuna defeated James Martinez by setting in a keylock shoulder submission from north/south position at 1:55 of round one.

UFC veteran Luke Caudillo faced Army combative instructor Josh Arocho. Round one had each fighter landing solid strikes and Arocho using several slams to escape armbar attempts from Caudillo. In the second round Arocho took it to the mat, secured back control and got the rear naked choke win at 3:27.

Kenneth Seegrist used brutal ground and pound punches to the body of Ed Banks to get a tapout victory at 1:19 of round one.

Main Card Bouts:
-Mike Nickels def. James Funny by Sumbission (Armlock) at 1:13, R1
-Tyler Toner def. David Fuentes by TKO (Strikes) at 3:35, R1
-Brendan Schaub def. Bojan Spalevic by TKO (Strikes) at 0:52, R1
-Fabian Acuna def. James Martinez by Submission (Keylock) at 1:55, R1
-Josh Arocho def. Luke Caudillo by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:25, R2
-Kenneth Seegrist def. Ed Banks by Submission (Strikes) at 1:19, R1

Preliminary Bouts:
-John Powers def. Joe Guiterrez by Split Decision
-Charles Johnson def. Zach Valdez by Unanimous Decision
-Josiah Callis def. Denis Acuna by TKO at 2:20, R2
-Chris Williamson def. Bryan Linzmeyer by TKO at 1:27, R2
-Cody Frederickson def. Chandler Holderness by TKO at 1:51, R3