Weekend Rundown: Alessio, Wren Dominate at Ring of Fire 37

UFC, Pride Fighting Championships and World Extreme Cagefighting veteran John Alessio submitted Matt Delanoit with a first-round rear-naked choke in a featured matchup at Ring of Fire 37 “Warlords” on Friday at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb.

The two welterweights exchanged punches at the start, but Delanoit slipped and opened the door for Alessio. The Canadian capitalized, pounced on his vulnerable foe and cinched the choke for the tapout.

Alessio, 30, has quietly pieced together a three-fighting winning streak since his back-to-back losses to the world-ranked Paul Daley and three-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships medalist Andre Galvao.

Based at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas, Alessio has secured more than a third (11) of his 27 career victories by submission. Delanoit, having slipped below .500, has dropped four of his past five bouts.

Meanwhile, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 quarter-finalist Justin Wren stopped the previously unbeaten Josh Henry with first-round ground-and-pound in his first appearance since being released by the UFC.

Wren moved quickly to the clinch, scored with a slam and unleashed a torrent of strikes. Ultimately, Henry surrendered his back, and Wren finished the match from there. The 22-year-old Wren has posted four wins in five fights, a split decision defeat to Jon Madsen at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale the lone hiccup. He trains alongside former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt at the Grudge Training Center.

Ten of the 13 fights at Ring of Fire 37 ended inside the distance, including the main event, as the well-traveled Alonzo Martinez submitted Demi Deeds with a rear-naked choke in the first round. A veteran of 40 bouts, including appearances inside Bellator Fighting Championships and Adrenaline MMA, the 25-year-old Martinez has won four straight, three of them by rear-naked choke.

Other winners at “Warlords” included UFC veteran Chad Reiner -- a unanimous decision victor over Brian Green -- and Sean Wilson, who stopped UFC exile Luke Caudillo on third-round punches.

Unbeaten Sass Retains OMMAC Title

Top British prospect Paul Sass retained his Olympian MMA Championships lightweight crown with a first-round submission against Jason Young at OMMAC 4 “Victorious” on Saturday at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England. Young met his demise at the end of a heel hook 2:01 into round one.

Sass attempted two of his patented triangle chokes before the two men clinched against the cage. The unbeaten 21-year-old worked from the Thai plum and attacked Young's midsection with knees. Sass then pushed for a takedown, pulled guard and zeroed in on his opponent's legs. Young fought to free himself but only sank deeper into the Englishman's trap. Sass readjusted his position, tightened the hold and allowed pain to do the rest. The tapout followed soon after.

Meanwhile, Wayne Murrie defeated Strike and Submit veteran Peter Irving by unanimous decision to capture the OMMAC welterweight championship. Murrie, who also holds a 2006 victory over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 alum Dean Amasinger, has won five consecutive fights.

Sanchez, Mulhern Triumphant at 'Native Warriors'

Angelo Sanchez finished Richard Montano with second-round strikes in the King of the Cage “Native Warriors” headliner on Saturday at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Santa Fe., N.M. The end came 4:20 into round two.

Anchored at Santa Fe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and riding a streak of six consecutive wins, Sanchez has not tasted defeat in nearly two years.

Sanchez's teammate, Quinn Mulhern fared even better. Fresh off his second-round stoppage of UFC veteran Rich Clementi last month, he needed just 70 seconds to put away Boy Morgan. The once-beaten Mulhern has rebounded nicely from his technical knockout loss to Michael Guymon in October, winning back-to-back fights. Eight of his 10 victories have come by knockout, TKO or submission.

Finally, Gerald Lovato bounced back from his submission defeat to “Lion” Takeshi Inoue under the Shooto banner with a third-round knockout against the reeling Nick Buschman. Lovato, who has posted three wins in four fights, delivered a fight-ending knee 4:27 into round three.