(PRESS RELEASE) -- LOS ANGELES – “Kingdom” stars Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker and creator Byron Balasco sat down with AXS TV’s INSIDE MMA series host Bas Rutten and guest host Ron Kruck, for an in-depth interview about the MMA-themed drama, just in time for the second season premiere on DirecTV’s Audience Network Oct. 14. During their lively interview, the group discussed training for their roles as MMA fighters, before turning the tables to quiz Rutten about the finer points of MMA. The full interview is available here:
Fresh off his decisive win last weekend at UFC 192, light heavyweight Ryan Bader spoke to Rutten and Kruck about former champion Jon Jones’ potential comeback and his push for the next title shot against UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier:
In his first ever title defense, RFA Welterweight Champion Gilbert Smith (12-4) exchanged blows with challenger Bristol Marunde (16-10) before breaking his jaw in the fourth round to end the fight on AXS TV FIGHTS: RESURRECTION FIGHTING ALLIANCE 31. And with the inaugural women’s strawweight championship on the line, Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (6-1) scored a unanimous decision over Zoila Fausto (12-5). AXS TV Fights commentators Pat Miletich and “The Voice” Michael Schiavello break down the action in the highlight clip here:
Official results from AXS TV FIGHTS: RESURRECTION FIGHTING ALLIANCE 31 are as follows:
Main Event – Welterweight Title Fight – Gilbert Smith (12-4) defeated Bristol Marunde (16-10) via TKO (injury) at 2:03 in round four.
Co-Main Event – Strawweight Title Fight – Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (6-1) defeated Zoila Frausto (12-5) via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).
Middleweight Fight – Gabriel Checco (9-2) defeated Mike Jasper (9-3) via submission (armbar) at 4:17 in round three.
Bantamweight Fight – Matt Lopez (7-0) defeated Justin Linn (7-2) via submission (face crank) at 2:18 in round one.
Catchweight (175 pounds) Fight – Bojan Velickovic (12-3) defeated Vardan Sholinian (5-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Flyweight Fight – Zach Riley (3-3) defeated Shai Lindsey (4-1) via submission (triangle choke) at 0:59 in round one.
AXS TV FIGHTS heads to Atlanta next week for LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 47 on Friday, Oct. 16 an hour early at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The night’s main card features “The Ultimate Fighter 13” quarterfinalist Clay Harvison (13-5) versus RFA and WSOF veteran Joran Rinaldi (9-4) in the headliner live from Center Stage Atlanta.
ABOUT AXS TV FIGHTS
AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 40+ LIVE world-class fight cards each year. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich call all the action as champions, challengers, and top prospects take center stage every Friday night at 10pE/7pP. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.