WSOF 30 results and video: Fitch captures gold, Branch keeps middleweight belt

WSOF 30 was topped by two title fights: David Branch defended his middleweight belt with a decision win over Clifford Starks and Jon Fitch captured the vacant welterweight title with a decision win over Joao Zeferino. Check out a recap and highlights below.

It was decision city at WSOF 30.

WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champion David Branch successfully defended his 185-pound belt against Clifford Starks in the main event on Saturday night live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Branch vs. Starks was quite slow in the early going as both fighters appeared to be worried about committing to something and engaging. In the early rounds, the bout was close, as well, with the damage being fairly even.

Branch was able to pull away in the championship rounds, however, despite a point deduction due to an illegal knee landed in round two.

Dave Branch vs Clifford Starks Via #WSOF30 Illegal Knee by Branch pic.twitter.com/e5lQulACvr

— WSOF (@MMAWorldSeries) April 3, 2016

He was the more active fighter in the later rounds on the feet and was able to score takedowns and get into dominant position. Starks toughed it out though, and did not allow himself to get finished by Branch, who was riding a stoppage streak of four in-a-row.

Dave Branch vs Clifford Starks Via #WSOF30 Branch survives pic.twitter.com/T18UsD6W09

— WSOF (@MMAWorldSeries) April 3, 2016

In the co-feature, UFC veteran Jon Fitch captured WSOF welterweight gold with a unanimous decision victory over late replacement Joao Zeferino. Fitch was initially scheduled to square off with Jake Shields for the vacant championship but Shields was pulled from the matchup and Zeferino, who competed in the lightweight tournament last year and made it to the finals, stepped in on short notice.

It was a typical Fitch fight, to say the least. For most of the fight, Fitch was able to eliminate any offense Zeferino had to offer with his grinding style. Fitch showed off his dominant wrestling throughout the fight — it wasn’t pretty, but he got the job done and picked up his first major MMA title in his 14-year veteran career.

Also on the main card, Vinny Magalhaes got the job done against Jake Heun in a semi-entertaining three-round bout, picking up a unanimous decision victory.

Here are the full WSOF 30 results:

MAIN CARD — NBC Sports (11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT)

  • David Branch def. Clifford Starks via Unanimous Decision (49-44, 49-44, 49-44)
  • Jon Fitch def. Joao Zeferino via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
  • Vinny Magalhaes def. Jake Heun via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Abu Azaitar def. Danny Davis Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD — WSOF.com (8pm ET/5pm PT)

WSOF 30 was topped by two title fights: David Branch defended his middleweight belt with a decision win over Clifford Starks and Jon Fitch captured the vacant welterweight title with a decision win over Joao Zeferino. Check out a recap and highlights below.

It was decision city at WSOF 30.

WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champion David Branch successfully defended his 185-pound belt against Clifford Starks in the main event on Saturday night live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Branch vs. Starks was quite slow in the early going as both fighters appeared to be worried about committing to something and engaging. In the early rounds, the bout was close, as well, with the damage being fairly even.

Branch was able to pull away in the championship rounds, however, despite a point deduction due to an illegal knee landed in round two.

He was the more active fighter in the later rounds on the feet and was able to score takedowns and get into dominant position. Starks toughed it out though, and did not allow himself to get finished by Branch, who was riding a stoppage streak of four in-a-row.

In the co-feature, UFC veteran Jon Fitch captured WSOF welterweight gold with a unanimous decision victory over late replacement Joao Zeferino. Fitch was initially scheduled to square off with Jake Shields for the vacant championship but Shields was pulled from the matchup and Zeferino, who competed in the lightweight tournament last year and made it to the finals, stepped in on short notice.

It was a typical Fitch fight, to say the least. For most of the fight, Fitch was able to eliminate any offense Zeferino had to offer with his grinding style. Fitch showed off his dominant wrestling throughout the fight — it wasn’t pretty, but he got the job done and picked up his first major MMA title in his 14-year veteran career.

Also on the main card, Vinny Magalhaes got the job done against Jake Heun in a semi-entertaining three-round bout, picking up a unanimous decision victory.

Here are the full WSOF 30 results:

MAIN CARD — NBC Sports (11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT)

  • David Branch def. Clifford Starks via Unanimous Decision (49-44, 49-44, 49-44)
  • Jon Fitch def. Joao Zeferino via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
  • Vinny Magalhaes def. Jake Heun via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Abu Azaitar def. Danny Davis Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD — WSOF.com (8pm ET/5pm PT)