RFA 14 results: Matt Manzanares wins flyweight belt with split vs. Maranhao

In a fight that likely should’ve been stopped after four rounds, Matt Manzanares needed to go the full five to win RFA’s flyweight title against Junior Maranhao.

Manzanares took a split decision in the main event of RFA 14 on Friday. But there will be conversations now about whether Maranhao should have been allowed to continue into the fifth after apparently fainting on his stool after the fourth.

RFA 14 took place at City of Cheyenne Ice and Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. The main card aired on AXS TV.

Manzanares and Maranhao battled back and forth early in the first until Manzanares landed with a kick too low. But they continued trading kicks and punches on the restart, with Manzanares doing well to get inside against the taller Maranhao.

In the second, Maranhao had Manzanares in a lot of trouble with submission attempts on the ground, but each time Manzanares survived expertly to the delight of his home fans. The submissions were close enough that Manzanares wisely wanted the fight back standing, refusing to go back down into Maranhao’s guard. Soon enough, though, he found himself on his back having to play defense with Maranhao on top.

The third and fourth were back and forth, as well, and Maranhao had to survive a submission attempt late in the fourth.

But that’s when things got a little bizarre. On his stool before the final round, Maranhao’s head suddenly dropped and he fell floats to the canvas. His cornermen came over and picked him up and helped him back to the stool, but he appeared to have passed out cold while sitting. Shortly after, the cageside doctor came in – and asked Maranhao’s cornermen if he was OK. They said he was – and on the fight went.

With a big hematoma under his right eye, he came out to start the fifth, looking wobbly before the start of the frame. Manzanares dropped him, but refused to go to the ground to play in his jiu-jitsu game. And that presence of mind may have been what got him the nod.

Manzanares took scores of 49-46 and 50-45, while a third judge gave Maranhao a 48-47 score.

Manzanares (7-2) got back in the win column after a loss to Zach Makovsky in November. Maranhao (9-3) had a six-fight winning streak snapped.

Dickman hands Barcelos his first loss

Mark Dickman got just what he wanted quickly into the second round against Raoni Barcelos. Then it took him a while, but he eventually got what he was going after. Barcelos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, looked good in the first round and kept the fight on the feet. But in the second, Dickman took him down right away. Then he went to work and eventually softened Barcelos up enough to flatten him out. Then it was all business. Dickman cinched in a rear-naked choke to force Barcelos to tap. Dickman (9-1) won for the fourth straight time and put himself in line to fight for RFA’s featherweight title, and handed Barcelos (7-1) the first loss of his career.

Jouban drills Montoya for second-round KO

Alan Jouban did good work in the striking department right away against Armando Montoya Jr., but had to survive a dicey moment in the first before landing the big one in the second. He landed a few in bunches in the first, but Montoya caught him and dropped him briefly. And moments later, Montoya took a shot too low and needed some recovery time. Montoya got into trouble when Jouban threatened with an omoplata late in the first, but he survived. He wouldn’t last the second, though. Jouban had Montoya in trouble in that frame thanks to a head kick. And after landing a vicious pair of knees, when Montoya got to his feet, he ate a left that ended the fight. Jouban (8-2) got back in the winner’s circle with Montoya (8-4) as his sixth knockout victim in eight victories.

Aguiar makes quick work of Toner

Daniel Aguiar wasn’t messing around. Fighting on just two weeks’ notice, it took him just 15 seconds to get Tyler Toner to the ground. And once there, he immediately cinched in a heel hook. Toner never had a chance. The Brazilian, who trains at Black House MMA, had a submission win in just 29 seconds. Aguiar (10-3) has all 10 of his career wins by submission, with Toner (15-7) his third straight first-round victim.

Lybarger dominates Acevedo in opener

Jocelyn Lybarger put on a proverbial clinic against Rosa Acevdeo on Friday night, cruising to a unanimous decision win to open the main card. Lybarger threatened with a choke late in the first round, but Acevedo was able to slip it. But it was Lybarger’s standup game that did her well. She worked plenty of jabs and hooks in the second, bloodying Acevedo’s nose. Acevedo seemed to find a sense of urgency early in the third, but Lybarger (3-1) always fired back and never gave Acevedo (1-1) a real chance to get anything going.

Full RFA 14 results included:

MAIN CARD

PRELIMINARY CARD

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