Yushin Okami will make his return to the Octagon next Saturday night, replacing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and in the main event of UFC Fight Night 117 vs. Ovince Saint Preux. The promotion announced the change Saturday during UFC Fight Night 116. Rua, who was seeking revenge for a loss to Saint Preux in their first […]
Yushin Okami will make his return to the Octagon next Saturday night, replacing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and in the main event of UFC Fight Night 117 vs. Ovince Saint Preux. The promotion announced the change Saturday during UFC Fight Night 116. Rua, who was seeking revenge for a loss to Saint Preux in their first […]
The Professional Fighters League will go head-to-head with UFC 214 on July 29, as three bouts have been announced for the event. In the headline act, former World Series of Fighting featherweight champion Andre Harrison will take on Steven Rodriguez from the XFINITY Arena in Everett, Washington. Also, Yushin Okami will face off against Andre […]
The Professional Fighters League will go head-to-head with UFC 214 on July 29, as three bouts have been announced for the event. In the headline act, former World Series of Fighting featherweight champion Andre Harrison will take on Steven Rodriguez from the XFINITY Arena in Everett, Washington. Also, Yushin Okami will face off against Andre […]
With UFC 180 and Bellator 131 taking the majority of the spotlight this past Saturday night, MMA enthusiasts sort of forgot to pay attention to the stacked WSOF 15, which took place at USF Sundome in Tampa, Fla.
The main event saw David Branch successfully defend his 185-pound title against former UFC middleweight contender Yushin Okami, stopping the Japanese veteran in the fourth round with punches.
“Thunder” had the grappling advantage, yet the Renzo Gracie-trained combatant kept finding a home for his right hand. After three close rounds, Branch drilled his opponent with a solid right hand, dropping the challenger and continued to pounce on him until being awarded the stoppage victory. See the GIF after the jump.
With UFC 180 and Bellator 131 taking the majority of the spotlight this past Saturday night, MMA enthusiasts sort of forgot to pay attention to the stacked WSOF 15, which took place at USF Sundome in Tampa, Fla.
The main event saw David Branch successfully defend his 185-pound title against former UFC middleweight contender Yushin Okami, stopping the Japanese veteran in the fourth round with punches.
“Thunder” had the grappling advantage, yet the Renzo Gracie-trained combatant kept finding a home for his right hand. After three close rounds, Branch drilled his opponent with a solid right hand, dropping the challenger and continued to pounce on him until being awarded the stoppage victory (GIF via Zombie Prophet).
Melvin Guillard, the A-list fighter competing in the B-list league, ruined his chances at securing a world title after failing to make weight prior to his bout alongside Justin Gaethje, but none of that truly mattered. The reigning lightweight champion got the better of his foe during the course of three rounds, winning the contest by split decision. It was a back and forth affair (mostly won by the undefeated slugger), contested mostly on the feet, and lived up to the billing. It’s a shame it was marred by Guillard failing to make weight yet again, taking a bit of the muster away from the bout.
Also on the card, Jessica Aguilar, arguably the best women’s strawweight fighter in the world, took care of business by beating Kalindra Faria and defended her title for the second time and earned her 10th consecutive victory. Credit Faria for going for broke early and trying to make it a dogfight against “Jag,” however, after winning the first round, the hopeful challenger was not match for the American Top Team standout.
To be fair, nobody in their right mind would have picked WSOF over the top two MMA promotions on Saturday evening, seeing how all three had fairly big events on the same night. But, Ray Sefo and the gang loaded the card with familiar names and backed the event with star power, delivering a pretty good night of fights from the Sunshine State. It’s a shame nobody watched it, yet you can pretty much access anything these days and spend your Sunday afternoon catching up. It’s kind of worth the squeeze.
WSOF 15 Main Card Results
David Branch def. Yushin Okami via TKO (punches) at 3:39 of R4
Justin Gaethje def. Melvin Guillard via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Jessica Aguilar def. Kalindra Faria via unanimous decision (49-45 x3)
Jorge Patino def. Eric Reynolds via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Under Card Results
Maurice Salmon def. Javier Torres via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of R1
Andrew Hutchinson def. Troy Gerhart via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ryan Keenan def. Jose Andres Cortes via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:16 of R3
Tony Way def. Fred Moncaio via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:03 of R3
Hector Ochoa def.. Robert Reed via split decision (28-29, 29-28×2)
Reggie Pena def. Joe Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:15 of R1
Matt Frevola def. Josh Zuckerman via submission (armbar) at 2:50 of R1
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…
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 YushinOkami 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.
13. Basically refusing to sign Cris Cyborg forever.
14. Lying about all the fighter’s credentials and accomplishments for UFC 1.
15. Lying about all the fighter’s credentials and accomplishments in the modern day.
16. Instant rematches when the wrong guy wins.
17. Interviewing Hulk Hogan and the Undertaker whenever they show up at events.
18. The fact that you can buy Arianny t-shirts on the UFC website.
19. Every single time when they brought a potential opponent into the cage to square off with someone who just won their fight (this is our favorite example).
20. Bringing back Tank Abbott in the early 2000′s.
By his own admission, David Branch is a late bloomer.
