Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of Resurrection Fighting Alliance this Friday, March 6 at 10 p.m. ET, as RFA 24: Smith vs. Romero emanates from Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
The entire main card will be televised live at 10 p.m. ET nationwide in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
In the main event, a new RFA welterweight champion will be established when Benjamin Smith returns to the RFA cage fresh off a dominant performance in November to face newcomer Tat “Mean Bean” Romero, who has not lost a fight in three years. Meanwhile, the co-feature pits Minnesota buzzsaw Melvin Blumer against UFC and RFA vet Jeff “The Big Frog” Curran in a bantamweight bout.
“I am thrilled to announce that RFA is bringing another title fight to Minnesota,” stated RFA president Ed Soares. “Benjamin Smith vs. Tat Romero is an exciting headliner that will determine our next welterweight champion.”
Smith (13-2) returns to the RFA octagon after winning impressively in the co-main event of RFA 20 in November. His triumph came on the heels of a busy training camp in October that was interrupted for 9 days, while he and his wife were in the hospital for the birth of their son Wylde. Smith was able to draw inspiration from the newest member of his family and pull out the victory in his opponent’s hometown. He now looks to capture RFA gold in his own backyard.
Romero (24-5) enters the title fight on a 6-fight tear and has not tasted defeat in three years. Over the past decade, Romero has gained a loyal fan base for his vicious style of fighting, that has seen him earn multiple regional titles and 21 stoppages in 24 career victories. Romero sees his shot at RFA gold as the opportunity he has been working toward his entire career.
The co-main event of RFA 24 will see the RFA debut of Melvin Blumer (11-2). Blumer is one half of the storied “Bash Brothers” who have a made a name for themselves in the talented Midwest MMA scene, after the identical twins made a successful pro MMA debut on the same card 5 years ago. The other half of the “Bash Brothers” will also be in action at RFA 24. Marvin Blumer (11-4) returns after being nominated for “RFA – 2014 Fight of the Year” for his successful promotional debut in October.
The “Bash Brothers” will both face stiff competition in their respective bantamweight bouts at RFA 24, as they are both tasked with facing men who have challenged for the RFA bantamweight title.
Melvin will welcome back UFC and RFA vet Jeff Curran, who is returning to competition after retiring in the summer of 2013 after an unsuccessful bid at the RFA bantamweight title at RFA 9. Curran is a jiu-jitsu black belt and the lone man in MMA to have competed for all 6 promotions now owned by Zuffa: UFC, PRIDE, WFA, IFL, WEC, and Strikeforce.
In the featured fight of RFA 24, Marvin will fight Jarred “Shutout” Mercado (12-2) who looks to rebound from an unsuccessful title bid at RFA 20 in November. Mercado wrestled at the NCAA Division I program at Northwestern University and has made a name for himself as one of the most effective wrestlers in MMA’s bantamweight division. Mercado is a member of Elevation Fight Team in Denver, Colorado, where he trains alongside RFA alum turned UFC star Brandon “Rukus” Thatch.
The main card of RFA 24 will also include a high-stakes featherweight showdown between RFA fan favorites Dan “Hitman” Moret (7-1) and Daniel “Agent Orange” Swain (12-4-1). In the bantamweight division, undefeated Bellator vet Andre “The Diva” Tieva (8-0) faces RFA vet Matt Brown (9-4). The first bout on the main card will see the return of RFA vet Bojan “Veli” Velickovic (9-3). The Serbian submission specialist will meet North Dakota native Chris “Hitman” Hugh (17-9).
The entire main card of RFA 24: Smith vs. Romero will be televised live on Fight Network starting at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6.
RFA 24 will be the promotion’s second event to take place in the state of Minnesota. It will be the first time the RFA has visited “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” in 2015.
For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com and follow on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.
