Author: Riley Kontek

WSOF 15: Preview and Predictions for All Three Title Fights

This weekend, World Series of Fighting returns with its 15th show to bring you a great card Saturday night. Live on NBC Sports Network, the card boasts a deep lineup that includes three title fights.
The middleweight, lightweight and women’s strawweigh…

This weekend, World Series of Fighting returns with its 15th show to bring you a great card Saturday night. Live on NBC Sports Network, the card boasts a deep lineup that includes three title fights.

The middleweight, lightweight and women’s strawweight titles will all be on the line, as the triple title defense marks a huge night for the company. Dave Branch, Justin Gaethje and Jessica Aguilar, respectively, look to ward off their top contenders in hopes of extending their title reigns past Saturday night.

So, what should we expect from WSOF 15? Let’s break down the three title fights now and make some predictions.

 

Dave Branch vs. Yushin Okami

The main event is for the middleweight title, as Dave Branch makes his first title defense against longtime Japanese UFC vet Yushin Okami. It should be a grappling-heavy affair.

Branch won the title in his last fight, which was the finals of a four-man tournament. In the finals, he submitted Jesse Taylor, who was heavily favored over him.

Branch is a submission fighter who uses his ground game as a large part of his attack. He will need to get Okami on his back to be successful here.

However, that won’t be easy. Okami is a wrestler and grinder who thrives in the clinch and from top position. This was seen in his time with the UFC, where he was highly successful and oftentimes bullied opponents.

There will be a change of hands with the title here. Okami is on another level than Branch and will prove it with a workmanlike approach.

Okami def. Branch via unanimous decision

 

Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard

The co-main event should be a barnburner, as fellow strikers Justin Gaethje and Melvin Guillard square off in hopes of taking the lightweight title home.

Gaethje has been a wrecking machine since entering WSOF, as the champ is 5-0 with five finishes in the process. He currently owns wins over JZ Cavalcante, Brian Cobb, Dan Lauzon, Rich Patishnock and Nick Newell, all of whom went down via knockout or TKO.

Gaethje looks to defend his title again, but he has an exotic challenge in Melvin Guillard.

Guillard is a longtime UFC vet who made an impressive WSOF debut in his latest fight against JZ Cavalcante. In that fight, he put away the Brazilian with punches and elbows in what can only be described as violent.

This will be a striker vs. striker match and should be good. Gaethje has more diversity and can match power, so he should be able to eventually wear on the questionable gas tank of Guillard.

Gaethje def. Guillard via TKO

 

Jessica Aguilar vs. Kalindra Faria

The top strawweight in the world and WSOF champ Jessica Aguilar looks to continue her dominant reign at the top, but she has a big challenge on her hands in the form of feared Brazilian Kalindra Faria.

Aguilar has been unblemished since losing to Zoila Gurgel back in 2010, proving to be one of the best in the world. She is a grappling-heavy fighter who dominates opponents, as seen in her WSOF title fights against Alida Gray and Emi Fujino.

She takes on Faria, a fighter who will be fighting for the first time outside her native land of Brazil. In her home country, she has become one of the finest female combatants, owning a well-rounded game and an 11-fight win streak since 2011.

On the feet, Faria stands the best chance, though her ground game is also solid. However, Aguilar’s wrestling and top-game advantages are hard to ignore, as Aguilar wins a close one on home soil.

Aguilar def. Faria via unanimous decision

 

Full Card Predictions

  • Yushin Okami def. Dave Branch via decision
  • Justin Gaethje def. Melvin Guillard via TKO
  • Jessica Aguilar def. Kalindra Faria via decision
  • Jorge Patino def. Eric Reynolds via submission
  • Troy Gerhart def. Anderson Hutchinson via decision
  • Reggie Pena def. Joe Johnson via TKO
  • Ryan Keenan def. Jose Cortes via submission
  • Frederico Moncaio def. Tony Way via submission
  • Robert Reed def. Hector Ochoa via submission
  • Josh Zuckerman def. Matt Frevola via decision
  • Steven Esquivel def. Christian Reed via decision
  • Javier Torres def. Maurice Salmon via submission

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 56 Preliminary Card Predictions

The UFC returns from a weekend off to give you a Fight Night doubleheader. Friday night, we kick things off in Australia before heading to Brazil on Saturday night.
The card in Brazil will be headlined by strikers Mauricio Rua and Ovince Saint Preux, w…

The UFC returns from a weekend off to give you a Fight Night doubleheader. Friday night, we kick things off in Australia before heading to Brazil on Saturday night.

