2016 Out With a Smash or Three

               

                         The final fight weekend of 2016 did not disappoint, World Series of Fighting, Rizin Fighting Federation and the Ultimate Fighting Championship all stacked their cards for the year-ender and the results thrilled fans around the globe. WSOF made their New York debut, treating fans in Madison Square Garden to four Championship bouts. Japanese promotion, Rizin FC packed Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan to a two-day, three round open-weight tournament. The UFC christened the new, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with two Championship fights, headlined by Ronda Rousey challenging Amanda Nunes for the Banamweight belt.

                Rizin feels a lot like Pride FC from over a decade ago and for good reason, former Pride president, Nobuyuki Sakakibara created the MMA promotion in 2015. It’s more than just that, their second annual open-weight tournament offered all the best aspects of the former promotion, Rizin 2 in September, kicked off the first round of the tournament, with round two on Dec 29^th and rounds three and four on New Year’s Eve.  Getting that familiar Pride FC vibe? Well… Forty-two year old, Mirko “Cro Cop” won it all, in dominating fashion.

                Filipovic Submitted Hyun Man Myung at Rizin 2 (9/25/16) with a First Round (2:20) Arm-Triangle Choke. He faced last year’s Tournament Champion, King Mo, Muhammed Lawal at Rizin 3 (12/29/16) earning a Second Round (1:41) TKO, to advance to the semi-final round where he faced, Four hundred pound, Sumo wrestler, Baruto Kaito. On just two days rest, Cro Cop TKO’d Kaito in the first 0:49 of the fight. Finals opponent, Amir Aliakbari went to a pair of two-round Decision wins, in both his Wednesday quarter-final fight versus Heath Herring and his semi-final bout over Valentin Moldavsky earlier that evening. It took a rested, Filipovic 2:03 to separate Aliakbari from consciousness and win the 2016 Rizin Open-Weight Grand Prix Finals. Mirko won the 2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix ten years earlier.

                All four WSOF Champions retained their titles, Saturday afternoon at WSOF 34. On only three weeks-notice, Luiz Firmino traded punches with undefeated, Justin Gaethje.

Through three rounds, Firmino gave Gaethje all he could handle, out-pointing the Champ on the Judges’ scorecards, but for every combo Luiz landed, Justin delivered a devastating upper-cut or humbling hook. In the end Firmino’s face could fare no more abuse and a Doctor stoppage came before the fourth round. Gaethje held onto his Lightweight Championship by TKO.

               

Two-division WSOF Champion, David Branch defended his Middleweight Title with a Fifth Round Rear-Naked-Choke of Louis Taylor. Branch improves to 20-3, he defended his Light Heavyweight Title in October with a Unanimous Decision victory over Vinny Magalhaes at WSOF 33.

               

Marlon Moraes retained his Bantamweight Title when a leg injury to Josenaldo Silva haulted the bout. Moraes was getting the best of the early exchanges and nearly cinched up a Guillotine-Choke for the win, before the injury. Silva scrambled to his feet, threw a right hand and launched into a flying knee. When he came down Silva immediately grabbed his leg and Referee, Dan Miragliotta wisely stepped in granting Moraes the TKO victory.

               

In a five-round grappling display, Jon Fitch beats Jake Shields by UD. Shields attempted to submit the crafty Fitch for five rounds, but the Thirty-eight year old was able to stay safe and score points with punches inside Shields Guard for most of the bout.

               

Cody Garbrandt pulled off the upset and handed Dominick Cruz his first lost in over nine years. Garbrandt improves to 11-0 winning the UFC’s BW Title and marks just the second time in his career that he’s seen the Judges’ decision, winning by UD. No Love’s game plan was perfect and his performance, masterful.
               

