Resurrection Fighting Alliance at Mystic Lake for RFA 19 to Feature New Co-main Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESURRECTION FIGHTING ALLIANCE AT MYSTIC LAKE FOR RFA 19
TO FEATURE NEW CO-MAIN EVENT
MAIN EVENT: JAKE COLLIER vs. GABRIEL CHECCO
Middleweight World Title
CO-MAIN EVENT: ABEL CULLEM vs. CARL DEATON III
Bantamweight Showdown
PRIOR LAKE, MN SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) has a new co-main event as the promotion gets ready to host its first event in the state of Minnesota at Mystic Lake on Friday, October 10. The entire main card will be televised live nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. Central.
The main event of RFA 19 Collier vs. Checco will feature two of the world's top middleweight prospects as American standout Jake Collier battles undefeated Brazilian dynamo Gabriel Checco for the vacant RFA middleweight title. The co-main event will now see RFA and DREAM vet Abel Cullum return to the RFA octagon fresh off of his successful return to the sport. Cullum is replacing an injured Jeff Curran against fast-rising bantamweight prospect and Minnesota favorite Carl Deaton III.
Cullum (19-6) just made a triumphant return to the sport of MMA less than a week ago with a dominant 89-second submission win of UFC vet Ulysses Gomez in the co-main event of RFA
18. After serving as a police officer in his hometown of Tucumcari, New Mexico for three years, Cullum made a huge statement at RFA 18 in his home state of New Mexico. The 27-year-old is now looking to build off that momentum in a little over three weeks as the The Silent Assassin now goes on the road to face his next challenge.
Im excited about this, because I love to fight, Cullum explained. To have the opportunity to fight again so soon is exciting to me. Carl Deaton III is tough and well-rounded, so Im not taking him lightly. He is young, hungry, and has been training with a lot of really tough guys. That makes him very dangerous.
Deaton III (8-1) was originally tasked with welcoming Curran back to the sport, who had retired 14 months ago. Now the 24-year-old will meet a man in Cullum, who just returned to MMA less than a week ago, after a three-year hiatus. Anishinaabe is currently riding a four-fight win streak that has many regarding him as one of the hottest prospects that calls Minnesota home. The change of opponents has not changed the hometown favorites focus on the fight.
My teammate Wilson Reis at Alliance MMA has already fought Abel Cullum, so we will game plan off that. Ill leave that to my coaches, but my striking should be the same as it would against Curran," stated Deaton III. Cullum is extremely tough and just finished a UFC vet really quick. This will be a very exciting fight for the fans back home in Minnesota. I am also a proud Native American (Sault Ste. Marie/Saginaw Chippewa) fighter, so its also an honor to be fighting on national television at the Mystic Lake in front of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux
Community (SMSC).
RFA 19 will be headlined by the aforementioned middleweight title tilt between Collier (7-1) and Checco (7-0). Both men are ranked in the Top 10 of multiple middleweight prospect rankings. After recovering from an injury, Collier has been training alongside former RFA middleweight title challenger Andrew Sanchez and TUF 19 light-heavyweight champion Corey Anderson and looks to reassert himself as one of the most talented knockout artists in the division. He will face Checco, who has used a wide variety of skills to finish all seven of the opponents he has faced. Checco will be making his American soil and national television debut, as he attempts to join his fellow Brazilian countryman Pedro Munhoz and Alexandre Pantoja as an RFA champion.
The main card of RFA 19 will also feature a high-octane bantamweight contest pitting RFA vet Junior Maranhão (9-3) against local favorite Marvin Blumer (10-4). In featherweight action, two- time RFA vet and proud Minnesotan Dan Moret (6-1) returns to face Roufusport standout Jordan The Psycho Hammer Griffin (8-3). In the womens strawweight division, RFA vet Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (3-1) returns to face Missouri native Rebecca Gullet (2-0). The main card of RFA 19 will kick off with a highly-anticipated rematch between bantamweights John Castaneda (5-1) and Matt Brown (8-4).
Also confirmed for RFA 19 is a womens atomweight affair pitting Roufusport prospect Raquel Magdaleno (2-0) vs. Invicta FC vet Cassie Rodish (4-4), a lightweight bout between Minnesota natives Mike Zimmer (4-1-1) and Jacob Ouradnik (1-0), and a welterweight contest between RFA vet Zak Ottow (6-2) and local favorite Nate How (6-3).
RFA 19 will be the promotions first event in Minnesota and the eleventh state that the RFA has visited. More fights on the RFA 19 fight card will be announced soon. Visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to see RFA 19 Collier vs. Checco at 9 p.m. Friday, October 10, in the Mystic Showroom are available for $35, $50, $65, $80 & $100. Contact the Mystic Box Office at 952- 445-9000 or visit mysticlake.com for more details.
Event: RFA 19 Collier vs. Checco
Date: Friday, October 10
Time: Doors at 6 pm, Undercard at 6:30 pm, Main Event at 9 pm
Place: Mystic Showroom®
Tickets: $35, $50, $65, $80 & $100
About RFA
Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. RFA presents up to 10 fights annually around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 40 million homes nationally on AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest-growing sport in the world. (The Octagon®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV Fights
AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia to broadcast more live fights than
any other television network. The Voice Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Fame member Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class live fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET.
ABOUT MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, the premier gaming facility in the Midwest, continually creates new, fun and exciting entertainment experiences for its guests. Mystic Lake® offers gaming, three lively bars, exceptional dining at seven restaurants, headline performers, unique special events and luxurious accommodations. Located 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul in Prior Lake.