By his own admission, David Branch is a late bloomer.
While that term is most often directly tied to a fighter’s success in mixed martial arts—something Branch has found in solid clips the past few years—the New York native used those words to describe the versatile fighting style he’s crafted during the most recent chapter of his career.
Branch has expanded his arsenal to a point where the 33-year-old middleweight is not only able to handle everything that comes his way inside the cage, but he’s confident of the danger he brings from start to finish once the action goes live.
Proof of this progress came in the form of Branch becoming World Series of Fighting’s inaugural middleweight champion.
He earned the promotion’s 185-pound strap by submitting veteran Jesse Taylor in the first round of their title tilt at WSOF 10 back in June 2014—his fourth consecutive victory since signing with the upstart organization back in 2012. And while earning the first major title of his seven-year career was a defining moment for Branch, the Brooklyn-based fighter isn’t willing to rest on that accomplishment.
Although winning the WSOF middleweight title was one of his goals, Branch knows the true measure of a champion comes in his ability to defend his crown. The Renzo Gracie-trained fighter’s first opportunity to do so will come against former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami in the main event of WSOF 15 on Nov. 15 in Tampa, Florida, in what is undoubtedly the highest-profile fight of the champion’s career.
“It feels really good to be in this position,” Branch told Bleacher Report. “Winning the title and putting together a winning streak over a tough competition has put me in a good spot. It’s an honor to be the middleweight champion for WSOF. I still have a lot more great things to come. Ray Sefo (WSOF CEO) told me winning the title is one thing, but retaining the title is something completely different because it’s much harder. But I’m up for the challenge and I’m going to prove that on Nov. 15.
“[WSOF] gives me dates to perform in front of the world and I have the opportunity to do great things for my career. I just need to show up and execute like I have been doing and will do again on Nov. 15. It’s an awesome feeling.”
Although a rough patch cost Okami his place on the UFC roster, “Thunder” has won four of his last five showings inside the cage, including the Japanese veteran making a successful promotional debut for WSOF back in March.
Yet, while Okami is eager to reach champion status in short fashion in his new promotion, Branch has much different plans. He’s not taking anything away from the accomplishments and impressive resume Okami has amassed throughout his career, but Branch has a different perspective on the matter.
“It’s an honor to fight him and it’s going to be even more of an honor to beat him,” Branch said. “I think that Yushin is a great fighter, but he’s coming in there and trying to take something away from me. That’s like taking food out of my children’s mouth and and trying to take away all the things that I’ve worked very hard for. And that’s not going to happen. I’m not going to let anyone take anything away from me.
“I believe that Yushin had his time,” he added. “This is my time right now. I’m not going to let Yushin take my thunder. I’m going to take his thunder on Nov. 15.”
In addition to Branch and Okami scrapping it out for the WSOF middleweight title, the main event tilt will also bring an interesting stylistic clash. Okami has found consistent success throughout his career working behind a wrestling-heavy attack where he’s used his size and power to overwhelm his competition inside the cage.
While he’s never been known to be a versatile fighter, Okami‘s straightforward approach has proven difficult to best, and only a few have done so throughout his 38 fights as a professional.
Nevertheless, Branch believes he will have the tools necessary to turn back the Japanese powerhouse. Where he originally began his career relying on his jiu-jitsu to find victory, Branch has worked diligently to expand his game into a well-rounded skill set where he can adapt, adjust and attack in the heat of battle inside the cage.
Where that particular ability wasn’t something that came right away for Branch, it is now a powerful weapon in his arsenal, and one he is confident will help him make his first successful title defense at WSOF 15.
“I think I’m a late bloomer in the sense that being able to constantly adjust to what is happening in the fight took me awhile to be able to do, but it’s something I can definitely do now,” Branch said. “I sometimes see things in slow motion when they are happening and can slow down and put it all together.
“I’ve said this before in previous interviews, but I have no weakness inside the cage. There is no area I can be put in where I’m going to be weak so there’s nothing he can do to exploit me. I’m strong in all areas and I’m going to show that again against Okami.
“I think my overall skill set, and my overall concentration in the heat of the moment is going to overwhelm him. That’s what I honestly feel, but I can’t wait to show it instead of talking about it.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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