In the Main Event of the UFC’s final card of 2016, Amanda Nunes refused to allow Ronda Rousey time to warm up. This one wasn’t a contest, Nunes wins by TKO 0:48 into the fight. The win improves Lioness to 14-4 with five wins in a row. Rowdy was dealt the second loss of her career and second by TKO/KO consecutive, she falls to 12-2

Breakdown WSOF 33

               

                 

                     Two Titles are on the line, when World Series of Fighting comes to Kansas City, MO. Oct. 7^th for WSOF 33. Champion, Justin Gaethje looks to defend his Lightweight belt versus challenger, Ozzy Dugulubgov and two division Champ, David Branch faces decorated grappler, Vinny Magalhaes for the Light-Heavyweight Division’s gold.

               

Undefeated, Justin Gaethje has annihilated the LW division in WSOF, since becoming the inaugural champ at WSOF 8 (1/18/14) with a first round (1:09) TKO of Richard Patishnock. Since, he’s defended the belt four times and finished each opponent by TKO. (Melvin Guillard missed weight {11/15/14} 3 round nontitle fight, UD for Gaethje). The Highlight has finished fourteen of his sixteen wins (13 KO/TKO). The Twenty-seven year old from Safford, Arizona was a two time Arizona State Champion wrestler in High School and went on to the University of Northern Colorado where he was an All American. This is Gaethje’s tenth fight with WSOF and he’s faced experienced talent since his first fight with the organization: A 7-0 Gaethje faced, two-time K-1 Grand Prix champ, Gesais Cavalcante in his promotional debut (3/23/13). The Highlight sliced a gash over Cavalcante’s eye, forcing a first round doctor stoppage 2:27 into the fight. Gaethje displayed powerful leg-kicks versus Brian Foster in his last fight. Foster was unable to continue just 1:43 into the opening round, due to the devastating kicks.

               

Ridgewood, New Jersey’s Ozzy Dugulubgov faces the champ in his seventh fight with WSOF. Dugulubgov has gone 5-1 with three finishes (2KO/TKO). The Jackson Wink MMA fighter is on a three fight win streak and is 8-2 in his career. He hasn’t fought since winning a UD over Nic Herron-Webb last December at WSOF 26. Twenty-seven year old, Dugulubgov has 4 KO/TKO and 2 Submission wins to date.

               

David Branch holds both WSOF’s Middleweight and Light Heavyweight belts. Branch won a four-man MW Tournament to become Champ and after fights falling apart in a similar LHW tournament, Branch found himself in a fortunate position, locked on Teddy Bear Holder’s back sinking in a rear-naked-choke (1^st round 2:21) to win the LHW belt (9/18/15). The Brooklyn New Yorker is on an eight fight win streak since signing with WSOF. Thirty-five year old, Branch also has other big promotion experience, he’s gone 2-0 in Bellator and 2-2 in the UFC. He is 18-3-1 overall with 11 stoppage wins (6 subs). Branch is a BJJ Black Belt and trains with Renzo Gracie. Fresh off a five rounder, Branch defended his MW belt for the second time in April, earning a UD over Clifford Starks at WSOF 30.

               

Challenger, Vinny Magalhaes is a decorated Martial Artist: Runner up on TUF Season 8, former LHW Champion for both Titan FC and M-1 Global and a multi-time world champion in Jiu Jitsu. Although being TKO’d by Ryan Bader on the TUF 8 Finale, he impressed during the season, finishing Jules Bruchez and Krzysztof Soszynski by first round arm bars and Lance Evans (Rashad’s brother) never saw the second round, in their contest due to an injured rib. After leaving the TUF House Magalhaes went 1-4 in the UFC before being released by the organization. The Thirty-two year old submitted Matt Hamill in his WSOF debut (10/17/15) with a first round (1:08) knee bar. This fight was originally scheduled to take place in April of 2015 in the LHW Tournament, but a contract dispute with Titan FC delayed it. Pezao is 14-7-1 with eleven of his thirteen stoppage wins by Submission. He is 1-4 in fights that go to the judge’s scorecards. Magalhaes is on a four fight win streak with three by sub and his single decision win coming last fight (4/2/16), a UD over Jake Heun.