RFA 24: What to Watch For

On Friday, March 6, 2015, the RFA heads to the Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, Minn. for RFA 24: Smith vs. Romero.

Over the past couple of years, the RFA has become the premier developmental league in MMA and they continually send fighters to the UFC. That alone should be reason enough for fans to tune in and watch, but if you need some specifics as to why RFA 24 is “Must See” TV, here you go.

Prospect Watch: Andre Tieva

As one of the best prospects in the bantamweight division, 25-year-old Tieva is a fighter you should get to know now. It’s only a matter of time before Tieva gets the opportunity to test his skills against the best in the world. At 8-0 with six stoppage victories, Tieva has shown that he can do a little bit of everything. Coming off of a somewhat lackluster split decision win over Ben Pierre-Saint at KOTC: Magnum Force in his last outing, Tieva will be looking for another impressive finish.

The Return of Jeff Curran

A pro since 1998, Curran is one of the true pioneers of the lighter weights in MMA. Having competed in the lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight divisions for the UFC, WEC, Pride, Strikeforce, Bellator, and a host of regional promotions, Curran has seen it all and done it all in MMA. While he was never able to capture a major title, Curran earned the respect of competitors with his toughness and willingness to compete at just about any weight class.

Curran will be competing after a brief retirement from the sport. At 37 years old, Curran doesn’t have a lot of fights left in him so enjoy them while you can. Fighters like Curran are few and far between.

Welterweight Title Fight

In the main event of the evening a welterweight champion will be crowned as Benjamin Smith takes on Indalecio Tat Romero. Smith enters this bout riding a five fight winning streak including two victories by stoppage. A well-rounded fighter with great cardio, Smith wins by breaking the will of his opponents. Romero on the other hand is brutal finisher as 21 of his 24 career wins have come by way of stoppage. A well-rounded fighter in his own right, Romero’s killer instinct is what sets him apart. Even though both men are 34, the winner of this bout will be in a great position to earn a UFC contract.