Wsof X *results* June 21st karakhanyan vs Glenn and branch vs Taylor title fights (official discussion)

Main Card: NBC Sports Network – 9 p.m./6 p.m. ET|PT
Preliminary Card: NBCSports.com – 7 p.m./4 p.m. ET|PT

Since holding its first event back in November 2012, the World Series of Fighting has continued to deliver on its promise to offer up compelling, no-nonsense mixed martial arts competition featuring a healthy mixture of both established names and up-and-coming talent.

Along the way, they’ve awarded championships to their five lightest weight classes – women’s strawweight (Jessica Aguilar), bantamweight (Marlon Moraes), featherweight (Georgi Karakhanyan), lightweight (Justin Gaethje) and welterweight (Rousimar Palhares) – and this Saturday they will continue that upward belting tradition in the fight capitol of the world when they wrap a golden bejeweled strap around the waist of their inaugural middleweight champion after former UFC fighters Jesse Taylor and David Branch face off in the main event.

That’s not all, however, as there are three (that’s right – three) titles in total on the line. Featherweight champion Gerogi Karakhanyan and women’s strawweight champion Jessica “Jag” Aguilar will defend their titles for the first time since winning them.

From head to toe, this is a great looking card. Former Championship Fighting Alliance women’s featherweight champion Ashlee Evans-Smith – who we last witness give controversial fighter Fallon Fox a right shellacking – will be making her debut in the promotion when she faces Marciea Allen and, in the NBCSports.com prelims headliner, fans will be treated to a legitimate grudge match featuring two heavyweight bruisers, as Bazzie “Knockout Punch of the Year Award” winner Derrick “Caveman” Mehmen takes on Dave “Bad Man” Huckaba, who TKOed WSOF president Ray Sefo in his last outing.

Here’s a look at the entire televised main card.



Main Event – Middleweight (185 lbs.) Title Fight – 5 Rounds
Dave Branch [13-3]
vs.
Jesse “JT Money” Taylor [27-9]

A member of the WSOF since its inception, it’s hard for anyone to argue that Branch hasn’t earned his shot after going 3-0 in the organization with wins over former UFC fighter Dustin Jacoby, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho and a very tough and well-rounded Danillo Villefort.

Branch, a talented and versatile Renzo Gracie pupil, has never lost two in a row, and his win over current WSOF heavyweight Derrick Mehmen should illustrate the kind of strength of athleticism he brings to the cage.

He’ll need both of those attributes against Jesse “JT Money” Taylor, a wrestling-based submission specialist who is currently on a seven-fight win streak, with four of those victories coming by way of tap out. Few doubted the Team Quest member’s talents, and after perusing organizations such as Cage Warriors, K-Oz and Dragon House, he looks as if he’s found himself a home with the WSOF, who have rewarded his allegiance (and debuting victory over Elvis Mutapcic back in December) with a shot at the inaugural title.

Regardless of who wins, the next challenger for the middleweight belt has already been set, as Yushin “Thunder” Okami will vie for the belt later this year.

Good times.



Co-Main Event – Featherweight (145 lbs.) Title Fight – 5 Rounds
Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan [23-3]
vs.
Rick “The Gladiator” Glenn [14-2]

Almost eight years into his professional career and Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan has only lost three times. His last loss, against Patricio “Pitbull” Freire,” was back at Bellator 37, and since then he’s rattled off nine consecutive victories, submitting six of his opponents and knocking out one. Since signing over to the WSOF from Legacy back in 2013, he’s looked absolutely dominant, and he’ll be looking to move his “W” column into the double digits with a victory over Rick “The Gladiator” Glenn this Saturday.

It’d be unwise to count Glenn out, however, as the Duke Roufus-trained Iowan is on an 11-fight win streak himself, and is similarly undefeated under the WSOF banner. In fact, his last loss was more than four years ago, and with a four foot height differential to his advantage, the 6’0” featherweight – who owns seven striking-related stoppages – may pose some unique threats to the raging Armenian titleholder.



