STEEL ONLY ONE! Steel City Rumble makes moves, sets bar in 2012

STEEL ONLY ONE!
Steel City Rumble makes moves, sets bar in 2012
Colorado Fight League Publicity dept.

Pueblo CO, February 10th 2012-Following on the heels of last years breakout success with it’s all amateur “Contender Series,” Steel City Rumble continues to set the bar for quality fight sports promotion in Colorado. “We are proud to announce that SCR will host it’s now 9th event titled “Nex-Gen” and return to the Colorado State Fair Events Center March 30th 2012,” Stated League President Armando Chavez from his home on Sunday. “Nex-Gen” will bid a final farewell to the amateur ranks for a lot of local standout athletes as they begin their ascent into the professional ranks and according to Chavez, “We are so proud to have been part of their early career and we will continue to feature them here as pros”. When pressed for information on the upcoming card General Manager Gabe Charboneau beamed:

“We are excited to announce that the card will feature PWIA/Rough House 135 lb. product “Ryan Axtell” in the main event vs. wrestler Gilbert Cohen of New Mexico. Cohen recently lost a tough 3 round war with Jacksons pro Matt Leyva (9-2) so we know he is coming to fight.”
And fight is exactly what he’ll have to do to beat Ryan Axtell. The current CFL 135 lb. pro champ has not had a fighter get through the first round in his last 5 contests, sets an aggressive grinding pace and always seeks to finish. When he’s not training himself he’s coaching in the community either at his own “Team Valley Heights gym” in the Arkansas Valley or at the Inkd Out gym in Fort Morgan. “We are happy to have Ryan as our main event”.
Other pro bouts feature veteran Tamboura Gerl vs. tough local Alvino Montoya in a 170 lb matchup and crowd favorite Prentice the Menace Ingram vs. Debut pro Paul Ray of Keith Jardine’s “Mean1 MMA” in New Mexico.

Undercard? WHAT UNDERCARD!
Rounding out the evening is one of the most stacked Amateur cards in recent memory as Southern Colorado’s top amateurs take their final step before turning pro. The card includes:
Top Amateur prospects Jose “El Fuego” Caro, Dominick Montoya of Pueblo’s Rude Effex and The Avondale Son Adam Soto return in what may be their last appearance as amateurs. Both Caro and Montoya are coming off big wins over New Mexico products from Jacksons and Keith Jardine’s gym respectively. Longtime Pueblo Coach Simon “El Nino” Gonzales seeks victory as he lays it on the line one last time along with a feature bout by Pueblo Firefighter and tough-man veteran Joey Gutierrez. In the always exciting female division undefeated prodigy Edwina White and striking specialist Vallie Rae Mead put the final touches on what should prove to be a magnificent evening of fights.

Tickets available at any Walmart electronics department, State Fair Box office or at the new Steelcityrumble.com for more information contact publicity at (719) 369-1138

"Axe To Grind" Ryan Axtell Set for Greatness

"Axe" To Grind Ryan Axtell Set for Greatness
By CFL Publicity Department

Imagine a world that many desire to conquer but few dare to tread, where 55’rs fear to cut and 25’rs find themselves outsized. A foreboding landscape with war gods named Cruz, Faber and Bowles. Welcome to the world of the Bantamweight. Often called one of the most stacked divisions in the sport, Colorado’s own Ryan Axtell seeks to leave his indelible mark at 135.

Paying Dues

A 7-3 pro veteran of the Colorado Mixed Martial Arts scene, Ryan has been diligently fighting an uphill battle for respect and recognition since early 2007. “I come from the Arkansas Valley a small farm community in the Southeast part of the state and it’s hard for me to get the same exposure guys from the big cities do,” stated Axtell. To that end, he would often find himself the out of town “mark” for the local fighters in the major markets. States Ryan, “Over the years I’ve pissed off a lot of hometown crowds who came to see their fan favorite beat up the country boy.” Often out skilled and outsized in those days, Ryan bested many opponents using only a combination of wrestling base, pure physicality and a gut wrenching resolve that worked well and often. However back to back losses against respected competitors in Mike Baldwin and WEC veteran Ox Wheeler left him wondering about his chances of competing at the higher levels. “I basically had to start making better training decisions for myself, I knew I had the heart and made a promise that I would seek out the skills to match.” Axtell soon became a fixture in the Denver and Northern Colorado gym scene soaking up as much knowledge as he could and eventually along with friend James Gallegos they established a small training camp called Valley Heights in their hometown of La Junta for both Ryan to train and to provide opportunities for local kids who had ideas of pursuing the same dream. The formula seemed to be paying off as Axtell, seemingly reinvigorated began his road to comeback glory by putting together a string of early 1st round victories and knockouts that could only be described as unadulterated violence.

Today

With growing responsibilities, a family and new baby on the way Ryan Axtell became increasingly tethered closer to home. In search of a gym with less travel time involved and under the advisement of a friend he sought out Gabe Charboneau’s Pacific Warrior in Pueblo, he’s glad he did. “The guys there treat me like family, and who knew after looking all over the state that I would find some of the best training there,.” This statement was punctuated during his next bout with Bellator veteran Chad Vandenberg which ended early via a vicious left hook/ TKO combination, a tool that was previously unknown in his arsenal. As the 28 year old small town underdog from La Junta Colorado trudges on where others fear to tread one thing remains clear, Ryan Axtell means business.. War Gods beware.

From Left Mayhem promoter Don Martinez Torres and Kuya