KEARNEY, Nebraska — "The" James Krause (17-4) will be returning to the RFA cage for the second time this month, as he meets UFC veteran Joe "Porkchop" Jordan (49-13-2) in the co-main event of RFA 5 – Downing vs. Rinaldi, which will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV on Friday, November 30th.
Two weeks ago, Krause needed only 31 seconds to dispatch the previously unbeaten Black House MMA standout Guilherme Trindade via TKO at RFA 4. In two more weeks, Krause will look to duplicate that success against Jordan, who is a man set to participate in his 65th professional MMA bout.
Krause fights out of Grind House MMA in Lee’s Summit, Missouri with two-time Olympic Team Alternate wrestler Eric Akin, Strikeforce and Titan FC veteran Brian Davidson, and former RFA star turned current UFC fighter Tim Elliott.
Krause is currently riding a 5-fight winning streak, which includes three wins inside the RFA cage. Earlier this year, Krause also participated on the 15th season of the UFC’s hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter, which was televised live on FX. Krause will now look to build on his impressive winning streak by welcoming in a fighter who also has a big name on the Midwest scene in Jordan.
"I’m excited to fight a veteran with so many fights and that much experience. I think this has all the ingredients to be the "Fight of the Night", explained Krause.
When asked about taking his second fight in the RFA this month, Krause said, "Why not? I’m in shape, I’m healthy, and I’m ready to scrap. I don’t see any reason not to."
Standing in his way will be Jordan, who has compiled a staggering 26-2 record since making his lone UFC appearance at UFC 61 against former UFC title challenger Hermes Franca. The Miletich Fighting Systems mainstay will be looking for his 50th career win in what will be his most high-profile bout, since his brief stint in the UFC.
The addition of this bout came about after RFA 5’s previous co-main event between highly-rated flyweight prospects Aaron Ely and Dustin Ortiz fell apart due to an injury sustained by Ortiz. Since RFA 5 is taking place two weeks from today with Thanksgiving dinner exactly one week before weigh-ins, the lightweight standouts will instead meet in a welterweight contest.
The RFA 5 co-main event between Krause and Jordan will lead into the RFA main event, which will feature the first ever RFA title fight. RFA standouts Jared "Demon Eyes" Downing (8-1) and Jordan "All Day" Rinaldi (6-0) will square off in the inaugural RFA featherweight title fight. The five-round title fight and entire main card of RFA 5 will be televised on AXS TV on Friday, November 30th live from the Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska.