RFA 15 took place in Culver City, California, and in the night’s main event, Kevin Casey knocked out Andrew Sanchez in the first round to win the RFA Middleweight Championship.
Casey knocked Sanchez out with a devastating left-right combination at halfway through the first round.
Kevin Casey (8-3) has now won five of his last six and has now won three straight.
Jouban edges out Legere with close decision
Two of the three judges awarded Alan Jouban two of the three rounds of his welterweight fight with Ricky Legere Jr, granting him a split decision victory.
Jouban’s best two rounds were the first and third, in which he was able to out-strike Legere and keep him on his heels. Legere took the second by taking the fight to the ground and landing some heavy ground and pound as well as attempting rear-naked chokes.
It was just the second time in Alan Jouban’s (9-2) career that he won a fight via decision.
Moontasri brutally knocks out Rinaldi
A right uppercut from James Moontasri landed flush on the chin of Jordan Rinaldi, brutally knocking out Rinaldi in the second frame.
Rinaldi looked sharp in the first round by intertwining his wrestling game with a steady striking output, but Moontasri set the pace to start the second, eventually scoring the KO. Unfortunately, Jordan Rinaldi spent some time on the canvas after being knocked out and had to be stretchered out of the cage.
The win improves James Moontasri’s (7-1) RFA record to 3-0.
Toomer earns rare DQ victory
Referee Mike Beltran disqualified Daniel Aguilar with just 35 seconds remaining in his fight with Sam Toomer.
Aguilar was disqualified after excessive butt-scooting/stalling. After Toomer clearly hurt Aguilar’s left leg in the first frame, Aguilar spent the majority of the bout fighting really cautiously and spending time on the ground. Following a point deduction, Beltran saw enough of the butt-scooting and called a halt to the contest.
Sam Toomer (8-0, 1 NC) controlled the entire fight by imposing his reach, landing leg kicks and dominating the striking exchanges.
Machida outpoints Gerasimov
A close, three-round featherweight fight ended with Chinzo Machida being awarded a unanimous decision by the judges in his fight with Dmitry Gerasimov.
Machida employed an efficient striking game in the first two frames. What Machida lacked in volume of strikes, he made up for with significant ones. Likely behind on the cards heading into the third period, Gerasimov increased his pace, but it was too late for the Californian.
With the victory, Chinzo Machida’s (3-2) record is now over .500.
Jones kicks off card with submission
Up-and-coming middleweight Justin Jones gave John Hackleman Jr. the first loss in his career by forcing Hackleman to tap out with a guillotine choke.
The first round finish came off the heels of Jones dropping Hackleman twice on the feet, first with a right hook and then with a punishing left. A dazed Hackleman gave up his neck, and Jones elected to lock on the fight-concluding choke.
For the first time in his professional career, Justin Jones finished a fight in the first frame.
The RFA 15 main card results are below.
Kevin Casey def. Andrew Sanchez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:30
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 Aguilar via DQ – Round 3, 4:25
Chinzo Machida def. Dmitry Gerasimov via unanimous decision
Justin Jones def. John Hackleman Jr. via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:01