WSOF 27 Breakdown

WSOF 27 Breakdown

 

            Injury causes a lineup shift, but WSOF 27 is still loaded with intriguing match-ups. Mike Ricci was scheduled to face Caros Fodor in the main event, but Ricci withdrew due to injury. Moving the Light Heavyweight fight between Teddy Holder and Shamil Gamzatov to the main event. Fodor will now face Luiz Firmino in the Co-main.

Expect a Finish

            Teddy “Bear” Holder had his eight fight win streak halted by WSOF LHW and MW Champion David Branch (9/18/15) in the first by RNC. Holder has finished all nine of his wins in the first round (7KO, 2Sub). In fact “Bear” hasn’t seen the second round in his career. He holds 1^st round KO wins over Thiago Silva (WSOF 19) and Sean Salmon (UCC6) to name two of his more recognized victims. His two losses were both by submission.

            Undefeated Shamil Gamzatov has also finished each of his wins: four by KO and five by Submission. The 25 year old Russian hasn’t fought since 10/11/14 when he beat Yuri Gorbenko with a first round Triangle (2:12).

Lightweight Division

Caros “The Future” Fedor is a veteran of OneFC, Strikeforce and UFC. This is his WSOF debut. “The Future” didn’t fight in 2015, but went 2-0 in 2014 with two Sub wins over: Willy Ni (May 30) by Kimura 1^st 3:29 and Vincent Latoel (Sept 12) by RNC 2^nd 4:43. He takes on 33 year old Luiz Firmino. “Buscape” made his pro debut on May 27, 2000. He has fought for M-1, Pride and Dream. Firmino also a bit inactive as late, but is on a five fight win streak, most recently by UD over Tyson Griffin (6/21/14).

Local Striker Looking to Build Momentum

            Tennessee native, Jaleel “The Realest” Willis, makes his WSOF debut as an undefeated Welterweight. Willis is 5-0 with four first round TKO stoppages due to striking. Last January “The Realest” Stopped Dameon Melton in the first 1:25 at V3 Fights. He takes on Chauncey “The Machine” Foxworth. Foxworth enters for his second time as a pro, the owner of a first round KO win over Linc Battee (3:16) Oct 24^th 2015.

Lightweight Sub-Specialists

            Bryce Mitchell made his Pro debut last January 24^th, since “Thug Nasty” has submitted his way to a 4-0 record. All those wins came in the first rounds; most recently Chris Culley tapped at 3:39 (9/26/15). Mitchell faces Jorge Medina. Medina started his 4-2 record with 3 straight sub wins also. He is 1-2 in his last 3 fights, losing by TKO on 3/28/15 to Pedro Gomes (2^nd 4:22).

 

WSOF 27 is January 23^rd at 10pm ET on NBCSN Prelims Streaming live on WSOF.com