To quote a Facebook comment when promoter Matt Trukovich announced this fight, “This just keeps getting better.”
A fifth pro bout has been added to next month’s RFO: Big Guns 17 – The Exorcism card, as Chico Bays (1-0) is set to take on Tony Dipiero (0-0, 9-7 am) in a middleweight contest.
The organization also recently announced the night’s amateur main event, which will feature veteran heavyweights JD Ramsey (4-1) and Wayne Lanum (8-1).
Bays makes his second pro start in what will be his RFO debut, as he returns to the middleweight division for the first time since his amateur days. After posting a 7-3 amateur record, the Ronin Training Center product made his professional debut at IT Fight Series 29 last November, where he submitted Travis Hussey via triangle choke in the first round. “The Ninja Assassin” looks to continue his winning ways and advance his perfect record when he steps into the RFO cage at Fairhaven Hall for the first time.
Dipiero will take a second crack at making his pro debut, as his scheduled opponent for his fight at Big Guns 17 in August failed to show up. As we wrote after the event, Trukovich even offered to pay Dipiero his ‘show’ money for the fight since his opponent didn’t show up. Dipiero likely got what he wanted even more, which is a fight on the next RFO event. Dipiero competed 16 times as an amateur, closing out a lengthy career winning three of his last four including two in a row. He’ll compete for RFO for the first time since 2010, when he submitted Bill Gentry in the first round at Big Guns 4.
Also announced for Big Guns 17 is the amateur main event that will feature former NCAA All-American wrestler Ramsey taking on Lanum in his return after a lengthy layoff.
Ramsey looks to bounce back from the first loss of his career, as he was submitted by Steve Mowry in the second round of their bout at Caged Madness 33 in January. The West Liberty grad was impressive up to that point, earning four victories over notable opponents.
Lanum will compete for the first time since 2012, as he too looks to rebound from the only loss of his career. A former light heavyweight, he earned five of his career victories via stoppage before falling victim to Dan Stevenson via TKO at NAAFS: Night of Champions 2012.
The fight card is now coming together for Big Guns 17, which takes place on October 17 at the Richland County Fairgrounds in Mansfield, Ohio.
Stay tuned to BluegrassMMA for more on RFO: Big Guns 17 – The Exorcism as it becomes available.
RFO: Big Guns 17 card
Pro Bouts:
Cody Stevens vs. Terrell Hobbs
Josh Longood vs. Kendale Young
John Gunther vs. Chris Tucker
Mike Williams vs. RJ Buck
Chico Bays vs. Tony Dipiero
Amateur Bout:
JD Ramsey vs. Wayne Lanum