Women’s Strawweight (115 lbs.) Title Fight – 5 Rounds
Jessica “Jag” Aguilar [17-4]
vs.
Emi “The Special Attack Angel” Fujino

Seriously, how could you not love Jessica Aguilar? She’s a badass fighter, has a great attitude, seems friendly as all get-out (see her laugh off the advances of one Danny “Machete” Trejo for all the evidence you need) and is adorably charismatic on the microphone. The #1-ranked women’s strawweight in the world is one of the sole holdouts from the UFC’s absorption outlaying talent, and her presence in the WSOF is a true coup for the organization.

Facing her on Saturday will be former Deep, Jewels and Pancrase combatant Emi Fujino, a journeywoman of the sport who never quite recovered from the four-fight losing streak that interrupted her then-unbeaten run back in 2008. Since that time, she’s never been able to string together more than a pair of wins, and she’ll be entering the WSOF decagon coming off of a decision loss to 19-year-old Mizuki Inoue, who owns a win over current UFC hopeful (and personal favorite) “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings.



Lightweight (155 lbs.) Fight – 3 Rounds
Tyson Griffin [16-7]
vs.
Luiz “Buscape” Firmino [17-6]

After being cut from his longtime UFC home back in October 2011, Tyson Griffin – who once stood maybe a fight or two away from title contention with the organization – took a year off to recuperate, returning in November 2012 and earning a much-needed unanimous decision victory over the always tough and durable Efrain Escudero in the main event of Ed Soares’ RFA 4: Griffin vs. Escudero. Although he subsequently lost his WSOF debut by way of third-round TKO against “JZ” Cavalcante, expect the American Kickboxing Academy to be back in peak fighting shape for his second matchup under the WSOF lights.

He’ll be facing some stiff competition in Luiz Firmino, made even stiffer by the fact that Firmino is a stablemate of Cavalcante at the Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, FL. A nearly 15-year veteran of the sport, the 32-year-old Firmino has fought in Pride, Shooto, Dream and CFA, and as a result will likely not be intimidated by the stout muscle box Griffin. He’s also coming off of a win with the WSOF, which will no doubt transfer any and all pressure to the shoulders of his opponent.



Featherweight (145 lbs.) Fight – 3 Rounds
Lance “The Party” Palmer [7-1]
vs.
Nick Lobosco [7-0]

Lance Palmer was by no means winning his fight against Georgi Karakhanyan when the Moscow-born mixed martial artist slapped on a guillotine choke late in the third round of their scheduled five-round affair, but he was far from out of the fight up until that point. That was the first loss of the 26-year-old Team Alpha Male member’s career, and it’s one he’ll likely want to put in his rearview mirror the Saturday.

Unfortunately, the WSOF isn’t the type of organization to employ tomato cans, so he’ll have a fight on his hands when he faces undefeated Missourian Nick Lobosco, who absolutely brained all-around MMA nice guy Fabio Mello back in October to earn himself a knockout debut with the WSOF at WSOF 6: Burkman vs. Carl. With a win over Palmer on Saturday, fans can expect him to be on the short list of contenders at featherweight, making this a very worthwhile watch for those following the World Series of Fighting’s ascent.

PRELIMINARY CARD:

Heavyweight (207 lbs. and up) Fight – 3 Rounds
Dave “Bad Man” Huckaba [21-5]
vs.
Derrick “Caveman” Mehmen [17-5]



Middleweight (185 lbs.) Fight – 3 Rounds
Angel “The Dream” Deanda [11-3]
vs.
Kasmir “The Wrestler” Mladenov [10-0]



Women’s Bantamweight (135 lbs.) Fight – 3 Rounds
Marciea “Black Widow” Allen [2-0]
vs.
Ashlee Evans-Smith [2-0]



Lightweight (155 lbs.) Fight – 3 Rounds
Jimmy Spicuzza [3-0]
vs.
Justin “Guitar Hero” Jaynes [3-1]


Mma owl.com

World Series of Fighting 10 Preview and Predictions
Riley Kontek June 17, 2014 Events, Previews, Spotlight 0 Comments
World Series of Fighting returns to NBC Sports on Saturday with its 10th professional show. The card will be headlined by a middleweight title fight and supported by a women’s strawweight title bout and a featherweight title contest.

