By Press Release

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the RFA will be making its first trip to Chicagoland in June with a championship headliner. The main event of RFA 39 features the first title defense of RFA featherweight champion Raoni Barcelos. He will put his title on the line against top prospect and local favorite Bobby “The Wolfman” Moffett. RFA 39 – Barcelos vs. Moffett takes place Friday, June 17th at the Hammond Civic Center in Hammond, Indiana. The main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

“I’m excited about bringing a world title fight to Hammond” stated Soares. “Our Featherweight champion Raoni Barcelos will defend his title for the first time against number one contender Bobby Moffett. These are two of the top featherweight prospects in the world and it’s the perfect way to show fight fans in the Chicago area what the RFA is all about.”

Tickets for RFA 39 – Barcelos vs. Moffett are now available for purchase. You can support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CAGETIX.com

Barcelos (9-1) will defend his RFA featherweight title for the first time after enjoying a dominant 2015, which many MMA pundits saw coming several years ago. Barcelos was pegged for greatness in MMA before ever stepping foot inside a steel cage. The son of Jiu-Jitsu coral (red-and-black) belt Laerte Barcelos, he began learning “The Gentle Art” at age two. Then, unlike many Jiu-Jitsu black belts, Barcelos found success in Freestyle Wrestling where he competed as a member of the Brazilian National Wrestling Team. However, his rare blend of high-level grappling disciplines isn’t what makes him special among top MMA prospects. It is the fact he possesses ample striking power that can also get the job done. This is evident in the fact that more than half of his victories have come via KO or TKO, which includes the first round KO of previously undefeated NCAA Division I All-American wrestler Jamal Parks at RFA 23. Barcelos is now looking to do the same to another top prospect as he prepares for his first RFA title defense.

“I am very happy to defend my RFA world title at RFA 39,” stated Barcelos. “RFA shows the best new MMA talent in the world and it is now televised live here in Brazil. My friends, family, and teammates now have the opportunity to watch me fight live on Esporte Interativo. It’s a dream come true and an honor to be a champion of a great event like the RFA. This belt is coming back home to Brazil with me in June.”

Moffett (8-1) is coming into this fight with a lot of momentum. He is riding a four-fight win streak, which includes a victory over longtime RFA vet Dan Moret at RFA 24. Moffett was born and raised 10 miles from the venue just across the state border in Homewood, Illinois. The task of defending home turf and capturing the RFA featherweight title has only increased the hunger of this exciting young prospect. This is a hunger “The Wolfman” will need as he faces the most dangerous opponent in his career. To quote the classic 2010 film that shares his nickname, “I didn’t know you hunted monsters? Sometimes monsters hunt you.” Moffett is now eager to channel his inner lycanthrope at RFA 39.

“I am just very grateful that the biggest fight of my career will be at home in front of my family and friends,” Moffett explained. “I feel that everything I’ve been working for has now come to fruition. Barcelos is a tough. He’s a very good fighter and the champion. I’m honored that he wants to fight me. I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career by winning the RFA title on June 17th.”

The full fight card for RFA 39 – Barcelos vs. Moffett will be announced soon. This will be the RFA’s first event to take place in “The Hoosier State” of Indiana and it will be the fifteenth state that the RFA has visited. The entire main card of RFA 39 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT this Friday, June 17th.

Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.