RFA Announces Flyweight Title Bout for April 11, Inaugural Women’s 105-Pound Signing
Resurrection Fighting Alliance will crown a new bantamweight champion on April 11, when Matt Manzanares and Leandro Higo square off in the RFA 14 headliner.
RFA officials Wednesday announced the booking, additionally revealing that Mark Dickman will collide with Raoni Barcelos in a featherweight No. 1 contender’s bout at the City of Cheyenne Ice and Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. The evening’s main card airs live on AXS TV and will also see Tyler Voth take on Jeimeson Saudino in a pivotal flyweight clash, while Jocelyn Lybarger faces Rosa Acevedo at a 120-pound catchweight.
Manzanares (Pictured, Above) challenged for the 125-pound championship this past November, but he was outpointed by Zach Makovsky -- a result that earned “Fun Size” an invitation to the UFC and forced him to vacate the RFA belt. Prior to that setback, Manzanares had won back-to-back fights, scoring stoppages of Kevin Gray and Steve Swanson to earn his crack at the gold.
A 15-fight pro, Higo owns 10 of his 13 career wins by either knockout or submission. The 25-year-old rides a four-fight winning streak into his RFA debut, most recently choking out countryman Eduardo de Souza Silva under Brazil’s Coliseu Extreme Fight banner this past September.
RFA officials also revealed Wednesday that the organization has signed its first atomweight talent in once-beaten amateur Kyra Batara, though a debut date was not revealed for the 105-pound prospect. Just 19 years old, “Mogwai” has earned a 4-1 record in roughly a year of amateur competition, with two of her wins coming inside the distance.
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