In the main attraction, Jesse Taylor and Dave Branch square off for the vacant 185-pound strap. This is the end of a four-man middleweight tournament that promised to crown the promotion’s first-ever middleweight champion.

In the co-featured bouts, Jessica Aguilar takes on Emi Fujino for the 115-pound strap and Georgi Karakhanyan fights Rick Glenn for the featherweight championship. Aguilar, who is the consensus top strawweight in the world, looks for her first title defense since winning the title over Alida Gray. Karakhanyan, meanwhile, has been the best 145er in the company with wins over Waylon Lowe and Lance Palmer under the WSOF banner.

Here’s an in-depth look at the championship fights on the card, with some quick picks for the rest of the bill.

MW Championship: Jesse Taylor (27-9) vs. Dave Branch (13-3)
The main event sees the end of the four-man middleweight tournament, as finalists Jesse Taylor and Dave Branch square off. The winner will walk out as the first WSOF middleweight champion in the company’s history.

Taylor is a UFC veteran. He is one of the most successful journeyman in the sport. He has literally fought everywhere, but has finally found a permanent home in the WSOF. The Team Quest product is a pure ground fighter known for using overwhelming wrestling and top control to dominate opponents. This strategy was evident in the semifinals, where Taylor won a lackluster decision over Elvis Mutapcic in a wrestling-heavy affair.

Branch is also a UFC veteran. He is a disciple of Renzo Gracie. The ground specialist, known for his submission prowess, has found great success in the WSOF so far. After besting kickboxer Dustin Jacoby and Pride veteran Paulo Filho in his first two bouts with the company, he entered the four-man tournament opposite Danillo Villefort in the semifinals. There, he again won a decision to earn a title shot opposite his current foe.

Both men are ground fighters, which could make this interesting. However, Taylor is vastly better in the wrestling category, whereas Branch is more of a jiu-jitsu-based fighter. Taylor’s imposing strength and relentless aggression will earn him takedowns, and he will ride out Branch to a decision to become the first WSOF 185-pound champ.

FW Championship: Georgi Karakhanyan (23-3-1) vs. Rick Glenn (14-2-1)
Georgi Karakhanyan, one of the best featherweights outside the UFC, returns to the WSOF to defend his featherweight belt. In his way of a continued title reign stands Rick Glenn, a top prospect who is looking to add some gold to his trophy case.

Karakhanyan, joins Pat Curran and Patricio Freire as a top-three featherweight outside the UFC. He is a good boxer, but he is really known for his submission skills. That combination of stand-up and grappling makes Karakhanyan a very well-rounded fighter. His WSOF premiere saw him best UFC vet Waylon Lowe. That win was enough to thrust Karakhanyan into a bout for the vacant 145-pound title, which he claimed with a win, via guillotine choke, over power wrestler Lance Palmer.

Glenn is a Roufusport rep, which is obvious from his top-notch kickboxing skills and underrated grappling. He is one of the best young featherweights in the world. He’s also physically imposing at 6-foot-tall and possesses a long, lanky reach. His WSOF career has seen him go 2-0, knocking out Alexandre Pimentel before winning an exciting decision over Artur Rofi. His best chance to off the Armenian-American is on the feet.

Karakhanyan has consistently fought higher-level guys than Glenn with great success. Glenn doesn’t present anything that Karakhanyan hasn’t seen before. Plus, Glenn didn’t exactly dominate his fight against Rofi, who made the bout extremely close despite not being near the same talent level as Karakhanyan.

The champ will retain his belt, either by late stoppage or decision.

WSW Championship: Jessica Aguilar (17-4) vs. Emi Fujino (13-7)
A pair of longtime female fighters are on a collision course. The WSOF strawweight champion, Jessica Aguilar, looks to defend her title for the first time when she goes up against Japan’s Emi Fujino. This match-up pits The MMA Corner’s top-ranked strawweight in the world against the 15th-ranked Fujino.

