Tag: David Branch

Luke Rockhold’s UFC Return Is Finally Set

It’s been over a full year since we last saw former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold compete when he was shockingly knocked out by current champion Michael Bisping in the first round of their late replacement bout at June 2016’s UFC 199. Rockhold was then scheduled to face old foe Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, whom he […]

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It’s been over a full year since we last saw former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold compete when he was shockingly knocked out by current champion Michael Bisping in the first round of their late replacement bout at June 2016’s UFC 199.

Rockhold was then scheduled to face old foe Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, whom he won the Strikeforce middleweight championship from, last November, but a knee injury forced him out. Since then, Rockhold has largely remained out of the limelight, healing from the knee injury and biding his time.

And when he did choose to finally speak out, it was against his employers at the UFC, against whom he said his fellow middleweights should organize a strike after the supremely skilled 185-pound fray was in a state of confusion due to Bisping chasing a bout with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and nursing his own knee injury.

Rumors of a bout with rising contender Gegard Mousasi swirled, but those ultimately fell by the wayside when “The Dreamcatcher” left the UFC and signed with Bellator MMA.

So Rockhold’s return was left in limbo; that is, until this evening (Sat., July 22, 2017) when the promotion announced that Rockhold will return against former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) middleweight and light heavyweight champion David Branch in the main event of UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh on September 16, 2017 from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Rockhold was in attendance at UFC on FOX 25 from Uniondale, New York, and made an appearance when his fight was announced:

So the former champion will finally return after a long layoff as he attempts to climb back to a shot at the belt he held briefly. However, it’s safe to wonder just how far a win over Branch, who only recently returned to the UFC and is justifiably ranked well below the No. 3-ranked Rockhold.

A bout against recent interim title challenger Yoel Romero was also rumored for Rockhold’s return, but clearly couldn’t be negotiated. Is it a good idea for Rockhold to take what many feel will be a “tuneup” fight in his return, or will Branch prove that the former champ has actually signed on for a lose-lose-proposition?

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David Branch vs Krzysztof Jotko Official For UFC 211 in Dallas, Texas

Former World Series of Fighting’s (WSOF) two-division world champion David Branch has a date for his return to the UFC, and it will be on the year’s best card to date. Branch returns to the UFC following a six-year absence and will meet Krzysztof Jotko in a middleweight bout at UFC 211 in May, UFC officials have […]

Former World Series of Fighting’s (WSOF) two-division world champion David Branch has a date for his return to the UFC, and it will be on the year’s best card to date. Branch returns to the UFC following a six-year absence and will meet Krzysztof Jotko in a middleweight bout at UFC 211 in May, UFC officials have […]

UFC 211: Former WSOF Two-Division Champ David Branch To Face Krzysztof Jotko

It appears the UFC will have another two-division champion in their midst shortly. According to a report by MMAFighting, former WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champ David Branch will return to the UFC at UFC 211 in May. Branch (20-3) last fought in the promotion back in 2011, and went 2-2 in the UFC overall. […]

It appears the UFC will have another two-division champion in their midst shortly. According to a report by MMAFighting, former WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champ David Branch will return to the UFC at UFC 211 in May. Branch (20-3) last fought in the promotion back in 2011, and went 2-2 in the UFC overall. […]

Two-Division Champ Leaves WSOF For UFC

World Series of Fighting has taken a big blow and has lost one of their top fighters to the UFC. Former WSOF light heavyweight and middleweight champion David Branch, who has fought in the UFC before, is headed back to the promotion. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting is reporting that Branch has signed a new

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World Series of Fighting has taken a big blow and has lost one of their top fighters to the UFC.

Former WSOF light heavyweight and middleweight champion David Branch, who has fought in the UFC before, is headed back to the promotion. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting is reporting that Branch has signed a new multi-fight contract with the promotion.

Branch left the UFC in 2011 after he went 2-2 in the promotion. Since then, he has won 12 of his 13 bouts with his only loss in that stretch coming from Anthony Johnson in 2012. He recently left WSOF after an undisclosed issue with the promotion before and after his fight win over Louis Taylor on December 31st.

“Here’s the thing, it was just a lot of things that went on that night, and like right now … it’s just really complicated,” he said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour. “If I’m coming into a show, okay, and I’m coming in to fight my opponent, that should be the only opponent I have to worry about fighting. I shouldn’t have to worry about politics, I shouldn’t have to worry about all these other things. I’m not going to go into details, but these are somethings the things fighters have to face. My reasons for leaving are a bit similar. I’m not going to go into detail, but that’s just one of those things that happens. This is the fight game. It gets crazy sometimes. Sometimes promoters have problems with fighters, and sometimes fighters have problems with promoters.”

Although his return fight in the UFC has yet to be finalized, he is expected to compete in the middleweight division.

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Video: Watch David Branch’s Last Bout For World Series of Fighting

David Branch is no longer with World Series of Fighting (WSOF). Despite having great success in WSOF, Branch and the promotion have split and they don’t appear to be on good terms. Branch was a two-division champion, holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously. Before signing with WSOF, Branch fought twice for Bellator […]

David Branch is no longer with World Series of Fighting (WSOF). Despite having great success in WSOF, Branch and the promotion have split and they don’t appear to be on good terms. Branch was a two-division champion, holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously. Before signing with WSOF, Branch fought twice for Bellator […]

Two-Weight WSOF Champion David Branch Says He’s a Free Agent, Claims he Was ‘Threatened’ by Promotion

All is not well between David Branch and World Series of Fighting (WSOF). The light heavyweight and middleweight WSOF champion has gone undefeated inside the WSOF cage with a record of 10-0. Despite his success under the organization, there are clearly some underlying issues. Branch took to Twitter to say he is a free agent. […]

All is not well between David Branch and World Series of Fighting (WSOF). The light heavyweight and middleweight WSOF champion has gone undefeated inside the WSOF cage with a record of 10-0. Despite his success under the organization, there are clearly some underlying issues. Branch took to Twitter to say he is a free agent. […]