This Friday, Resurrection Fighting Alliance returns to crown a new Flyweight champion after Sergio Pettis relinquished the belt to sign with the UFC. That is the same career path that both Matt Manzanares (6-1) and former Bellator Bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky (15-4) hope to replicate by first capturing the organization’s 125lb belt. Makovsky is well known to MMA fans as the first ever Bellator 135lb champ, but struggled once he began facing top bantamweights who could match his skills and had him beat in size and strength. Now ten pounds lighter he’s hoping to add the RFA title to his list of accomplishments and eventually add his name to a short list of fighters who have transitioned from Bellator to the UFC. In terms of fighting style, Manzanares is vastly different from Makovsky as he has never seen a decision in his pro career. The only blemish on his record is a loss to a very underrated Aaron Ely — who many people feel should be undefeated himself. Also on the card are Zuffa veteran Tyler Toner (14-5, 1NC) and Chinzo Machida (1-2). Toner is in tough against an undefeated prospect, Raoni Barcelos (6-0), while Machida is likely to have a slightly easier matchup with Brian Wood (4-3), given his close association to RFA president Ed Soares. A pair of middleweights round out the card, as Lucas Rota (7-5) and Vinnie Lopez (6-5) are set to throw down. Lopez is the hometown fighter, training out of Grudge, and you would think he should have a size advantage as Rota has previous competed at 170 as well, but Rota actually looked bigger at the weigh-ins yesterday. Today, MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for RFA 11 at Several Bookmakers. Take a look: ——————– RFA Flyweight Title Zach Makovsky -245 Matt Manzanares +175 Raoni Barcelos -260 Tyler Toner +180 Lucas Rota -160 Vinnie Lopez +120 Chinzo Machida -350 Brian Wood +250 ——————– Brad’s Analysis: In Makovsky’s career, he has only faltered when faced with a vastly superior talent (Eduardo Dantas) or a bigger wrestler who can overpower him (Anthony Leone). While skilled, Matt Manzares doesn’t possess quite the same threat as either of those two fighters. The most likely scenario is that Makovsky will be able to wrestle Manzanares to a victory, but there will certainly be tense moments, and in my eyes, too many of them to justify laying the current price. In fact, if the line on Makovsky climbs too far, as I expect it may, Manzanares could be worth a small play himself. In the co-main event, I’m hoping the name value of Toner is enough to sway bettors into backing him, as I feel the prospect comes through in this case. Toner is a gamer however, and will be by far the toughest challenge of Barelos’ career. Both Lopez and Rota have struggled against mid-tier competition in the past, which makes this fight tough to break down, but Lopez is the more aggressive fighter and the better finisher, which usually gives a bit of an edge on the regional shows. Finally, Chinzo Machida has never impressed me as a fighter and he’s coming off of a three-year absence from active competition. His name can’t win him fights, but it could serve to get you a good price if you’re trying to fade him. Brian Wood is the superior submission grappler in this fight, and Chinzo is neither as precise nor as devastating as his brother in the striking realm.