Aguilar has fought a who’s-who of ladies with great success. Just look at her resume—she owns wins over Megumi Fujii (twice), Carla Esparza and Lisa Ellis, among others. She is a great ground fighter and has made a career of beating ladies at their own games. Aguilar won the belt in her latest outing when she submitted power puncher Alida Gray with an arm-triangle choke.

Fujino is a decade-long veteran of MMA who cut her teeth in Japan. She has fought a number of significant names in the sport, but the results have been mixed. Fujino, like Aguilar, is a grappler, though one has to believe that, given Aguilar’s track record, the champion has the better chops on the ground. Fujino will need to find an alternate route.

The American Top Team product has been on a roll. She has been beating top-10 opposition for a long time. Her strength matches up with Fujino’s strength, though she is likely better. On the feet, it’s probably closer, though again the champ has the advantage. This bout is meant as a means by which to continue to build up Aguilar.

Aguilar retains her belt over the Japanese fighter.

Quick Picks
LW: Luiz Firmino (17-6) over Tyson Griffin (16-7) via decision
FW: Lance Palmer (7-1) over Nick LoBosco (7-0) via decision
HW: Derrick Mehmen (17-5) over Dave Huckaba (21-5) via TKO (punches)
BW: Timur Valiev (6-1) over Rudy Morales (3-0) via decision
LHW: Angel DeAnda (11-3) over Krasimir Mladenov (10-0) via decision
WBW: Ashlee Evans-Smith (2-0) over Marciea Allen (3-1) via TKO (punches)
BW: Brandon Hempleman (9-2) over Andrew Yates (7-1) via submission (rear-naked choke)
LW: Jimmy Spicuzza (3-0) over Justin Jaynes (3-1) via submission (rear-naked choke)
LW: AJ Williams (0-0) over Tanner Cowan (0-0) via KO (punch)

Themmacorner.com

Emi Fujino is a veteran who has already faced most of the top female fighters in Japan. She debuted in the now defunct “Smack Girl” in 2004, and went on an 8-fight winning streak before being stopped by fellow veteran Megumi Yabushita in GMC Demolition. “The Kamikaze Angel” has since had a mixture of success. She lost by decision to the legendary Megumi Fujii in Sengoku Raiden Championship in 2010, which may have been the highest level stage a female can fight in Japan to date. Now with a record of 13-7, she’s been dreaming of the day when she can showcase her skills overseas. That time has finally come. At Word Series of Fighting on June 21st, she will face Jessica Aguilar for the 115 lb title in the Hard Rock Casino, Las Vegas.

“It has always been my dream to fight overseas, so I’m really happy I can,” she told us at MMASucka.com. “I’m looking forward to being able to compete in front of lots of people in such a big promotion like WSOF.”

In addition to MMA, Fujino has also done pro-wrestling matches. She has fought in the professional kickboxing “J-Girls” League, and Shootboxing tournaments, which is kickboxing with hip throws and standing submissions.

“I like a flashy style of fighting that will excite the audience,” she commented. Regarding her next opponent, she said, “I know she is a well-rounded fighter, strong in every aspect. Number one in the 115 lb division !”

Fujino first started training MMA in order to diet, and fell in love with the sport after that.

Female MMA fighters have come a long way over the years, and are more respected now. “Women’s MMA is still minor in Japan,” she said. Despite Fujino’s long career and her fights being broadcast on various networks, channels that do show female MMA matches like “Samurai TV” or “Sky Perfect” require a special cable or satellite subscription to view. “People have come up to me at venues, but I’m not recognized anywhere else (like on the street),” Fujino said. “Usually people I meet for the first time are very surprised to find out I’m a fighter.”

The old “Smack Girl” rules prohibited strikes to the face while on the ground, no elbows, and a 30-second ground time limit before being stood up. “Recently, restrictive rules have decreased and Women’s MMA is gaining popularity,” Fujino said. “It’s hard, though, because there are so few female fighters, there are also less females to train with. However, that makes more chances for each fighter to fight.”

Emi belongs to Wajitsu Keishukai GODS gym, the very first gym she started at. When asked to compare her training methods of the past to now, she replied, “Rather than just ‘going to practice,’ I consult my coaches and training partners who understand me very well, and try and pin-point what needs to be worked on and improve. I do enjoy physical training the most.”



