KEARNEY, Neb. - Two of the most powerful punchers and biggest brawlers in mixed martial arts headline the main event when the Resurrection Fighting Alliance returns to Kearney's Viaero Event Center.
RFA 2 includes 12 bouts that begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 30.
Tickets are $30 and $50 (plus $6 fees) and go on sale Wednesday (Jan. 18) at the Event Center box office, by calling 308.338.8011 or online at www.kearneyevents.com. Ringside tables seat six and cost $600.
Veteran fighters Gilbert Yvel and Houston Alexander will square off in the light heavyweight division. Both fighters fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion and boast of careers with wins over some of the sport's top fighters.
“The main event is a huge fight between two bad dudes,” said promoter Wayne Harriman of Las Vegas. “Fight fans are in for a great one when those guys step into the cage.”
Yvel (37-16-1) is a UFC, Pride and Affliction Entertainment veteran whose professional career spans 15 years. Known for his athleticism and signature flying knee strike, Yvel's December bout in Kearney was his first at 205 pounds after fighting his entire career at heavyweight.
Alexander (13-7-0) made his UFC debut in 2007, when he recorded one of the most memorable wins of his career by knocking out Keith Jardine just 49 seconds into the first round. An Omaha native, Alexander is a big puncher respected for his toughness in the cage. He was released from the UFC in 2009 after losing to the legendary Kimbo Slice in “The Ultimate Fighter 10” television finale.
In addition to Yvel and Alexander, the 12-fight pro card is loaded with several UFC, Bellator, Mixed Martial Arts (MME) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veterans.
Veteran UFC fighters Justin McCully, Jerry Shapiro and Mike Whitehead are among those on the card. McCully has 11 professional wins, while Shapiro is undefeated and the 135-pound champion in the famed Tuff-N-Uff promotion.
Whitehead, a UFC and Strikeforce veteran with a 27-7 pro record, participated in “The Ultimate Fighter 2” reality series on Spike TV. He has five wins in his past six fights, losing only to the world-ranked Muhammed Lawal.
“Our first show produced a great night of fights, and we're coming back with an even better fight card that will showcase more big-name fighters,” Harriman said. “Nebraska is a hotbed for mixed martial arts. There are a lot of amazing fighters and gyms in the Kearney area.”
Other standouts scheduled to fight include some top prospects and fan favorites who appeared at RFA 1 in Kearney, including Mark Dickman, Tim Elliott, Angelo Antuna and Tyler Perry. The entire fight card will be released soon.