Author: admin

World Series of Fighting (WSOF) 28: “Moraes vs. Barajas” airs live on NBC Sports Network TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 20, 2016) from Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove, California.

Two 135- and 170-pound fights, respectively, comprise the NBC Sports Network-televised main card, with Bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes looking to make another successful title defense at the expense of Joseph Barajas, a man with only one loss in his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

The next title challenger for the winner of the main event match may be crowned in the co-featured fight of the night when “Lucky” Timur Valiev will put his 10-fight win streak up against Chris Gutierrez, winner of six straight in his own right.

All of the action-packed WSOF 28 televised bouts air this evening on NBC Sports Network, starting at 9 p.m. ET! MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE results and real-time play-by-play coverage of WSOF 28: “Moraes vs. Barajas” below, including “Prelims” undercard action that starts online at 7 p.m. ET.

Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action. Feel free to leave a comment (or 28) about the bouts before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!

WSOF 28 QUICK RESULTS:

Marlon Moraes (c) vs. Joseph Barajas —
Timur Valiev vs. Chris Gutierrez —
Jamie Yager vs. Daniel McWilliams —
Andrew Ramm vs. Ozzie Alvarez —
Steve Ramirez vs. Kyle Estrada — Ramirez via KO 1:01 R1.
Heinrich Wassmer vs. Keenan Lewis — Wassmer via sub 3:02 R3.
Mike Kubeska vs. Fard Muhammad — Muhammad via MD 28-28, 29-27, 28-27.
Garrick Evans vs. Isaias Alvarado — Alvarado via TKO 3:21 R1.
Eric Steans vs. Jalin Turner — Turner via KO 0:38 R1.

WSOF 28 PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES:

Marlon Moraes vs. Joseph Barajas

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 5:

Final result:

-end-

Timur Valiev vs. Chris Gutierrez

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Final result:

-end-

Jamie Yager vs. Daniel McWilliams

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Final result:

-end-

Andrew Ramm vs. Ozzie Alvarez

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Final result:

-end-

Steve Ramirez vs. Kyle Estrada

Estrada is out first in the yellow trunks with a 2-1 record. Ramirez is in the black trunks and sports a 3-1 record. Estrada fights out of Van Nuys, California by way of Indianapolis, Indiana. Ramirez fights out of Buena Park, California by way of Orange, California. Our referee is John McCarthy.

Round 1: They tap gloves and the fists and kicks come quickly. Ramirez is the aggressor early but he gets caught with a low blow and McCarthy calls for time. McCarthy tells them both it was an accident but to be careful going forward as the action resumes. Estrada comes forward with a combo but he gets countered with a left that drops him and finished by a few more on the ground – not defending as they cracked him in the temple. He may have broken his nose falling down too as they are tending to it post-fight.

Final result: Steve Ramirez via knockout at 1:01 of the first round.

-end-

Heinrich Wassmer vs. Keenan Lewis

Solid black trunks for Lewis. Wassmer is in black trunks with logos and somehow has both a flat top and a mohawk at the same time. Mike Beltran is our referee again for this flyweight bout. Lewis is 3-3 out of Van Nuys, California. Wassmer is 2-0 out of Pasadena by way of Highland Park, California.

Round 1: Wassmer circles on the outside to open. Lewis circles his hands and unloads a few kicks then drops levels for a hard takedown at 47 seconds. Wassmer tries to cinch up a submission but Lewis moves to half guard. Beltran calls for work at 2:04. Lewis is trying to elbow him but Wassmer keeps tying up the arms and moving his head. Three or four more calls for “work to finish” and “improve your position” from the ever-talkative Beltran. He also warns the fighters repeatedly about shots to the back of the head and the fingers to the eyes. He issues several more calls to work before standing them up at 3:35. At 4:02 he calls for them to watch their hands. Watch them do what Mr. Beltran? Are they chopping vegetables for a salad? Are you worried they might lose a thumb? Lewis gets a takedown with short time, Wassmer tries to get an armbar late, but he never even came close. 10-9 Lewis.

Round 2: Wassmer stuffs a takedown and throws a knee to the body. Lewis gets a single leg at 42 seconds. “Watch the elbows you hear me?” Yes Mr. Beltran – we all hear you. “Watch the back of the head.” We heard that too. Wassmer is trying again to get a submission but Lewis sees them coming. Multiple calls to “improve your position.” He stands them up at 1:43. Bas Rutten says nobody can complain. I disagree with you sir. Lewis shoots but Wassmer spins and rolls to a triangle choke. He hits Lewis with elbows to soften him up, switches to a kimura attempt, loses it and lets Lewis on top. 80 seconds left in round two. “Improve your position” at 4:25.  He warns them he’ll stand them up even as the ten second clapper is heard. I’m happy to say he didn’t waste our time standing them up with seconds left.

