Katie Wiles

Over 800 amateur mixed martial arts fans flooded the Swiftel Center April 5 to watch 13 card fights, a championship match and a card girl contest during FURY Ultimate Cage Fighting’s fourth appearance in Brookings.

The main event featured Chuck Parmelee defending his welterweight title as he defeated Adam Borgen. Parmelee is most famous for his fight against Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Houston Alexander.

SDSU senior Justin Hoflock, a microbiology major, said the title fight was the fight he came to see.

“When someone has a big win like that under his belt, you have to go watch them in action to see what they can do,” he said. “A win like that can help move a fighter from the amateur circle into the professional field.”

Former SDSU student Cody Nehl, a former Jackrabbit wrestler, made his debut in the octagon Saturday as he defeated Brookings’ Chris Felderman in two rounds in the 230-weight class.

Nehl said he is a fan of the fighting and needed to prove to himself that he could compete.

“I’ve always had it in my head that I could do exactly what I’ve been watching on TV, but for me, to truly believe something, I need proof, physical proof. That’s why I did it,” Nehl said.

Nehl’s physical training consisted of running and heavy lifting but said mentally training was difficult.

“Mentally, [I] was telling myself I’m fine. Reassurance is the key word; it’s 99 percent mental,” he said.

Junior economics major Matt Grimlie also made his first