Christos Giagos vs. Zach Juusola Headlines RFA 42 on Aug. 19

Las Vegas-based MMA promotion Resurrection Fighting Alliance announced on Tuesday that RFA 42 will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between Christos Giagos and Zach Juusola.

Giagos, a UFC veteran, is the first man to ever capture the RFA lightweight title. He did so by conquering Dakota Cochrane in the second with a crushing flying knee and follow-up punches at RFA 17. That immediately followed a triumph over Sevak Magakian where he snatched the vacant Tachi Palace Fights lightweight strap. But after going just 1-2 inside the Octagon, “The Spartan” returned to the RFA last month and knocked out Karen Darabedyan in the first.

Juusola challenged for the RFA 155-pound in December 2014 but came up short against Mehdi Baghdad, who now resides under Zuffa’s umbrella. “Juice” bounced back from that setback by edging Robert Rojas Jr. via decision last September, but the Minnesotan hasn’t fought since.

The co-main event of RFA 42 will see flyweights Ray Elizalde and Alex Perez in a pivotal matchup between young contenders.

RFA 42 takes place at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, Calif., and will be televised live on AXS TV starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Aug. 19. A full undercard will be announced soon.