TORONTO (Aug. 6, 2015)– Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of RFA 28: Sanchez vs. Poppie thisFriday, August 7 at 10 p.m. ET, highlighted by the crowning of a new RFA middleweight champion when the promotion makes its first trip to St. Louis.
Fight Network’s live broadcast of RFA 28: Sanchez vs. Poppie will air nationwide in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The domestic U.S. broadcast airs on AXS TV.
In the main event, two hungry middleweight prospects vie for championship gold as RFA fan favorite Andrew Sanchez looks to defend his home turf against Wisconsin native John Poppie.
“I’m excited to be bringing the RFA to the great city of St. Louis,” said RFA president Ed Soares. “Andrew Sanchez and John Poppie will be fighting for the vacant RFA middleweight title in a headliner that will cap a great night of fights at The Chase Park Plaza.”
Sanchez (6-2) is a lifelong native of the Greater St. Louis Metro Area. His reputation in the area grew in college, when he became a star wrestler at McKendree University. While wrestling for the Bearcats, Sanchez became one of the most decorated grapplers in school history. He is a two-time NAIA national champion, four-time NAIA All-American, and the 2011 NAIA Wrestler of the Year.
Poppie (6-1) is looking to crash Sanchez’s long-awaited homecoming party in his first nationally televised title fight. The former light-heavyweight was a cast member on the nineteenth season of the UFC’s hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter, but learned from that experience that he is better suited competing at 185-pounds. The lone loss on Poppie’s record also came against one of his current training partners Eric Schafer, who had already competed nine-times in the UFC before they fought. Poppie was also a collegiate wrestler at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and feels his skill set and experience has him ready for this fight.
The co-main event of RFA 28 will feature two of MMA’s top flyweight prospects, when Wyoming’s Matt Manzanares (7-5) returns to the RFA octagon to battle St. Louis native Ken “The Sensation” Porter (8-2).
RFA 28 also features the debut of undefeated Landon Vannata (6-0), who faces one of Missouri’s top featherweight propsects in Nick LoBosco (8-1), plus Curtis “Razor” Blaydes (4-0) makes his highly anticipated RFA debut against dangerous vet Justin “The Grizzly Bear” Frazier (7-2)
Rounding out the exciting card, undefeated Brazilian lightweight Thiago Henrique Moises (5-0) tangles with Missouri’s own Javon Wright (6-3), while undefeated lightweight Jake “The North County Nightmare” Roberts (4-0) faces once-beaten Kansas native Chuka “The Lion King” Willis(4-1).
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