New Breed

The New Breed: Tyler Toner

Posted on August 26, 2009 in: New Breed

Every other week, Troy “Red” Barron introduces fight fans to a fighter who is changing the landscape of the sport. This week, Barron looks at T’s Ko’s Tyler Toner. (Courtesy of PerformanceMMA.com)

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Tyler Toner beat the odds in Japan and is now doing the same in MMA.

Age: 26

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 145

Fighting out of: Boulder, CO

Nickname: Thunder

MMA Record: 10-1 (6-1 Pro)

Before the year is over, UFC fans will witness some of the top MMA talent Colorado has to offer. Eliot Marshall, Nate Marquardt, Brendan Schaub (The Ultimate Fighter 10), and Shane Carwin will all be featured on upcoming cards.

Training in the shadows of these fighters is Tyler Toner. In Toner’s case, his position there has more to do with his size than his talent. At 145 pounds, it’s hard to escape the shadows of this group (Carwin’s shadow alone swallows small buildings).

Toner is the current Ring of Fire featherweight champion and has wins in Strikeforce and Battlequest. His most memorable win, however, required a last minute trip out of the country.

“I was lying in bed about to fall asleep when Duane Ludwig calls me,” Toner said. “He asked if I could make weight for a fight in Japan, in less than two weeks.”

Toner told him he could. The fight was in the Shootboxing promotion and his opponent was heavily favored.

“I fought Kenichi Ogata the 2006 World Shoot Box Champion. I had to be a 100/1 underdog,” Toner said.

In fact, Kenichi had over 100 fights in his career compared to Toner’s ten. Toner won the fight with a first round knockout.

“People were actually crying in the stands after the fight”.

Toner started his martial arts training at age five studying Tae Kwon Do, but it was after watching UFC 1 that he found his way into MMA.

“I drove past a sign that said Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and immediately stopped to join.”

The gym was Easton Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, owned by Amal Easton. Toner has trained there ever since and now teaches classes as well.

Toner splits his training between Easton’s and T’s KO. His coaches include Trevor Wittman, Amal Easton, Duane “Bang” Ludwig, Eliot Marshall and Reid Delman.

When asked whether he travels outside of the state to train, Toner replied, “Colorado is my favorite place in the world. I don’t see any reason to travel. We have plenty of world-class guys in every discipline. I love all the guys I train with. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Toner’s training partners include Christian Allen, Sam Rauch, Vellore Caballero and Alvin Robinson.

Toner is currently recovering from surgery on a fractured hand. Although he broke it in the first round of his title fight against talented BJJ black belt Fabio Serrao, Toner went on to win the fight by unanimous decision.

Toner would like to fight again for Strikeforce, or maybe the WEC.

“I’ve got a long way to go for a title shot in those promotions, but I think I’ll get there eventually”.

Maybe the spotlight of the WEC or Strikeforce will shine strong enough to break Toner free from the shadows of his larger teammates.

Story by Troy “Red” Barron. Troy is a chiropractor, strength & conditioning specialist, “elderly” amateur MMA fighter and the owner of PerformanceMMA.com.