KEARNEY, Nebraska — Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) announced this morning that it has signed NCAA Division I national champion turned undefeated MMA fighter Bubba Jenkins to a 6-fight deal. This is a big signing for the RFA, which is getting set to host its second event exactly four weeks from today.
As for Jenkins, this completes an outstanding 12-month cycle for the talented Arizona State alum. Last March, Jenkins upset his former teammate David Taylor of Penn State by pinning the undefeated freshman sensation in the final to win the NCAA Division I national championship at 157-pounds. This was sweet revenge for Jenkins, considering that Penn State coach Cael Sanderson had cut him from the team, which had prompted his transfer to Arizona State.
Now a year later and a member of American Top Team (ATT) in Coconut Creek, Florida, Jenkins looks to carry that success and motivation with him as he looks to compete in the RFA ranks alongside the likes of established UFC veterans Gilbert Yvel, Houston Alexander, and Joe Stevenson, as well as fellow promising prospects Tim Elliott, Jerry Shapiro, and Brandon Bender.
Jenkins has the right pedigree to make a big name for himself in MMA, as he comes from a great wrestler-turned-fighter lineage at Arizona State. The Sun Devils wrestling program has produced many MMA stars, including former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, TUF 8 champion and current UFC light-heavyweight star Ryan Bader, as well as a current trio of UFC middleweights: TUF 7 finalist C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson, and Clifford Starks.
Before Jenkins makes his promotional debut for the RFA, however, he will compete once more at Tachi Palace Fights 12 (TPF 12) next weekend. In December, the powerful lightweight fighter announced his arrival on the MMA scene with an emphatic first round stoppage of fellow MMA debutant Josh Williams at TPF 11. Jenkins made Williams submit due to strikes at just 2:04 of the first round. Next Friday, he takes on Milennia MMA’s Chris Gomez in his sophomore MMA appearance, before he makes his debut for the RFA promotion in late spring or early summer.
Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) was founded in 2011 and includes a number of prominent businessmen, fight promoters, matchmakers, and others with successful careers in hosting Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) shows across the United States. To learn more, check out their website at www.RFAfighting.com.