RFA 25 Date: April 10, 2015 Arena: Sanford Pentagon City: Sioux Falls, South Dakota The Ressurection Fighting Alliance (RFA) returns tonight with RFA 25 from Sioux Fall, South Dakota. The six-fight main card kicks off on AXS TV at 10pm ET. If interested in wagering on any this fight card, all betting lines will be made available at Several Bookmakerss. Here are my live dogs for RFA 25: Featherweight bout: Justin Lawrence (-300) vs Sam Toomer (+220) Gabe’s Thoughts: I don’t agree with the current betting odds, as I think this fight is a lot closer than they suggest. I could see either fighter taking it, but I favor Toomer’s chances of finishing the fight more so than I do Lawrence’s, even though Lawrence is a solid finisher in his own right, despite the fact that he has only finished two of the six opponents he has defeated thus far in his professional mixed martial arts career. I think this fight could easily go either way, and having to make a pick, I am going with Toomer to stay undefeated and moving to 10-0 in this main event contest and likely earning a call from the UFC. At the current betting odds, I believe the value is with him. Gabe’s Call: Toomer by T/KO (strikes, 2:04 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Toomer (+220) 1.5u to win 3.3u Middleweight bout: Francisco France (-170) vs Gabriel Checco (+130) Gabe’s Thoughts: France (11-3-1) looks to extend his undefeated streak to six tonight against Checco, who looks to make it two in a row in hopes of earning a UFC contract. The Brazilian is coming off a first round TKO of Joseph Henle at RFA 23 just two months ago, which was a picture-perfect way to return to the win column following the first loss of his professional mixed martial arts career, which came against current UFC middleweight Jake Collier at RFA 19. France owns notable career wins over The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veterans James McSweeny and Cale Yarbrough, both of them submissions. He is a talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, as is evident by the fact that all 11 of his professional mixed martial arts victories have come by way of tapout. Checco has a solid submission game in his own right, but I don’t see this turning into a grappling contest. I think Checco will use his advantages on the feet to hurt France and put him away, likely in the first round of action, earning his second consecutive first round stoppage. France is tough, but he’s been knocked out twice, and I don’t think he’s ever faced anybody who hits as hard as Checco. I think Checco should be the favorite here, so I like him for a play at the current odds. Gabe’s Call: Checco by T/KO (punches, 2:10 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Checco (+130) 2.3u to win 2.99u