Round 3: Beltran screams “ALRIGHT GENTLEMEN THIRD AND FINAL ROUND” as if we weren’t aware of it. Lewis gets another takedown and Wassmer gets a warning for grabbing the fence. Expect him to call for improved position, to work for a finish, or some combination of both. He does BOTH at the one minute mark and adds “YOU HAVE TO WORK” just to put a little extra mustard on it. “Let’s go gentlemen you gotta work to finish” at 1:56. He’ll find as many ways to tell two fighters to stay busy as there are words in the dictionary. They’re stood up at 2:20 with stern instructions to work. Lewis shoots, Wassmer sprawls, and Wassmer gets his back looking for a rear naked choke. Lewis taps at 3:02.

Final result: Henrich Wassmer via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:02 of round three.

-end-

Mike Kubeska vs. Fard Muhammad

Round 1: Muhammad is in the black trunks sporting a 2-3 record. Kubeska is in the blue and white trunks with a 0-1 record. Our referee is Mike Beltran. Kubeska lands the first leg kick and Muhammad comes flying at him with a knee in responds. Kubeska fires a couple more kicks and Muhammad closes the distance with a combo. Muhammad pushes him into the fence, then lands a few blows backing up, but Kubeska cracks him with a right and Muhammad grabs him around the waist on the mat as he tries to recover. A knee bar attempt is escaped, Muhammad kicks Kubeska in the head as he goes for a heel hook and Muhammad gets a warning for it. Muhammad tries to strike off his back as it turns into a leg lock duel on the ground. Eventually Kubeska stands back up at 3:18 and Muhammad takes him to the ground in side control. Beltran calls for time to wash out a mouthpiece and put it back in. Muhammad spins on top in full guard as blood streams from Kubeska’s forehead due to an elbow. More elbows rain down and Kubeska is getting busted up. Another time out as a fighter lost his mouthpiece, and Beltran yells at them to keep it in no matter what. Kubeska survives to round two.

Round 2: Both men immediately wing shots at each other. Muhammad goes sliding on one of the logos on the canvas but recovers and gets a takedown on Kubeska. Muhammad goes right back to smacking Kubeska around with elbows from the full guard. Beltran calls for more work as Muhammas and Kubeska scoot toward the cage. A mouthpiece is out again at 1:20 and Beltran catches it about 15 seconds later. He’s getting increasingly more stern each time. He calls for improvement at 1:47 and warns them about the mouthpiece again as he does. The ever instructive Beltran also warns Kubeska to get his toes out of the fence as he tries to push off. For no apparent reason he also warns them to watch the back of the head at 2:52. He’s giving so many instructions it’s almost impossible for a fighter in the middle of a fight to take it all in. Muhammad gets a warning not to lose his mouthpiece as they’re stood up – a warning for a deduction if it happens again. Kubeska gets it to the ground and has full mount with 45 seconds left and he goes for an armbar. Muhammad tries to powerbomb his way out of it and winds up on top throwing heavy leather as R2 ends.

Round 3: Muhammad gets a warning about his mouthpiece before the third round even begins. Once again the EXTREMLY helpful Beltran warns them to watch fingers at 40 seconds. Muhammad reverses a takedown and ends up on top but Kubeska goes for a triangle choke. He loses it and gets a warning about his toes in the fence. Muhammad and Kubeska get another timeout at 1:40 and Muhammad gets the one point deduction he was promises. He slams Kubeska to the ground after the restart. He picks him up and slams him again at 2:20. Kubeska goes for another triangle off his back but can’t cinch it up and gets pounded on. Beltran gives his ten millionth warning of the fight – this one for shots to the back of the head. He stands them up for inactivity at 3:25 with Muhammad looking plenty active to me. He gets another takedown and Beltran immediately gives a warning about the back of the head. I really wish he’d shut up. He stops the fight to cut some loose tape off a glove and gives another warning about the mouthpiece. Kenny Rice is implying he’s set a record for saying the word “mouthpiece.” Maybe it can be a drinking game if you’re over 21 and watching the WSOF stream. Mercifully the fight ends with no more warnings.

Final result: The judges score this contest 28-28 draw, 29-27 and 28-27 for the majority winner Fard Muhammad.

-end-

Garrick Evans vs. Isaias Alvarado

This one is a catchweight of 190 pounds. Alvarado is in white trunks for this fight with a record of 3-2. Evans is in the yellow trunks with a record of 2-1. Alvarado hails from Temecula, California by way of Detroit, Michigan. Evans hails from Las Vegas, Nevada. Our referee is John McCarthy.

Round 1: Evans throws the first kick and misses. Alvarado fires off several kicks and gets a takedown at 28 seconds. Alvarado tries to improve position but lets Evans back up in the process. Alvarado tries to slip to his back standing as they jockey for position against the fence. If Mike Beltran were the referee we would have had ten calls to improve position and work for the finish by now. Alvarado takes Evans down at 2:13. Evans goes for a leg and Alvarado quickly stands back up. Alvarado takes him down again at 2:46. He lands some very heavy hands on top before Evans can tie him up. This could end soon. McCarthy waves it off at 3:21.

Final result: Isaias Alvarado via technical knockout at 3:21 of the first round.

-end-

Eric Steans vs. Jalin Turner

Turner is 6-2 as an amateur but is making his pro debut tonight. He’s got white trunks with black trim. Quick turn around for John McCarthy following last night’s fights in Houston as he’s the one checking Turner over outside the cage at the prep point. Steans is in the black trunks tonight and has a pro record of 4-4. Mike Beltran is our referee for this fight so get your “MOUTHPIECE!!” scorecard handy. Turner fights out of San Bernardino by way of Fontana, California. Steans fights out of Los Angeles, California.

