Tampa, FL-Real Fighting Championships returns November 1st to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. The event is expected but unconfirmed to air delayed on Comcast Sports Net. In the main event Middleweight champion Carl Greco of Spring Hill faces Danny Babcock of Port St. Lucie. Greco is 5-0 post-Pride but has had only one fight in two years, a win over Tony Souza in RFC 11 in February for the title a month after his 38th birthday. Babcock’s entire 4-1 record fits into that same stretch of time, most recently a decision win over Yosmany Cabezas is RFC 12.
Also on the card IFL vet Chris Baten tries to snap out of his two-loss streak as he takes on Brett Chism. Baten was impressive in UWC against Herbert Goodman and his follow-up loss to Jamal Patterson in IFL is understandable relatively early in his career but the loss to TJ Cook in RFC in May set Baten back. Chism is coming off two wins in RFC but most recently a loss to Phil Davis in No Boundary.
Although RFC have emerged the dominant promotion in the Florida market they face competition with Cage Warriors in Orlando for team participation. On this card RFC are drawing heavily from Gracie schools and local striking gyms but there is a noticeable absence of American Top Team fighters for a Florida show. Still, this is a good showing of teams from the Gulf Coast of Florida.
