(PRESS RELEASE) -- RFA 18 - Manzanares vs. Pantoja will feature a main event between two of the world's top flyweights as RFA flyweight champion Matt Manzanares defends his title for the first time against Brazilian dynamo Alexandre Pantoja. In the co-main event, popular UFC vet Ulysses Gomez returns to action against Abel Cullum, who is also an accomplished bantamweight looking to make a successful comeback. The event takes place Friday, September 12th at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Pantoja (14-2) will challenge Manzanares for his world title in his highly-anticipated American-soil MMA debut. The dynamic Shooto - Brazil champion will be riding the momentum of a 7-fight win streak that extends well over 4 years. During this impressive run, Pantoja has defeated fellow Brazilian prospects Bruno Azevedo and Lincoln de Sa. He submitted Azevedo via Rear Naked Choke and defeated De Sa twice. The jiu-jitsu brown belt also enjoys the benefit of fighting out of Nova União, which is one of the top MMA teams in the world. UFC champion Jose Aldo, former UFC champion Renan Barão, UFC star Jussier Formiga, RFA star Raoni Barcelos, Bellator champion Eduardo Dantas, and Bellator star Marlon Sandro are just a few of his teammates at Nova União. The 24-year-old Andre Pederneiras protégé will now make his own international debut as he faces the biggest test of his career. Pantoja faces Manzanares, a Junior Olympian boxer turned MMA champion, for the RFA flyweight title in the main event of RFA 18.
The co-main event of RFA 18 will see the return of the always popular Ulysses Gomez (9-4). The 31-year-old earned a name for himself on the competitive jiu-jitsu and submission grappling circuit over a decade ago after being introduced to the the "gentle art" by UFC vet, jiu-jitsu black belt, and "Peruvian Necktie" creator Tony De Souza. De Souza was Gomez's wrestling coach in high school. Gomez then became one of the founding members of the famed Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu academy in Las Vegas, Nevada before crossing over into MMA. In MMA, Gomez became one of the first American fighters to help promote the flyweight division before the UFC established the division in 2012. Gomez would eventually win titles in both the flyweight and bantamweight divisions before earning a two-fight stint with the UFC. In his final fight with the UFC, Gomez lost a close decision to local English fighter Phil Harris and does not plan on going to the score cards again as he prepares to travel his next to opponent's hometown at RFA 18.
Abel Cullum (18-6) returns to the sport of MMA after a 3-year hiatus from competition. In that time, Cullum served as an officer for the Tucumcari Police Department in his hometown of Tucumcari, New Mexico. Before that, Cullum and his trademark cowboy hat were a familiar sight on the bantamweight and flyweight MMA scene both nationally and internationally, where Cullum has competed against some of the world's best in the Japanese promotion DREAM, as well as KOTC and ShoXC. The 27-year-old recently decided to put his career in law enforcement on hold and moved to Albuquerque to prepare himself at Fit NHB and Chavez Dojo for a revamped run in the sport of MMA.
Also on the main card of RFA 18 will be an explosive welterweight contest pitting RFA fan favorite Chidi Njokuani (10-4) against submission specialist Steve Hanna (4-1). In lightweight action, decorated French fighter and Muay Thai standout Mehdi Baghdad (9-3) faces Evan DeLong (13-7) who has won 6 of his last 7 fights.
The entire main card of RFA 18 - Manzanares vs. Pantoja will be televised live on AXS TV starting at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, September 12th. RFA 18 will be the promotion's first event in the state of New Mexico and the tenth state that the RFA has visited.
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About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents up to 10 fights annually around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 40 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV Fights: AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.