The World Series of Fighting promotion held it’s third show Friday (June 14, 2013) evening with welterweights Josh Burkman and Jon Fitch squaring off in the main event.
WSOF 3 went down at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The four bout main card aired live on the NBC Sports Network while the prelim card streamed live at Sherdog.com.
Burkman continued his comeback needing just 41-seconds to choke unconscious heavy favorite Fitch in the first round with a guillotine choke. The two engaged right from the bell with Burkman landing early sending Fitch to the mat. Burkman attempted to follow that up with more strikes but couldn’t get a clean shot and switched over to a guillotine choke.
Fitch refused to tap and was quickly choked unconscious. Burkman quickly realized that his opponent was out and released the submission and got to his feet.
Referee Steve Mazzagatti then stepped in to see that Fitch was out and called the fight. Mazzagatti received a lot of criticism for failing to jump in earlier including some comments from UFC president Dana White on Twitter.
– Glad Burkman stopped. Mazzagatti is a clueless idiot who will hurt someone and continue to ruin guys legacies. Much respect Josh
– NSAC needs to seriously do something!! When you have been a ref that long and still don’t know what u r doing its time to go away!!!!!
The co-main event ended quickly as well with Steve Carl submitting Tyson Steele with a rear-naked choke at 1:32 of the first.
The wins by both Burkman and Carl potentially set up the first WSOF title match.
Check out the full WSOF: Fitch vs. Burkman ‘Quick Results’ below:
Main Card (NBC Sports Network @ 11pm EST)
Welterweight bout: Josh Burkman def. Jon Fitch via Technical Submission (Guillotine choke) – R1 @ 0:41
Welterweight bout: Steve Carl def. Tyson Steele via Submission (Rear-naked choke) – R1 @ 1:32
Lightweight bout: Jacob Volkmann def. Lyle Beerbohm via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Lightweight bout: Justin Gaethje def. Brian Cobb via TKO (Leg kicks) – R3 @ 2:19
Preliminary Card (Online @ 9pm EST)
Featherweight bout: Jerrod Sanders def. Jeff Smith via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight bout: Dan Lauzon def. John Gunderson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight bout: Carson Beebe def. Joe Murphy via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight bout: Krasimir Mladenov def. Kendrick Miree via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight bout: Branson Hansen def. Josh Montalvo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)