Round 1: Steans goes for a single leg takedown immediately and forces Turner into the fence. They reset, Turner drops him with a left hand, and he walks away before Beltran can wave it off. Beltran gets a close look at how dazed Steans is and agrees with him – it’s over. Turner brags afterward that he’s 6’3″ with a 77″ reach and nobody’s going to stand with him at 155. If he can continue to make lightweight at that size he might be right.

Final result: Jalin Turner wins by knockout 38 seconds into round one.

-end-

It took less than a year this time around for the UFC to find their next women’s bantamweight talent as Kelly Faszholz comes in on late notice for UFC Pittsburgh.

In the months between February 28th, 2015, when Holly Holm first stepped into the Octagon, and December 19th 2015, when Valentina Shevchenko made her short notice debut against Sarah Kaufman, not one women’s bantamweight fighter was signed or made her debut in the UFC. That’s practically 10 months without one new face in a division only 26 fighters deep. So, when Sarah Moras got injured just a few days out from her UFC Pittsburgh fight against Lauren Murphy on February 21st, it seemed reasonable to assume that the UFC would have to scrap the fight. After all, if women’s bantamweights were plentiful, why weren’t they getting snapped up already. And yet, here we are with a late notice replacement to fight Murphy, as the UFC announced the signing of Kelly Faszholz. So…

Who is Kelly Faszholz?

The 31-year old Faszholz is a BJJ purple belt from Dallas, Texas, now training out of the Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance, former home of UFC vet David Mitchell and home to UFC vets Nate Loughran and Collin Hart and Strikeforce vet Alvin Cacdac under former UFC middleweight title contender David Terrell. She comes to the UFC with a 3-0 record as a pro and at least two amateur fights. All her wins are via submission although she has yet to take any serious steps up in competition. Outside of MMA, she has a long history of competition as a grappler, both gi and no-gi.

What you should expect:

Faszholz is sort of the prototype of what the UFC wants when they go out and look for fighters. She’s big, standing 5′ 8″ looks to be in great shape, is tough, and is at least somewhat skilled everywhere. Unsurprisingly, because this is women’s bantamweight, she’s also utterly inexperienced as an MMA fighter. She’s a willing striker standing, who likes to square up right in front of opponents and throw hands. She actually does a decent job mixing her punching combinations, going to the body and head, but is very wooden and defensively unaware in her delivery. If opponents are willing to stand and trade, she’s there to be hit.

However, because she’s big and powerful and a willing striker, she does a decent job scaring off competition from prolonged exchanges. She does get tied up a lot inside because she tends to stand so square, and while she’s got the frame to work well in the clinch, she’s not at all dominant there and can get pushed around a bit. She’s got a decent trip takedown game inside, when she can catch an opponent off guard, but can be a bit wild with her grappling, losing positions when going for submissions. Her greatest talent seems to be in her toughness and cardio and ability to keep landing shots and going for subs as fights wear on and opponents wear down.

What this means for her debut:

Probably a loss. Faszholz is a decent prospect with a good future in MMA, but she’s taking a big step up against someone that can meet her pretty well in her best skills. Murphy is just as big and tough and well known for her dogged cardio and grinding ground game. Given Faszholz’s desire to square up and throw hands, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her get caught with a reactive takedown and put on her back. In a fight between two equally sized and similarly styled fighters, experience should shine through as the deciding factor.

To get us better acquainted, here’s Faszholz’s most recent fight against Brittney Elkin:

Saturday night is alright for fighting!

World Series of Fighting (WSOF) returns with its “Moraes vs. Barajas” card TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 20, 2016) LIVE from Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove, Calif., which will air live on NBC Sports Network.

The WSOF 28 main event this evening is another Bantamweight title defense for Marlon Moraes (15-4-1), who has yet to be defeated in in the promotion, racking up eight victories inside the Decagon. His foe, Joseph Barajas (12-1), will try to be the first to break that streak.

In addition to the live fights scheduled for NBC Sports, including “Lucky” Timur Valiev (10-1) vs. Chris Gutierrez (8-1-1), several intriguing undercard matches will air on WSOF.com and right here on MMAmania.com starting at 6:45 p.m. ET in the video player here.

Check out WSOF 28’s “Prelims” line up from WSOF.com on MMAmania.com below:

Flyweight: Steve Ramirez vs. Kyle Estrada — Ramirez via KO 1:01 R1.
Flyweight: Heinrich Wassmer vs. Keenan Lewis — Wassmer via sub 3:02 R3.
Bantamweight: Mike Kubeska vs. Fard Muhammad — Muhammad via MD 28-28, 29-27, 28-27.
Catchweight: Garrick Evans vs. Isaias Alvarado — Alvarado via TKO 3:21 R1.
Lightweight: Eric Steans vs. Jalin Turner — Turner via KO 0:38 R1.

For complete WSOF 28 results and live play-by-play for both main card and “Prelims” fights CLICK HERE.