The card in Brazil will be headlined by strikers Mauricio Rua and Ovince Saint Preux, who look to notch a big win to inch closer toward the light heavyweight title picture. Both men are Top 15 fighters who are looking to carve a place in the current traffic jam that is the 205-pound division.

My picks from Brazil last weekend were pretty strong, keeping my winning record at a high percentage. We look to keep that trend going forward during this busy weekend.

Without further ado, here are the preliminary card predictions for UFC Fight Night 56.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 148-87

Last Event: UFC 179 (4-2)

Begin Slideshow

UFC Fight Night 55 Preliminary Card Predictions

The UFC returns from a weekend off to give you a Fight Night doubleheader. On Friday night, we kick things off in Australia before heading to Brazil on Saturday night.
The card in Australia will be headlined by bitter rivals Michael Bisping and Luke Ro…

The UFC returns from a weekend off to give you a Fight Night doubleheader. On Friday night, we kick things off in Australia before heading to Brazil on Saturday night.

The card in Australia will be headlined by bitter rivals Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold, who look to notch a big win to inch closer toward a middleweight title shot. Both men are Top 10 fighters who are looking to shut each other up once and for all.

My picks from UFC 179 were strong, keeping my winning record at a pretty high percentage. We look to keep that trend going forward during this busy weekend.

Without further ado, here are the preliminary card predictions for UFC Fight Night 55.

 

2014 Riley’s Record: 148-87

Last Event: UFC 179 (4-2)

Begin Slideshow

Invicta 9 Preview and Predictions

Now that Invicta FC has its distribution deal through UFC Fight Pass, they are in the swing of things. By that, of course, I mean they are back to producing regular shows every so often.
Invicta is an all-women’s MMA organization that has produced some…

Now that Invicta FC has its distribution deal through UFC Fight Pass, they are in the swing of things. By that, of course, I mean they are back to producing regular shows every so often.

Invicta is an all-women’s MMA organization that has produced some of the top talent in the world. You look at the UFC’s bantamweight and strawweight divisions and notice that most of these ladies went through the organization.

The card, headlined by a title fight between Barb Honchak and Takayo Hashi, is full of international talent and up-and-coming prospects. It’s the perfect bridge card to Invicta 10, which will close out the year for the organization in December.

Without further ado, here are the preview and predictions for Invicta 9’s full card.

Begin Slideshow

Invicta 9’s Kelly McGill: Ready to Show the World Who the ‘Killer’ Is

Women’s MMA has hit a boom period, as it seems ladies are coming out of the woodwork to participate in MMA. This boom has been evident in more recent times, as the UFC, Bellator, WSOF and all-women’s organization Invicta FC are signing more and more at…

Women’s MMA has hit a boom period, as it seems ladies are coming out of the woodwork to participate in MMA. This boom has been evident in more recent times, as the UFC, Bellator, WSOF and all-women’s organization Invicta FC are signing more and more athletes.

Trying to make a name for herself amongst the fray is a “killer,” known simply as Kelly McGill. A California native, she has taken to one of the unofficial hotspots for MMA in an attempt at superstardom in the sport.

McGill has not always been a fighter. In fact, she doesn’t have the typical story you hear from so many fighters we talk to. One could say she has a very unique background and start in the sport.

“I got started in MMA as a fun way to prove my dad wrong,” McGill revealed in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “I was about 14 years old when I saw my dad watching a WEC event. At the time, I was the biggest girly girl possible, and I jokingly said I could do that. My dad said, “Yeah right,” and it all took off from there.”

It could have ended at that. McGill could have made the claim and then done nothing about it, neither proving her assertion to be right or wrong. However, she talked the talk and walked the walk.

“I am a very competitive person, so I took him saying that as a challenge and wanted to show him that I could do MMA. After about a year of begging my parents daily, they signed me up for my first jiu-jitsu class. After about two years of jiu-jitsu, I transferred over to kickboxing and MMA.

This was a big changeup for McGill. Previous to her encounter with her father watching the WEC event and taking up combat sports, she did what most girls her age did. She was a competitive dancer when younger and eventually became a cheerleader. Obviously, this “girly girl” was taking her athleticism to a new activity that is now where she hangs her metaphorical hat.

