RFA Featherweight Jordan Rinaldi Believes Change in Camp Has Him on the Right Track

Following the first loss of his career last November, featherweight up-and-comer Jordan “All Day” Rinaldi decided to make a change.

Following the suggestion of his promotion, Rinaldi transplanted himself across the country from his native North Carolina to Las Vegas, and hasn’t looked back.

“The RFA invited me to one of their other fighters’ places to train to see if I’d like it,” said Rinaldi. “I actually fought the guy before; his name is Mark Dickman. The training here was so good, I decided that I needed to make a change and this was the place I wanted to be.”

Rinaldi told MMAWeekly.com that his game has improved exponentially since making the move.

“There’s a huge difference,” he said. “Just my mentality alone has changed for the better; it’s gotten more aggressive and an anything-to-win type deal.

“The guys I live with compete at such a high level and it’s brought my level up, not just in gym, but also with my mindset.”

Since his loss to Jared Downing in November, Rinaldi has been eager to return to fighting and get back on track. His opportunity to do so comes at RFA 9 this Friday night when he takes on jiu-jitsu ace Brian Ortega in a feature bout to be broadcast live on AXS TV.

“Brian is a pretty decorated jiu-jitsu fighter and instructor who trains at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, so his jiu-jitsu is going to be pretty top-notch,” said Rinaldi. “I think I’ll be able to out-wrestle him and out-strike him.

“If it goes to the ground, I’m happy to (be there). I train with brown and black belts all day long. I’m ready for wherever it goes and whatever he wants to do. I’m going to be there the whole time, in his face, constant pressure, bullying him and just wear him down.”

While Ortega may not be as heralded in MMA as he is in the grappling world, Rinaldi feels that he represents a good step forward opponent-wise and he is looking forward to making that move up in competition this Friday night.

“(Ortega) doesn’t have that much experience that the guys you want to take the next step on like the UFC vets and Bellator vets, but he’s 6-0, he’s an instructor at one of the best jiu-jitsu places in the world, and it’s always a positive to get a win,” said Rinaldi.

“In the RFA, with this opponent, they’ve put me against good opposition, and it’s just a cherry on top for the future. They’ve given me a pretty good opportunity to grow and to build my own brand and get a good audience and I’m pretty appreciative of it.”

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