A spectacular come from behind knockout by Ryan Dennis capped an exhilarating night of fighting at Contenders 25 in Norwich.

East Anglian Daily Times: Baruc Martin, left, and Ryan Dennis square off in the main event of Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGBaruc Martin, left, and Ryan Dennis square off in the main event of Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

Featherweight prospect Dennis, from Wisbech’s Avaddon MMA, moved to 2-0 as a pro with his jaw-dropping first round win against Baruc Martin in the main event at Epic Studios.

Martin, of BMB Norwich, had been very much in the ascendancy, discombobulating Dennis with a hands down, agggressive striking approach and forcing a takedown attempt from his foe, which saw the world-class Norfolk grappler get to work on the ground.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ryan Dennis lands a huge right hand on Baruc Martin to win their fight at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGRyan Dennis lands a huge right hand on Baruc Martin to win their fight at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

But, after surviving multiple bad positions and choke attempts, Dennis fought his way back to his feet and, as Martin raced in to further his advantage, he landed a nuclear right hand on the Norwich man’s chin, dropping him heavily to the canvas and forcing ref Dan Movahedi to step in.

It was a thrilling end to a fascinating fight, and a large group of Dennis fans celebrated their man’s victory wildly, capping a great night of action.

East Anglian Daily Times: Referee Dan Movahedi stops the fight at Contenders 25, saving Baruc Martin from further punishment. Picture: BRETT KINGReferee Dan Movahedi stops the fight at Contenders 25, saving Baruc Martin from further punishment. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

In the co-main event, Great Yarmouth’s Modestas Andrijauskas, of Team Nogueira, started his climb back to the 66kg K1 belt he lost to Ben Wooliss earlier this year with a one-sided one round demolition of late replacement Linas Meistavicius.

The Muay Thai stylist pulverised his foe’s legs with brutal kicks, making Meistavicius quit after taking a couple of counts.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ryan Dennis fans celebrated their man's victory wildly at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGRyan Dennis fans celebrated their man's victory wildly at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

And in the other fight on the main card, London Shootfighters star in the making Felix Klinkhammer enhanced his burgeoning fearsome reputation with a 30 second submission of the night showing against Ipswich’s Stephan Gheorghe.

Klinkhammer sunk in a tight heel hook in double quick time, eliciting a pained tap from Gheorghe to prevent serious knee injury. Weltwerweight Klinkhammer is now 2-0 as a pro and, together with his 4-0 amateur career, has stopped every single one of his opponents in the first round.

East Anglian Daily Times: Modestas Andrijauskas pulverised the legs of Linas Meistavicius with kicks en route to victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGModestas Andrijauskas pulverised the legs of Linas Meistavicius with kicks en route to victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

Elsewhere on the card, the fight of the night saw giant Norwich heavyweight Jakub Adamski recover from being dropped in the first round of his boxing clash with Carter Jay to stop his man in the second stanza with thunderous hooks to the body.

Adamski’s team-mates from Norwich’s Elite Gym also impressed. Aaron Rolfe showed great head movement and slick skills on his way to a points win in his 75kg boxing bout with Mikey Brown.

East Anglian Daily Times: Modestas Andrijauskas celebrates victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGModestas Andrijauskas celebrates victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

And Reece Ward, who stepped up for a bantamweight MMA clash with the talented Phil Taylor of EAMMA on a day’s notice, gave his opponent all he could handle before being forced to retire with a rib injury at the end of the second round.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felix Klinkhammer celebrates his rapid heel hook submission win over Stephan Gheorghe at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGFelix Klinkhammer celebrates his rapid heel hook submission win over Stephan Gheorghe at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Felix Klinkhammer moved to 2-0 as a pro with a swift submission of Stephan Gheorghe at Contenders 25. In his six wins as both amateur and professional, he has yet to see the second round. Picture: BRETT KINGFelix Klinkhammer moved to 2-0 as a pro with a swift submission of Stephan Gheorghe at Contenders 25. In his six wins as both amateur and professional, he has yet to see the second round. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Giant Norwich heavyweight Jakub Adamski, right, on his way to victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGGiant Norwich heavyweight Jakub Adamski, right, on his way to victory at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Jakub Adamski recovered from being dropped in the first round to win at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGJakub Adamski recovered from being dropped in the first round to win at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Aaron Rolfe celebrates his win at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KINGAaron Rolfe celebrates his win at Contenders 25. Picture: BRETT KING (Image: Archant)

Contenders 25 results

Mauricio Semedo beat Jamie Gilson by UD (54kg K1)

Aaron Rolfe beat Mikey Brown by UD (75kg boxing)

Alex Andrews beat Morgan Hutcheon by KO in the first round (65kg K1)

Phil Taylor beat Reece Ward by third round TKO (bantamweight MMA)

Deividas Jasmas beat Rafa Giersberg by UD (catchweight MMA)

Jakub Adamski beat Carter Jay by second round TKO (110kg boxing)

Nathan Edwards beat Dom Barnard by UD (70kg boxing)

Felix Klinkhammer beat Stephan Gheorghe by heel hook submission in the first round (pro weltwerweight MMA)

Modestas Andrijauskas beat Linas Meistavicius by KO in the first round (pro 66kg K1)

Ryan Dennis beat Baruc Martin by KO in the first round (pro featherweight MMA)