She commented on the evolution of MMA as having become more firmly established in the world of sports. “Compared to the past, I think that fewer and fewer people have the desire to become pro MMA fighters,” she said. “It’s not easy to become pro, but if people work hard and struggle, they can do it.”

Fujino currently works in a lawyer’s office to support herself. “In Japan, especially as a woman, I wouldn’t be able to support myself only by fighting. Maybe if I became a martial arts instructor, I might be able to support myself with MMA.”

Her advice to other females in Japan wanting to fight pro?

“Believe in yourself and continue onwards,” Fujino encouraged. “The most important thing is to keep going.”

Watch June 21st, 10 PM ET/ 7 PM PT on NBC sports, or live at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Casino and Hotel.

http://mmasucka.com/2014/06/16/kamikaze-angel-fights-belt-wsof/

David Branch will challenge for the vacant WSOF middleweight crown. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Rapidly growing organization World Series of Fighting is set to fill three championship slots at WSOF 10 Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The main event features a battle between Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran David Branch and Strikeforce vet Jesse Taylor.

Branch, a former ironworker from New York who hails from the Renzo Gracie camp, was released from the UFC in May 2011 following a single loss that trailed two consecutive wins.

“I was given no answer for why I was cut after a two-fight win streak,” Branch told Sherdog.com. “I don't think I was as active and confident in my skills as I am now as a fighter back then.”

Branch was picked up by WSOF in 2012, and has went 3-0 for the promotion; each of those by unanimous decision. His grinding endurance has been viewed by some as “boring,” but Branch sees it differently.

“My fighting style for me is intelligent; I use my wit and skill to beat people. The overall MMA community has not been educated enough on the use of strategy and skill to appreciate the beauty of the use of arts timing measure distance position etc ... The overall MMA community has been groomed to like slugfests no matter how sloppy and unskillful. That is not my game. I don't feel my style is too cautious; I think it is intelligent and very, very effective.”

While Branch is confident in his skill set, which includes a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after 10 years under Renzo Gracie and seven years of “fundamental overall MMA” training at that school under Gracie and John Danaher, he recently admitted that he had been shown “holes in his game.”

“To fill the holes in my game I dedicated myself to also become a student of wrestling and striking; not just jiu-jitsu andsubmission grappling,” Branch declared.

Few know that Branch’s first martial art was not BJJ, but karate, which he studied for more than three years before ever training in the gentle art. While BJJ is one of Branch’s main weapons, he actually has more wins by stoppage and decision than by submission.

Of his three career losses, all were to current or soon-to-be UFC fighters; most recently to Anthony Johnson in May 2012. And prior to that, Rousimar Palhares, who recently dropped to welterweight and was released from the UFC for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“As far as Palhares, I'm not thinking about him,” said Branch. “I'm only focused on fighting and finishing my opponent on Saturday ... Of course I would love to avenge my losses but that isn't the focus now.”

Fellow contender for the inaugural WSOF middleweight championship is Jesse Taylor, a younger, but more experienced fighter out of Team Quest, also on a seven fight win streak and the majority of whose wins have come by submission. However, Branch is confident that he knows what Taylor has to bring, and that he has the answer:

“I’m prepared for Taylor with anything that he can possibly bring to the fight Saturday, plus his normal fight game plan,” stated Branch. “ Taylor has been around and fought a lot, but on Saturday I only see myself knocking him unconscious or submitting him and me wearing the middleweight championship WSOF belt on my waist.”

Title talk was the main topic of discussion for all six fighters who will be fighting for coveted World Series of Fighting championship belts on Saturday night LIVE on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT local time).

"World Series of Fighting 10: Branch vs. Taylor" includes a main event featuring David Branch (13-3) vs. Jesse "JT Money" Taylor (27-9) for World Series of Fighting's inaugural middleweight title, as well as dual co-main events with WSOF featherweight champion Georgi "Insane" Karakhanyan (23-3-1) vs. Rick "The Gladiator" Glenn (14-2) and the world's best female strawweight and current WSOF champion Jessica "Jag" Aguilar (17-4), who will defend her belt against Japanese contender Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino (13-7).

