 |
|
RFA 27 IN BOISE,IDAHO
FRIDAY JULY 3RD LIVE ON AXS TV
MAIN EVENT:
JOE MURPHY vs JESSE BROCK
CO-MAIN EVENT:
CZAR SKLAVOS vs NICK BURGOS
Tickets on Sale now at
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will be bringing the first nationally televised MMA event to the state of Idaho. RFA 27 – Murphy vs. Brock will feature a main event pitting a rising prospect against asurging vet. RFA fan favorite Joe Murphy returns to face the powerhouse Jesse Brock, who is one of the most accomplished MMA fighters to call Idaho home. The event takes place Friday, July 3rd at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to bring the first nationally televised MMA event to Idaho,” stated Soares. “Joe Murphy vs. Jesse Brock is a classic match-up of jiu-jitsu vs. wrestling, but more importantly it’s a clash between a promising prospect and a surging vet. That really makes you appreciate the gravity of this main event in what will be the crown jewel MMA event to take place in the Gem State.”
Eric Trapp, the president of CenturyLink Arena, also expressed his excitement about hosting Idaho’s first nationally televised MMA event.
“We’re excited to help bring such a great event to the state of Idaho and showcase not only our arena, but also our fighters to a nationwide audience on July 3rd,” stated Trapp. “The RFA brand is one of the best out there and CenturyLink Arena is proud to host this event.”
Tickets for RFA 27 – Murphy vs. Brock are available for purchase NOW through CenturyLinkArenaBoise.
Murphy (8-2) returns to the RFA octagon after two memorable performances in the RFA octagon within a 9 week span. Murphy made his long-awaited RFA debut this past December in the co-main event of RFA 21 to much fanfare. He more than lived up to expectations with a scintillating first round TKO victory over the highly-touted Bruno Frazatto. 9 weeks later, Murphy headlined RFA 23 against Terrion Ware in what many have pegged as a “Fight of the Year” contender. Murphy is now looking forward to a new challenge as he travels to his next opponent’s hometown.
“Jiu-Jitsu vs. Wrestling is an endless debate. I’m excited to see how I match up against someone with Jesse Brock’s credentials,” said Murphy. “Hopefully, he sells out the arena on July 3rd, so I get boo’d on my way to the cage. I’m pretty damn good at turning those boos into cheers by the time it’s over.”
Brock (20-8) enters this fight as one of the most experienced bantamweight fighters in RFA history. Brock will be making his RFA debut 9 years after he made his professional MMA debut. The former Boise State wrestling standout has since competed on three continents against some of the biggest names in the sport, which includes bouts against current UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, #3 ranked UFC lightweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and former UFC lightweight title challenger Caol Uno. Brock is currently riding the momentum of a four-fight win streak and is looking forward to parlaying that momentum into the main event of RFA 27.
“This fight is definitely a big deal for me and the entire MMA community in Idaho,” stated Brock. “I feel honored that the RFA picked me to spearhead Idaho’s first nationally televised MMA event. I can’t wait to perform in front of my friends and family at RFA 27.”
The co-main event of RFA 27 will feature two of the sport’s most promising flyweight prospects, when Idaho’s own Czar Sklavos (11-4) battles Jeremy Horn protégé Nick Burgos (9-3). Sklavos, who hails from Twin Falls, Idaho, has secured 9 of his 11 wins via submission and has never been finished in a career dating back to March 2010. In his pro debut, he happened to go the distance with current UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw. More recently, Sklavos advanced to the finals of the Vale Tudo Japan flyweight tournament last fall and is eager to test his experience against the talented and red-hot Burgos. Six consecutive opponents over the past two and a half years have been defeated by the Utah based flyweight, but Burgos’ marquee victory came in his most recent bout. That win came over former RFA flyweight champion Matt Manzanares via Unanimous Decision in March.
The feature fight of RFA 27 will be a battle of two explosive heavyweights, who are hungry to make a statement. Jan Jorgensen (7-1) and Dale Sopi (6-1) are a combined 13-0 outside the RFA and are eager to make some noise in the talented RFA heavyweight division. Jorgensen, who was a football star at BYU before transitioning to MMA, trains at The Pit Elevated in Orem, Utah alongside UFC star and TUF 11 champion Court McGee. His opponent Sopi is a native of Nanakuli, Hawaii and trains at Power MMA in Gilbert, Arizona alongside UFC star and TUF 8 champion Ryan Bader. Additional bouts at RFA 27 will be announced soon. RFA 27 will be the promotion’s first event to take place in the “Gem State” of Idaho, which will be the 13th state the RFA has held an event. The entire main card of RFA 27 – Murphy vs. Brock will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, July 3rd.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
|