By Curtis Carden

Correspondent

Adam Townsend’s rise to the top continues to build.

Carter County’s native brought the thunder in the main event against Derik Byrd with a first-round technical knockout to wrap up a busy stretch of Pro-Am MMA action during the inaugural Evolution Combat Series hosted at Evolution Sports Gym in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday night in Elizabethton.

“All my fans, anybody that bought a ticket to come out and watch me fight, it means a lot,” Townsend, who extended his professional to 8-3 overall, said. “It is my hometown and it is always nice to walk out and have the whole crowd cheer for you. I just want to say thank you to all my coaches, my homeboy Dustin Long, my friends, my family, my son, Peyton, especially.”