In addition, the main card will include intense matchups of lightweights Tyson Griffin (16-7) vs. Luiz "Buscape" Firmino (17-6) and featherweights Nick Lobosco (7-0) vs. Lance Palmer (7-1).

Branch, from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Taylor, from San Diego, were asked about the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. “I guess it is Westside vs. Eastside,” Taylor said. “Go San Diego!”

Added Branch, a former iron worker in Manhattan: “That’s funny. I thought that whole Tupac-Big E. thing has been over for a long time. Me and Jesse are just going to get it on on Saturday, that’s all we know. I am from New York, but my son’s from California, so I’m a little bit from all over the place. So no East Coast-West Coast thing here. Just me and him ready to get it on.”

WSOF President Ray Sefo was asked about the challenges of staging two WSOF events within two weeks of each other. “Like anything in life, without challenges, there is no moving forward,” Sefo said. “You need challenges in your life; in everything you do. The challenge is there, but it’s very doable. We’re very thankful to NBC Sports, our partners from the get-go, for making history and for putting us on major network television as a startup league.”

Here’s what the other fighters had to say:

DAVID BRANCH:

“Jesse’s been around for a long time. He’s a good fighter. He’s tough and he comes to fight and there’s no surprise what he brings. And that’s what I want. I want to fight the toughest guys and prove that I’m the champion. Jesse’s been able to make his way to the finals of the tournament just like I have, and now it’s time to battle for the belt. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

GEORGI KARAKHANYAN

“A matchup with Rick Glenn is a good matchup. I’m really good at adjusting in a fight and I think I’ll do that on Saturday night and put on a good show for the Las Vegas fans. I’m not in this sport to be famous. I don’t care about being respected and all that stuff. I’m just here to fight, and to make a lot of money.”

RICK GLENN:

“It’s a little frustrating to have to wait this long for this fight. I had some family issues that I had to take care of. But I’m always training so I just feel like I’ve had more time to get better.”

JESSICA AGUILAR:

“I’m ready to defend my title and I’m happy that Emi was able to come to the States for this fight. I love to fight Japanese (fighters). They always come to fight.”

EMI FUJINO:

“I’ve been training as usual. It doesn’t change if I’m fighting in Japan or in the States. I’ve never been submitted or knocked out. So I just have to be careful and have perfect defense.”

The six-bout preliminary card includes heavyweights Dave Huckaba (21-5) vs. Derrick Mehmen (17-5), bantamweights Adam Acquaviva (1-0) vs. Timur Valiev (6-1), middleweights Krasimir Mladenov (10-0) vs. Angel DeAnda (11-3), women's bantamweights Ashlee Evans-Smith (2-0) vs. Marciea Allen (3-1), lightweights Jimmy Spicuzza (3-0) vs. Justin Jaynes (2-1), and debuting lightweights Tanner Cowan (0-0) vs. A.J. Williams (0-0).

Fight junkie.com

Fight week is here, and featherweight champion Georgi Karakhanyan (23-3-1) defends his title for the first time agains Rick Glenn (14-2) in the co-main event of "World Series of Fighting 10: Branch vs. Taylor." The event takes place at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, June 21 and will be televised live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT local time).

The championship tripleheader topped by a main event of David Branch (13-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (27-9) for World Series of Fighting's inaugural middleweight title, as well as the world's no. 1 ranked women's strawweight and current World Series of Fighting champion Jessica "Jag" Aguilar (17-4), who will defend her belt against Japanese contender Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino (13-7).

Additionally, the main card will include intense matchups of lightweights Tyson Griffin (16-7) vs. Luiz "Buscape" Firmino (17-6) and featherweights Nick Lobosco (7-0) vs. Lance Palmer (7-1).

In the headlining bout of the WSOF.com-streamed preliminary fights, heavyweight sluggers Dave Huckaba and Derrick Mehmen will go toe-to-toe in an fight that is sure to produce fireworks.

Georgi Karakhanyan

What are your thoughts and impressions of your next opponent, Rick Glenn?

