Trailblazing 'RFA 17: Cochrane vs. Giagos' event set for Aug. 22 in South Dakota

South Dakota’s first sanctioned MMA event is set for Aug. 22 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., with “RFA 17: Cochrane vs. Giagos.”

RFA officials recently announced the promotion’s plans, which sees Dakota Cochrane (17-5) face Christos Giagos (9-2) for the inaugural RFA lightweight title in the evening’s main event, while Mark Dickman faces Justin Lawrence for the vacant RFA featherweight title in the co-feature. The night’s main card airs on AXS TV.

“I’m pleased to announce that the RFA will be bringing two exciting title fights to South Dakota for its first sanctioned MMA event,” Soares stated. “Dakota Cochrane and Christos Giagos will compete for the inaugural RFA lightweight title, while Mark Dickman and Justin Lawrence will meet for the vacant featherweight title. These are four more faces that fight fans in ‘The Mount Rushmore State’ will always remember.”

Cochrane makes his seventh appearance under the RFA banner who enters the contest on the strength of back-to-back victories over UFC veterans in Anton Kuivanen and Efrain Escudero.

“I’m sure Christos is a really tough guy, but I’ve been waiting for a shot at this belt for a long time,” Cochrane stated. “I’ve worked too hard for this opportunity. No one will stop me from getting that belt on Aug. 22.”

Meanwhile, Giagos boasts a three-fight winning streak that includes a June victory over “The Ultimate Fighter 12? cast member Sevak Magakian to claim the Tachi Palace Fights lightweight title.

“I know Dakota is tough and a lot of people know who he is, but when it comes down to it, it’s just going to be the two of us in the cage,” Giagos stated. “I’m ready and excited for this. It’s also cool that all of my friends and family back home will get to watch me fight on television for the first RFA lightweight title.”

Also on the card are bantamweights Darrick Minner (9-3) vs. Luke Sanders (7-0) middleweights Isaac Appel (10-4) vs. Francisco France (9-3-1), welterweights Jarrod L’Heureux (6-1) vs. Jordon Larson (4-1) and bantamweights Cory Galloway (4-2) vs. Bruno Frazatto (5-1).

The announced RFA 17 lineup includes:

• Dakota Cochrane vs. Christos Giagos – for inaugural RFA lightweight title
• Mark Dickman vs. Justin Lawrence – for vacant RFA featherweight title
• Darrick Minner vs. Luke Sanders
• Isaac Appel vs. Francisco France
• Jarrod L’Heureux vs. Jordan Larson
• Bruno Frazatto vs. Cory Galloway

For more on RFA 17, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Dakota Cochrane)