Resurrection Fighting Alliance

Resurrection Fighting Alliance
Private
Industry Mixed martial arts promotion
Founded 2011
Headquarters Las Vegas, Nevada[1], United States
Key people
 Ed Soares[2]
Parent Alliance Media Group[3]
Website http://www.rfafighting.com/

Resurrection Fighting Alliance (also referred to as RFA) is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.[4][5][6]

History

Merger with Titan FC

On October 11, 2012, officials for the Pompano Beach, Florida based MMA promotion Titan Fighting Championships (Titan FC) were acquired by RFA, along with certain fighter contracts, as well as the organization's television deal with, now, AXS TV.[7] The goal was to combine the talent of both organizations under one umbrella, the RFA. Titan FC owner and president Joe Kelly would be brought in as the Vice President of the newly merged company, with seasoned MMA manager, and Black House gym owner, Ed Soares acting as the President.[8]

Although it only lasted seven months, when founder Joe Kelly bought back the organization (Titan FC) in 2013 and produced two more shows on his own: Titan FC 25: Lashley vs. Asplund in June, and Titan FC 26: Hallman vs. Hornbuckle in August, both of which were aired live on AXS TV.[9]

AXS TV

Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Legacy Fighting Championship have agreed to a co-promoted live event on May 8, 2015 that will feature bouts with fighters from one organization battling the other. The event will take place on May 8, 2015 and air on AXS TV as part of the AXS TV FIGHTS franchise. The event is being labeled AXS TV FIGHTS: RFA VS. LEGACY SUPERFIGHT. The event will feature a title for title bout as the Legacy FC and RFA flyweight champion will fight for both belts. In addition two Legacy FC fighters will compete to crown a new lightweight champion, and the RFA bantamweight champion will defend his title against a top RFA contender.[10][11]

Rules

Resurrection Fighting Alliance follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which were first established in April 2000. The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts have been adopted by every state athletic commission that holds mixed martial arts events throughout the United States.

Under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts there are no groin strikes, eye gouging, kicking or kneeing a grounded opponent, downward elbows, strikes to the back of the head, head butting, biting, or grabbing the fence. Upon a violation of the rules, referee can either warn the fighter, take a point away, or disqualify the fighter depending upon the regularity and severity of the foul.

Rounds

All non-world championship fights in RFA consist of three, five-minute rounds, with one-minute rest periods between rounds. All world championship fights consist of five, five-minute rounds, with one-minute rest periods between rounds.

Weight divisions

RFA currently uses the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that designate limits for nine different weight classes in mixed martial arts. Fighters must be weighed in pounds (lb):[12]

Weight class name Upper limit
in pounds (lb) in kilograms (kg)
Flyweight 12556.7
Bantamweight 13561.2
Featherweight 14565.8
Lightweight 15570.3
Welterweight 17077.1
Middleweight 18583.9
Light Heavyweight 20593.0
Heavyweight 265120.2
Super Heavyweight No weight limit

Match outcome

Matches usually end via:

Note: In the event of a draw, it is not necessary that the fighters' total points be equal. However, in a unanimous or split draw, each fighter does score an equal number of win judgments from the three judges (0 or 1, respectively). A fight can also end in a technical decision, technical submission, disqualification, forfeit, technical draw, or no contest. The latter two outcomes have no winners.

The ten-point must scoring system is in effect for all bouts in RFA. Three judges score each round with the winner of each round getting 10 points while the loser gets 9 points or less. The only way that an even round can occur is if the fighter that won the round has a point deducted for a foul. Rounds scored 10-8 and 10-7 are typically scored when a fighter wins a round in dominant fashion.

Fouls

The following is a list of fouls outlined by the states that regulate MMA, as established by the Nevada State Athletic Commission:[13]

  1. Butting with the head
  2. Eye gouging of any kind
  3. Biting
  4. Hair pulling
  5. Fish hooking
  6. Groin attacks of any kind
  7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent (see Fish-hooking)
  8. Small joint manipulation
  9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head (see Rabbit punch)
  10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow (see Elbow (strike))
  11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
  12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
  13. Grabbing the clavicle
  14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
  15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
  16. Stomping a grounded opponent
  17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel
  18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck (see Piledriver)
  19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area
  20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent
  21. Spitting at an opponent
  22. Engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent
  23. Holding the ropes or the fence
  24. Attacking an opponent on or during the break
  25. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
  26. Attacking an opponent after the bell (horn) has sounded the end of a round
  27. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee
  28. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury
  29. Interference by the corner
  30. Throwing in the towel during competition

When a foul is charged, the referee in their discretion may deduct one or more points as a penalty. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.

