June 3, 2016 – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) 38 took place from Costa Mesa, CA which aired live on AXS TV, where in the Main Event for the RFA Lightweight title Jamall Emmers faces Thiago Moises and in the co-main event Bantamweights Vinicius Zani faced Joe Murphy.
Here are tonight’s results as follow:
Lightweight Bout (155 lbs) Jason Gonzalez (9-2) vs. Chris Padilla (7-0)
Round one: Padilla starts low with the kicks while Gonzalez goes high with his punches. Padilla takes cage control to be driven back to center cage. Neither fighter is giving in inch was Gonzalez lands a head kick that Padilla shakes off. Two right hooks and Padilla drops Gonzalez following through with the ground and pound, but Gonzalez trips Padilla to get back to his feet as Padilla opens up on him. Gonzalez is fighting back landing a thunderous body kick. It is now Gonzalez that tags Padilla with a big left straight but Padilla feeds him a right hand, follows him to the canvas and escapes an arm bar attempt do to the bell.
Round two: Gonzalez continues to go high with his kicks that Padilla has blocked. These guys are going punch for punch, kick for kick as they both want another W in the win column. They are tiring out but still relentless in their drive to win as knees start flying and with that Padilla is down and out!
Your winner by TKO, Jason Gonzalez!
Bantamweight Bout (135 lbs) Mario Israel (10-1) vs. Albert Morales (5-0)
Round one: Morales catches Israel’s lead and follows up with a punch combination, floors Israel, ground and pounds the Brazilian and it is all over!
Your winner in the very first round at 0:20 by TKO, Albert Morales!
Welterweight Bout (170) Nick Barnes (10-1) vs. Jose Diaz (6-1)
Round one: Both men are feeling each other out leading with their jabs as Diaz misses an overhand right. Diaz lands a groin strike and time is called by Big John McCarthy. Barnes wrestles Diaz to the ground then as they pop up to their feet gets cage control. Diaz attempts a head and arm throw, but it’s blocked as the round comes to an end.
Round two: Diaz and Barnes are jocking for position against the cage before Barnes lands a low kick in the center of the cage. This has been the slowest fight of the night thus far as Diaz lunges in with an overhand left that doesn’t land. It’s now Barnes who splits the up rights and Diaz takes a brief time out for his boys to descend. Barnes takes Diaz down with double leg and is working for position against the cage. Diaz is able to escape and is now taken down again by Barnes with another double leg as he transitions to half guard. Barnes is trying to finish it with the ground and pound but the round comes to an end.
Round three: Diaz takes cage control as Barnes blocks the single leg. Barnes is throwing elbows to Diaz’s ribs while he eats knees to the inside thigh against the cage still. It’s now Barnes who has taken cage control. This ones goes to the judges as the round comes to an end with them swinging.
Your winner by unanimous decision, Nick Barnes!
Featured Lightweight Bout (155 lbs) Karen Darabedyan (12-5) vs. Christos Giagos (11-5)
Round one: It’s Greece vs. Armenia Giagos is dancing around far more than Darabedyan. The crowd is split between both fighters. Darabedyan lands a single leg kick and eats a right hand. Giagos lands a huge left hook, drops Darabedyan and finishes him with the ground and pound, this one is done for the night!
Your winner by TKO in the very first round, Christos Giagos!
Co-Main Event Bantamweight Bout (135 lbs) Vinicious Zani (8-4) vs. Joe Murphy (8-3)
Round one: Zani has started out more aggressive is avoiding being caught by Murphy has slowed down to not rush things. Murphy lands a body kick but it wasn’t as effective as it could have been as Zani is still standing. Zani is chopping away at Murphy’s leg with inside kicks. Zani swoops the leg as Murphy pulls guard attempting an arm bar but fails to lock it in as they both stand in the center of the cage to end the round.
Round two: Zani continues to go low but ends up splitting the uprights as Herb Dean calls time. The fight is back underway as they slug it out and Zani takes cage control. Zani is landing several kids to the body as Murphy is clearly guarding the right side of his body. Murphy is hobbling as his left knee is in bad shape now. He’s toughing it out but Zani spells blood and continues to attack the knee.
Round three: There is still fight left in Murphy who just got thrown to the ground. Murphy is kicking up at Zani from the ground and if Zani stepped back Herb Dean would have stood them up. Finally after 25 seconds they stand up. Zani throws his hands out asking for more and as Murphy fights back Zani cheers him on. Murphy attempts a head and arm throw but Zani is able to fight back to his feet quickly. Murphy knocks Zani down now, gets pulled into a butterfly guard but backs own and looking to dive in for the ground in pound from Zani’s guard. Both fighters are right and Murphy is essentially fighting on one leg with his back to the cage. Zani lands a flying knee as this one goes to the judges.
Your winner by unanimous decision, Vinicious Zani!
Main Event Lightweight Title Bout (155 lbs) Jamall Emmers (9-2) vs. Thiago Moises [Champion (7-1)]
Round one: Emmers leads with a head kick that’s blocked by the champion. Emmers is chasing Moises instead of cutting him off at the corners. Moises throws a front kick that’s caught and eats a left hand. Both fighters are still cautious in this five round fight, but it’s still early. Neither one wants to make a mistake with UFC President Dana White in attendance as he scouts for new talent. Emmers is throwing some solid punch combinations to the body and head, which aren’t being answered by the champion.
Round two: Moises landed a head kick and is starting to open up on Emmers who is already dropping his hands. It looks like the champion was looking to rope-a-dope the challenger as he’s starting to take control of the fight. The champion is starting to counter strike against Emmers and is attacking the legs. As Teddy Atlas says, “Make him miss, make him pay.” Moises is throwing kicks with his lead leg as he makes every strike count this round. Moises starts to open up on Emmers but the round comes to an end.
Round three: Emmers hands are completely down now as Moises is counter striking better than the previous rounds. This round is half way over and it looks like Moises is leading on the score card, even as he fights off the cage.
Round four: We are now entering the championship rounds. Emmers has slowed down and Moises looks almost as fresh as he did in the first round. Emmers poked the champion in the eye and once Moises’ vision returned he’s come back swinging for the fences, driving the challenger against the cage and they wrestle for cage control. Emmers catches Moises’ kick and throws his leg over his head forcing the champion to the ground.
Round five: A big cut opened up over Emmers’ left eye that the corner is trying to close up before this one gets underway. Emmers has cage control as this one has gone back and forth with Moises taking down the challenger. Emmers fights back to his feet, but after a nasty punch combination, this one is over and Moises wins by TKO in the fifth.
Your winner by TKO and still RFA Lightweight Champion, Thiago Moises!