“He deserves the title shot. He's 2-0 in the World Series of Fighting. He's long and lanky with a style like Erik Koch and Anthony Pettis. He has a great coach – Duke Roufus, whom I respect. My last two World Series of Fighting opponents, Waylon Lowe and Lance Palmer, were very tough and so is Rick Glenn. I don't underestimate him but I'm coming into this fight with lots of confidence.”

Are you making any special preparations for Rick Glenn?

”I'm just sparring with a lot of tall southpaws. This will be my fourth southpaw opponent and I think I'm a very bad match-up for southpaws because of my roundhouse kicks. I'm unbeaten versus southpaws (3-0).

“I'm going to stay on my game and come up with new things. You know, I don't want to be a boring fighter; I want to put on an exciting show for the fans. I've put an extreme amount of time in this sport and I haven't fought the way that I expect myself to fight. I keep going to the gym every day to become the fighter I've always visualized. I haven't fought the way I want to fight.”

Where would you rank yourself among the world's best featherweights?

“For sure Top 10, even Top 5. I've faced tougher opponents during my first two fights in World Series of Fighting than some guys in other organizations. I'm willing to take chances and I'm willing to fight all of the top guys to climb up the ladder.”

Derrick Mehmen quotes & tweets:

“I've said it before, you can't fix stupid,” Mehmen said in one of his tweets. “@Badmanhuckaba the 21st the world will see (how) delusional your really are.”

“After I whoop @BadmanHuckaba a**, who's next? Might as well set that s*** up @MMAWorldSeries”

“He's got some power in his hands and he's a brawler,” said Mehmen, who has never been knocked out. “He doesn't have a whole lot of technique or anything … but I'm impressed that he's a tough guy. … He's got a punchers chance. I've got the power, technique and I'm more well-rounded. I can take it to the ground if I want, but I don't have to take it to the ground. He's not taking me down. If I do take him down I'm going to dominate him. He's got nothing for me on the ground, for sure. The only chance he has to win this fight is one lucky punch.”

Dave Huckaba quotes:

“He's got a big mouth really,” Huckaba said. “He's badmouthed my family and me. He's disrespectful to the sport. MMA is a sport of respect, man. It's a sport of two men doing battle, it's not about trash talking. He's just a young kid that doesn't know any better.

“He's not even that good of a fighter, man. He's got an overhand right and grappling and that's about it.… I'm going to knock him out.”

Huckaba started training at 31 (no BJJ, wrestling, martial arts training prior)

“I mostly train in my garage and I still beat up top-level fighters. I still beat up people from the world's biggest MMA gyms. There's no other way to explain my success other than 'heart' and putting in the work. I'm just a gifted athlete.”

Fight junkie.com

MAIN CARD (NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m. ET)

David Branch (184) vs. Jesse Taylor (182.8) – for inaugural middleweight title
Champ Georgi Karakhanyan (145) vs. Rick Glenn (144.4) – for featherweight title
Champ Jessica Aguilar (114.8) vs. Emi Fujino (115) – for women’s strawweight title
Luiz Firmino (155.2) vs. Tyson Griffin (155)
Nick LoBosco (145.8) vs. Lance Palmer (145)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Dave Huckaba (259.8) vs. Derrick Mehmen (242)
Adam Acquaviva (135.4) vs. Timur Valiev (136)
Angel DeAnda (184.6) vs. Krasimir Mladenov (185.6)
Marciea Allen (137.8)* vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith (135.8)
Justin Jaynes (156) vs. Jimmy Spicuzza (155.4)
Tanner Cowan (155.2) vs. A.J. Williams (155)

7pm et prelims wsof.com mmajunkie.com sherdog.com


10pm et nbc sports network, tsn2 canada

valiev usa debut

good hw fight!!! cd keep an eye on them, both coming off wins, huckaba's last loss was to top ranked damien grabowski in bellator

palmer vs lobosco and buscape vs griffin....both part of the main portion

rld Series of Fighting returns to television with a card featuring three title bouts, one at middleweight, one at featherweight and one at women's strawweight. It features returning champion Georgi Karakhanyan in the latter and a vacant title up for grabs in the former. Will David Branch of for TUF-contestant Jesse Taylor claim the middleweight title? Is Karakhayan set to retain his title or is the Duke Roufus-protege in Rick Glenn going to shock the world? I answer these questions and more with my predictions for Saturday's fights.

