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In between some stellar events from the UFC and World Series Of Fighting will be another loaded card from the Resurrection Fighting Alliance. The event will be headlined by a RFA Welterweight Title fight as champion Benjamin Smith defends against UFC veteran Gilbert Smith. Also, ten other top MMA prospects are looking to break onto the bigger stage with their RFA 26 appearances.
Main Card
Main Event
RFA Welterweight Title Fight
Benjamin Smith (14-2-0) (Champion) vs. Gilbert Smith (10-4-0)
Benjamin will be making the first defense of his championship, which he won by defeating Tat Romero at RFA 24. Gilbert has already challenged for the RFA Welterweight Title once before, losing to then champion Chidi Njokuani at RFA 22. Benjamin has been a champion in other promotions as well, holding the Driller Promotions Welterweight Title. Gilbert has won five of seven fights since his UFC release, which came after a loss to Bubba McDaniel at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Gilbert always looks good until he meets a fighter who can counter his grappling game, which is what Benjamin will do while out striking Gilbert as well to hold onto his belt via decision.
Co-Main Event
RFA Lightweight Division Fight
Thiago “Monstrinho†Alves Cavalcante Rodrigues (8-2-0) vs. Marcus “Bad Intentions†Edwards (9-3-0)
Rodrigues will be making his RFA debut in this fight and he is a longtime veteran of the Steelfist Fight Night promotion. Edwards will also be making his RFA debut in this fight, but he does hold a victory over TUF alumni Dakota Cochrane. Rodrigues fought less than two months ago at Intense Championship Fighting 18, defeating Chris Sowell by submission. Edwards has already fought two UFC veterans in Efrain Escudero and Shane Campbell, as well as current WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje in his twelve fight pro career. Rodrigues’s goal will be to get this fight to the ground as quickly as possible, which he will do to submit Edwards in the first.
RFA Bantamweight Division Fight
Bruno Frazatto (6-2-0) vs. Jarred “Shutout†Mercado (12-2-0)
Frazatto has won just one of two fights under the RFA banner, with that lone win coming over Cory Galloway at RFA 17. Mercado will be looking to rebound from his first defeat in RFA competition, which came to Luke Sanders at RFA 20. Both fighters are returning to action after six-plus month layoffs, but it will be Mercado using his wrestling game to grind out a decision win.
RFA Middleweight Division Fight
Andrew “El Dirte†Sanchez (5-2-0) vs. Clinton Williams (6-1-0-1NC)
Sanchez will be returning to action after a year-plus layoff, but he has won two of three fights under the RFA banner. Williams will be making his RFA debut in this fight and he is the current Steelfist Fighting Championships Middleweight Champion. Williams enters the fight on a three fight winning streak and Sanchez hasn’t fought in over a year, Williams uses his striking for a first round TKO finish.
RFA Heavyweight Division Fight
Ashley Gooch (7-4-0) vs. Brandon Griffin (4-0-0)
Gooch will be making his RFA debut in this fight and he has previously earned a victory over UFC veteran Aaron Brink. Griffin will be making his RFA debut in this fight as well and he has yet to see a fight go past the second minute of the first round. This fight has the word “slugfest†written all over it, but the fight will not be lasting very long as Griffin gets the quick finish on Gooch.
RFA Bantamweight Division Fight
Danny Mainus (3-3-0) vs. Boston “Boom Boom†Salmon (3-0-0)
Mainus will be returning to action after being away for nearly a year, but his last bout was a win over Ian Connelly at RFA 16. Salmon has spent his entire career in the RFA promotion, where only one of his three bouts went past the opening round. McMainus, even without the layoff, is several steps below Salmon and Salmon will show why with a quick first round finish here.
Preliminary Card
Matt Cox over Josh Cavan
James Nakashima over Kris Hocum
Adam Martinez over James Fleming
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