Current champions

Male

Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses Next Fight
Heavyweight 265 lb (120 kg) Vacant August 8, 2014
Light Heavyweight 205 lb (93 kg) United States Devin Clark April 15, 2016 (RFA 37) 0
Middleweight 185 lb (84 kg) United States Andrew Sanchez August 7, 2015 (RFA 28) 0
Welterweight 170 lb (77 kg) Vacant February 2, 2016
Lightweight 155 lb (70 kg) Brazil Thiago Moises February 19, 2016 (RFA 35) 0
Featherweight 145 lb (66 kg) Brazil Raoni Barcelos August 21, 2015 (RFA 29) 0
Bantamweight 135 lb (61 kg) Brazil Leandro Higo April 15, 2016 (RFA 37) 0
Flyweight 125 lb (57 kg) Brazil Alexandre Pantoja Sept. 12, 2014 (RFA 18) 1

Female

Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses Next Fight
Strawweight 115 lb (52 kg) Vacant Nov. 27, 2015

Upcoming Events

Title Date Location Main Event Championship
RFA 38: Moises vs. Chavez June 3, 2016 Costa Mesa, California, United States Thiago Moises vs. Ernest Chavez Lightweight

Past Events

Title Date Location Main Event Championship
RFA 37: Viana vs. Clark April 15, 2016 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA Devin Clark def. Rafael Viana
Leandro Higo def. Joey Miolla 		Light Heavyweight
Bantamweight
RFA 36: Barcelos vs. Vannata March 4, 2016 Prior Lake, MN, USA Chico Camus def. Matt Brown Non Title Flyweight
RFA 35: RFA vs. Showdown Fights February 19, 2016 Orem, Utah, USA Thiago Moises def. David Castillo Lightweight
RFA 34: Velickovic vs. Smith January 15, 2016 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Bojan Velickovic def. Benjamin Smith Welterweight
RFA 33: Townsend vs. Chavez December 11, 2015 Costa Mesa, California, USA Ernest Chavez def. Adam Townsend Non Title Lightweight
RFA 32: Blumer vs. Higo November 6, 2015 Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA Leandro Higo def. Melvin Blumer Non Title Bantamweight
RFA 31: Sanchez vs. Poppie October 9, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Gilbert Smith def. Bristol Marunde
Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger def. Zoila Frausto 		Welterweight
Women's Strawweight
RFA 30: Smith vs. Jardine September 18, 2015 Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Anthony Smith def. Brock Jardine Non Title Middleweight
RFA 29: USA vs. Brazil August 21, 2015 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA Raoni Barcelos def. Ricky Musgrave Featherweight
RFA 28: Sanchez vs. Poppie August 7, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri, USA Andrew Sanchez def. John Poppie Middleweight
RFA 27: Murphy vs. Brock July 3, 2015 Boise, Idaho, USA Jesse Brock def. Joe Murphy Non Title Bantamweight
RFA 26: Smith vs. Smith June 5, 2015 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Gilbert Smith def. Benjamin Smith Welterweight
RFA vs. Legacy 1: Pantoja vs. Page May 8, 2015 Robinsonville, Mississippi, USA Alexandre Pantoja (c) def. Damacio Page LFC (c)
Luke Sanders (c) def. Terrion Ware 		Flyweight
Bantamweight
RFA 25: Lawrence vs. Toomer April 10, 2015 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA Justin Lawrence (c) def. Sam Toomer
Francisco France def. Gabriel Checco 		Featherweight
Middleweight
RFA 24: Smith vs. Romero March 6, 2015 Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA Benjamin Smith def. Indalecio Romero Welterweight
RFA 23: Murphy vs. Ware February 6, 2015 Costa Mesa, California, USA Terrion Ware def. Joe Murphy Bantamweight Contender
RFA 22: Smith vs. Njokuani January 9, 2015 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA Chidi Njokuani def. Gilbert Smith Welterweight
*Njokuani missed weight
(title remained vacant).
RFA 21: Juusola vs. Baghdad December 5, 2014 Costa Mesa, California, USA Mehdi Baghdad def. Zach Juusola Lightweight
RFA 20: Sanders vs. Mercado November 7, 2014 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Luke Sanders def. Jarred Mercado Bantamweight
RFA 19: Collier vs. Checco October 10, 2014 Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA Jake Collier def. Gabriel Checco Middleweight
RFA 18: Manzanares vs. Pantoja September 12, 2014 Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Alexandre Pantoja def. Matt Manzanares (c) Flyweight
RFA 17: Cochrane vs. Giagos August 22, 2014 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA Christos_Giagos def. Dakota Cochrane
Justin Lawrence def. Mark Dickman 		Lightweight
Featherweight
RFA 16: Copeland vs. Jorgensen July 25, 2014 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Josh Copeland def. Jan Jorgensen Heavyweight
RFA 15: Casey vs. Sanchez June 6, 2014 Culver City, California, USA Kevin Casey def. Andrew Sanchez Middleweight
RFA 14: Manzanares vs. Maranhão April 11, 2014 Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA Matt Manzanares def. Junior Maranhao Flyweight
RFA 13: Cochrane vs. Escudero March 7, 2014 Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Dakota Cochrane def. Efrain Escudero Lightweight Contender
RFA 12: Oretga vs. Koch January 24, 2014 Los Angeles, California, USA Brian Oretga def. Keoni Koch
Pedro Munhoz (c) def. Billy Daniels 		Featherweight
Bantamweight
RFA 11: Manzanares vs. Makovsky November 22, 2013 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Zach Makovsky def. Matt Manzanares Flyweight
RFA 10: Rhodes vs. Jouban October 25, 2013 Des Moines, Iowa, USA Mike Rhodes def. Alan Jouban Welterweight
RFA 9: Munhoz vs. Curran August 16, 2013 Carson, California, USA Pedro Munhoz def. Jeff Curran Bantamweight
RFA 8: Pettis vs. Pegg June 21, 2013 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Sergio Pettis def. Dillard Pegg
Lance Palmer def. Jared Downing (c) 		Flyweight
Featherweight
RFA 7: Thatch vs. Rhodes March 22, 2013 Broomfield, Colorado, USA Brandon Thatch def. Mike Rhodes
RFA 6: Krause vs. Imada 2 January 18, 2013 Kansas City, Missouri, USA James Krause def. Toby Imada
RFA 5: Downing vs. Rinaldi November 30, 2012 Kearney, Nebraska USA Jared Downing def. Jordan Rinaldi Featherweight
RFA 4: Griffin vs. Escudero November 2, 2012 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Tyson Griffin def. Efrain Escudero
RFA 3: Stevenson vs. Cochrane June 30, 2012 Kearney, Nebraska, USA Dakota Cochrane def. Joe Stevenson
RFA 2: Yvel vs. Alexander March 30, 2012 Kearney, Nebraska, USA Gilbert Yvel def. Houston Alexander
RFA 1: Pulver vs. Elliott December 16, 2011 Kearney, Nebraska, USA Tim Elliott def. Jens Pulver