What: WSOF 10: Branch vs. Taylor

Where: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

When: Saturday, the six-fight preliminary card streams live on MMA Fighting at 7 p.m. ET and the five-fight main card goes live on NBC Sports Network at 10 p.m. ET.

David Branch vs. Jesse Taylor

I'm not too confident this one is going to be a barn burner, but I'm going to side with Taylor. He can be flaky at times, which makes any real sort of confidence in him a difficult position. I'm picking him to win, though, because his game isn't too difficult to discern. He's going to go for the takedown over and over and once there, he's going to ride top position. Branch's entire job is to stop the first part so the second doesn't take place. I assume he'll have some success with that, but not enough. Eventually Taylor is going to get just enough points to get it done. I don't see Branch as a guy who can stop the takedown and then threaten Taylor on the feet. As such, it's going to be a lot of defensive work.

Pick: Taylor

Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Rick Glenn

I believe that Karakhanyan is going to cruise. He's very good everywhere and hugely experienced against top-flight talent. He's fought in championship rounds, too. Glenn seems like a promising midwest prospect, but I'm not sure what I can point to as clear evidence he's got the Armenian's number. I will say he has great use of his reach on the ground, meaning he's able to avoid posture control while throwing heavy shots. He does that all while maintaining dominant position, which is a feat of talent as much as balance. Karakhanyan will have to be careful to not get stuck underneath the Roufusport talent.

Still, Duke Roufus told me just this week he believes in Glenn and expects him to score a shocking upset. It's not unusual for trainers to support their pupils, of course, but I'm noting it here in case his prediction comes true.

Pick: Karakhanyan

Jessica Aguilar vs. Emi Fujino

I can't imagine this one will even be close. Aguilar is better everywhere, including being a better, more physical athlete. There's been times where Aguilar has fought down to competition, as is the case with her last bout in Bellator opposite Patricia Vidonic. Still, she won that bout and I simply cannot see a reason why that won't be the case here.

Pick: Aguilar

Luiz Firmino vs. Tyson Griffin

This is the toughest call on the main card. Here we find two very capable fighters with all the skills in the world, but somehow lack the ability to apply them consistently. Neither is necessarily the best striker on earth, with most of their talents involving various versions of scrambling or positional control. I suspect this one is going to go down to the wire, but I like the Brazilian, if just barely. Griffin should be the better scrambler, but doesn't seem to have the same hustle he once did. Against Efrain Escudero, he found himself fighting against Escudero's offense on many occasions simply because he did nothing to prevent it in the first place. Firmino is a very different fighter with plenty of his own limitations, but I get the hunch he might be trying to launch offense that Griffin is just going to be willing to stop without responding in kind.

Pick: Firmino

Nick LoBosco vs. Lance Palmer

Palmer has had his issues with fighters who can neutralize him as a wrestling threat. When they do, he's a much more manageable task. When they can't, he's a nightmare. LoBosco is an intriguing talent on the rise, but this might be too much for him, too soon.

Pick: Palmer

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/21/5830276/world-series-of-fighting-10-predictions

aj williams > tanner cowan

1st rd face kick ko!

1-0 pro debut

spicuzza > jaynes

udec 4-0 record

tko rd 3....

3-0 record




ashlee evens> allen

I'm on the Ashlee Evans-Smith war wagon. I wish she was on a main card already so I can bet her and make some money already. WMMA has been good to me.

mladenov > deanda udec

11-0 record for the bulgarian, good prospect

timur valiev > tko 3rd acquaviva


valiev the most impressive 135 prospect ive seen in a while!!!

future fights vs marlon moraes, sheymon moraes wars

derrick mehmen > huckaba

30-25 30-26 and 30-27 just a complete domination

improves to 18-5 overall 3-0 as a hw

lance palmer > nick lobosco

1st rd rnc

improves to 8-1

impressive win

Lance is obviously a great prospect. Got a cool name as well.