RFA 15 results: 'King' Casey claims title, Jouban edges Legere in thriller
Kevin Casey (8-3) is no longer just a “King.†He’s also the RFA middleweight champion.
Known for his grappling prowess, Casey instead utilized powerful punches to earn a first-round knockout of the previously undefeated Andrew Sanchez (5-1) en route to claiming the promotion’s vacant middleweight belt.
The matchup served as the headlining bout of Friday’s RFA 15 event, which took place at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, Calif., and aired in the U.S. on AXS TV.
Casey showed improved head movement and footwork as he patiently looked to trade shots, picking out creative angles along the way. Faking with low and working high, looking left and throwing right, the action finally paid off, as a left hook landed stiff, and two more punches sent a stunned opponent to the canvas. Casey followed to the floor with more strikes, and the bout was waved off at the halfway mark of the first round.
In the night’s lightweight co-feature, Alan Jouban (9-2) scored a hard-fought split-decision win over the more experienced Ricky Legere (18-5) in a thrilling matchup.
It was Jouban’s striking that was on display early, rifling off crisp punches and head kicks with ease. But a gritty Legere was always in the matchup, and he nearly took it home by submission in the second with four quick attempts at a rear-naked choke that just couldn’t quite end the fight. Jouban eventually shook his opponent free and survived to the third round.
Again, the action was tight in the third, with both fighters moving forward and looking to trade, but it was Jouban’s volume and flash that earned him the frame. He appeared to have done enough to take a clear win but had to settle for the split-decision variety.
Moontasri flattens Rinaldi, Aguiar disqualified for lack of offense
No stranger to highlight-reel finishes, James Moontasri (7-1) delivered another stunning finish with a second-round knockout of Jordan Rinaldi (6-3).
The opening round was competitive, as the pair went back-and-forth on the feet. Moontasri, switching stances as he threw punches and kicks, got the best of the early action, but it was only a precursor of what was to come in the second frame.
As Rinaldi moved in, seeming to look for a takedown, Moontasri leveled him with a pinpoint uppercut that immediately left his opponent out cold. A few hooks added an exclamation point as Rinaldi fell to the floor, but the first punch had already sealed the deal 74 ticks into the second frame. The devastating shot forced Rinaldi to be carried out on a stretcher.
In a battle of former training partners, it was student Sam Toomer (8-0) who proved too touch for former teacher Daniel Aguiar (10-4).
The longer Toomer used pinpoint striking and excellent movement to keep himself safe from his opponent’s dangerous submission game. Meanwhile, jiu-jitsu ace Aguiar did everything in his power to get the fight to the floor, but after absorbing leg strike after leg strike was eventually deducted a point for refusing to engage on the feet and instead flopping to the floor and hoping for a miracle. It never came, and as Aguiar continued to go willingly to the canvas, referee Mike Beltran disqualified him for the lack of engagement with 35 seconds left in the fight.
Machida looks sharp in decision, Jones taps Hackleman Jr.
In an entertaining battle of two traditional martial arts stylists, it was Chinzo Machida‘s karate that proved superior over Dmitry Gerasimov‘s karate.
Both fighters offered up flashy kicking strikes, but several Machida knees to the body really turned the tide of that contest. Gerasimov (3-2) eventually sought to take the fight to the floor, but Machida (3-2) remained upright and showed the family timing made famous by his brother, Lyoto Machida, en route to a unanimous-decision win.
In the night’s first main-card matchup, Justin Jones (3-0) kept his professional record perfect with an impressive first-round finish of John Hackleman Jr. (2-1).
After an aggressive Jones flurry to start the fight, a big left put Hackleman on the floor. While he looked to scramble back to his feet, Jones pounced quickly and locked in a guillotine choke, squeezing until he earned the tap at the 2:01 mark of the first.
RFA 15′s main-card results include:
Kevin Casey def. Andrew Sanchez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:30 – to claim vacant middleweight title
Alan Jouban def. Ricky Legere Jr. via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
James Moontasri def. Jordan Rinaldi via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:14
Sam Toomer def. Daniel Aguiar via disqualification (timidity) – Round 3, 4:25
Dmitry Gerasimov vs. Chinzo Machida via unanimous decision (no scores announced)
Justin Jones def. John Hackleman Jr. via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:01