References

  1. ↑ "Resurrection Fighting Alliance gains ground as fighter feeder league". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 28, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Ed Soares Named President of Resurrection Fighting Alliance". SB Nation. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  3. ↑ "Promoters - Wyoming State Board of Mixed Martial Arts". google.com. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ed Soares and his refreshingly honest goals with Resurrection Fighting Alliance". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  5. ↑ "Resurrection Fighting Alliance gains ground as fighter feeder league". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Resurrection Fighting Alliance Developing the Next GSP and Jon Jones of MMA". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  7. ↑ Whitman, Mike. "Resurrection Fighting Alliance Acquires Titan FC, Nets Fighter Contracts, AXS TV Deal". Sherdog.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ Haggerty, Kevin. "Ed Soares: Titan Fighting Championship merger with Resurrection Fighting Alliance 'pretty much a done deal'". MMAmania.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Titan Fighting Championship begins anew with event headlined by Ricci vs. Gurgel on CBS Sports Network". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  10. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/pressreleases/AXS-TV-FIGHTS-to-Broadcast-Historic-CoPromotion-Between-RFA-and-Legacy-83735 AXS TV FIGHTS TO BROADCAST HISTORIC CO-PROMOTION BETWEEN RFA AND LEGACY
  11. ↑ http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/3/21/8270323/rfa-and-legacy-fighting-championships-to-stage-co-promoted-event-of RFA and Legacy Fighting Championships to stage co-promoted event of superfights
  12. ↑ Nevada Administrative Code: Chapter 467 – Unarmed Combat. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
  13. ↑ "CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2012.

External links

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