McGill got to work quickly, starting off at a jiu-jitsu gym before heading to Oakdale MMA in California, where she would continue to mold her all-around game. This was the foundation to her now-flourishing career, where she would take three amateur bouts, all of which she was successful in.

“My first amateur was a quick win which lasted seven seconds. My second fight I won by TKO in 55 seconds and my last amateur fight I won by decision,” McGill pointed out, as fight databases do not cover her entire amateur record. “I wanted to get at least one more amateur fight in but because there was a lack of available opponents, my coach and I made the decision to turn professional, as well as a move up in weight class. I feel like it was the right decision.”

The lack of opponents at the time may have been frustrating for McGill, who had to sit out almost a year before she returned to action, but it may have been a blessing in disguise. Making the leap to pro is not an exact science, as one may not be ready, but the year on the sideline may have actually bettered the Californian.

“I think my last fight (pro debut) was my best yet because I think having a year off really gave me time to grow and mature in the sport,” McGill admitted. “My first three bouts I remember bits and pieces, but my last fight I remember the entire thing, and I was way more focused and conscious of what I was doing. I also feel like I was more composed, I didn’t just throw wild like I did my last fights. I really thought about what to throw and when to throw.

“That performance is what got my foot into the door for Invicta FC. After that fight, Shannon Knapp tweeted me congratulations and said I was one to look out for. My last fight really got me the exposure I needed to get into Invicta FC, and I am completely grateful for that.”

And get her signed to Invicta FC her pro debut did. The sub-two-minute drubbing of Leslie Rodriguez was a dominant performance that gave the bantamweight division a new prospect to look out for. She showed she was a violent finisher that could be depended on for a bout at a high level, and an exciting one at that.

Come Saturday night in Iowa, McGill now has a girl in the position she was just in as an opponent: a debuting pro. She takes on Meagan Goodwin, who—like McGill—is undefeated as an amateur at 3-0 and has finished two of her three opponents. The difference is that McGill put her opponents away with strikes, while Goodwin used submissions.

“I don’t know too much about Maegan,” McGill stated. “I know she has three submission wins, and she claims to be a striker, so she is definitely well-rounded. It’s hard for me to describe her strengths and weaknesses because I’ve only seen two of her fights. I know she is going to be a tough girl, and that is exactly what makes a good fight, so I’m very excited to fight her.”

Of course being an up-and-coming fighter, especially in women’s MMA, fights alone aren’t exactly paying the bills for McGill. In fact, McGill stays very busy, as she is currently attending college and has a job on the side as well.

“The awesome thing about college is picking your own schedule, so my schedules have never interfered with any of my training camps thus far,” McGill pointed out. “My boss at my job is so insanely amazing and works around my schedule for school and training. If I have a fight coming up, I only work the weekends, so I am not overwhelmed with school, training and work. In fact, my boss actually went to my last fight and brought a lot of her friends with her. My boss is so amazing and supportive. I truly am blessed.”

Juggling time between class, work and the cage has obviously not hindered McGill at this point. In fact, she looks to stay perfect this weekend in Iowa, which could be an early make-or-break fight for the devastating bantamweight.

 

*Kelly would like to thank everybody at Oakdale, Sonora, Merced MMA for helping her get ready. She would also like to thank Full Force Personal Training in Modesto for helping her every fight camp. More thanks to Dragon Do Fight Gear and Modules Technology Inc. Furthermore, she would like to thank her parents and her boyfriend, Rolando Velasco, Shannon Knapp, Julie Kedzie, and Invicta FC for this opportunity. Follow Kelly on Twitter @KillerKellyMMA

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Title Picture: Whose Next, on Deck and in the Hole

The UFC title picture—when it’s not murky, it’s, well, still murky.
It seems that there is never really a clear-cut top contender these days, as multiple fighters at a time can claim top contention. Athletes are busy these days, and the more they…

The UFC title picture—when it’s not murky, it’s, well, still murky.

It seems that there is never really a clear-cut top contender these days, as multiple fighters at a time can claim top contention. Athletes are busy these days, and the more they win, the more correct they are in claiming they should get a title shot.

There are currently nine weight classes in the UFC with champions, with the strawweight division still sorting out the preliminary stages of who will be champion.

Using the baseball terminology of at the plate, on deck and in the hole, let’s take a look at each title picture and try and sort things out.

Begin Slideshow