2 Title Bouts Top RFA 31 October 9th
The Donwtown Las Vegas Events Center on October 9th will play host to RFA 31 featuring a clash between TUF alums, as Bristol Marunde (16-9) challenges Gilbert Jamal Smith (11-4) for the RFA Welterweight Championship.
Smith, is a Colorado native, who will be making his first title defense, coming off submitting Benjamin Smith to take the strap. Smith has won 6 of his last 8 and has 7 stoppage wins all via submission.
Quotes from RFA- “First and foremost, it’s a great honor to defend my RFA title in Las Vegas,” stated Smith. “I look forward to putting on a great fight for the fans in Las Vegas, but like I said after my last fight, this belt is staying around my waist. I have nothing but respect for Bristol Marunde, but I will let him know he’s not on my level. Come October 9th, this belt is coming back to Colorado.”
Marunde, who will be fighting at home has 6 of 9 stoppage wins by submission. Marunde spent a 3 fight stint on the Strikeforce and UFC rosters losing all 3, but has since won 4 straight, with the last 3 all by decision; including a March win over another TUF vet Michael Hill.
Quotes from RFA – “It’s nice to be fighting in Las Vegas, but I will be the next RFA welterweight champion regardless of where it’s held,” Marunde explained. “I’m ready for this challenge in Gilbert Smith. I want everyone to see this fight. It will be my best performance to date.”
The evenings co-main event will see the first ever RFA Woman’s Strawweight Champion crowned when MMA Lab’s Jocelyn “Light Out” Jones-Lybarger (5-1) faces the first and only Bellator Woman’s Straweight champion Zoila “Warrior Princess” Frausto (12-4).
Jones-Lybarger is a Invicta and King of the Cage vet who’s 3-0 in RFA with straight decision wins over Rosa Acevedo, Rebecca Ruth, and Maria Rios.
Quotes From RFA- “I honestly feel that my time is now,” Jones-Lybarger explained. “When the fight with Kinberly (Novaes) was called off, I knew my time for an RFA title fight with Zoila was now. This is the win I need to get me to the next chapter in my career and I’m excited about becoming the first RFA women’s champion.”
Frausto will be returning to 115 lbs. following 3 straight losses up at 125 lbs. Frausto at Strawweight holds wins over Rosi Sexton (ko), Jessica Penne (ud), Jessica Aguilar (sd), and legendary Japaneses fighter Megumi Fujii (sd).
Quotes From RFA- “More than anything, I’m happy to be back,” stated Frausto. “I’m a completely different fighter now. I’m not just athletic, but I’ve added world-class striking and won a Muay Thai world title. I now have size, strength, speed, and skill that the girls at 115-pounds aren’t ready for. It’s exciting to fight for the first RFA women’s title in Las Vegas. The first fight I ever saw was in Las Vegas and I remember seeing it and thinking, this is what I want to do and this where I want to fight.”
About The Author
