Ring of Fire 41 Weigh-in Results; Njokuani Costs Thatch Chance for Another Title

Chidi Njokuani vs. Brandon Thatch

Ring of Fire, Colorado’s longest running mixed martial arts promotion, returns to the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo., on Saturday night for Ring of Fire 41: Bragging Rights.

The main event was set to pit local favorite Brandon “Ruckus” Thatch against Chidi Njokuani in a battle between to up-and-coming welterweight stars for the Ring of Fire welterweight title. That was until Njokuani missed weight on Friday night.

Tyler Toner vs. J.R. Sims

Njokuani weighed in at 172.8 pounds, a full two pounds over the 170.8 pounds allowed by the Colorado Boxing Commission. The options were for Njokuani to try to cut the extra two pounds and make another attempt on the scale 30 minutes later, risking the fight altogether, or he could negotiate a settlement and fight a non-title bout at 172.8 pounds. If he were to attempt to make weight, but then miss at that weight, because it was a title bout, the fight would be scratched according to the commission.

Jason Lee vs. Bojan Velickovic

Instead of risking the bout, they opted to go on with the bout without the title on the line. Thatch – the promotion’s current Young Guns 170-pound champion – weighed in at 169.8 pounds.

The co-main event features former UFC and WEC fighter Tyler Toner returning to his old stomping grounds – he has fought under the Ring of Fire banner several times – to face J.R. Sims, who fights out of Las Vegas.

Toner weighed in at 144.4 pounds, but Sims, like Njokuani, missed the mark. Sims stepped on the scale at 146.4 pounds for the featherweight contest. The two will still fight, although Sims will be fined and likely suspended following the bout.

The main card also features an international middleweight feature fight between Grudge Training Center’s Jason Lee and Serbian fighter Bojan Velickovic, who won a reality series to get the chance to come over the United States to fight. Velickovic won Put Ka Venronom Ringu, which translates in English to The Road to Ring of Fire. The program was broadcast in six countries in Europe and the winner was given a chance to come to America and compete in the Ring Of Fire flagship promotion.

Ring of Fire 41 Official Weigh-in Results:

Brandon Thatch (169.8) vs. Chidi Njokuani (172.8)
Tyler Toner (144.4) vs. J.R. Sims (146.4)
Jason Lee (184.4) vs. Bojan Velickovic (185.4)
Ryan Martinez (259.8) vs. Brandon Endriss (264.8)
Brian Wood (145.8) vs. Jarred Mercado (145.6)
Vinnie Lopez (169.6) vs. Santana Martinez (168.8)
Justin Gaethje (158.2) vs. Kevin Croom (154.4)
Shannon Culpepper (135.4) vs. Lindsay Jones (135.4)
Cody Mumma (184.6) vs. Adam Gonzalez (181.6)
David Treanor (167.8) vs. Tito Solis (171)
Kirk Piatt (168.4) vs. Kris Hocum (170.4)

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