David Branch continued his run as one of the most dominant fighters in WSOF when the middleweight and light heavyweight champ dominated Vinny Magalhaes over five rounds for a successful defense of his 205-pound title.
The bout was the main event of WSOF 33, which took place at Kansas City Memorial Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The main card aired on NBCSN following prelims on MMAjunkie. A planned main event between lightweight champ Justin Gaethje and Ozzy Dugulubgov was canceled after Dugulubgov fell ill.
Magalhaes (14-8), a world-class jiu-jitsu player, wanted to take the fight to the floor early but Branch (19-3) looked to maintain a safe distance and pick spots to throw heavy combinations of punches.
Branch’s speed appeared to trouble Magalhaes early because the champ repeatedly connected with combinations and quick jabs before the Brazilian could respond with any offense.
Magalhaes threw heavy, wild strikes early in Round 2, but Branch landed a heavy punch dropping him to the canvas. Branch continued the assault on the ground before backing off and making the challenger stand once again. Branch continued to land punishing hooks and overhands while Magalhaes rose to his feet slower each time the champ refused to play the ground game.
Branch’s jab was the dominant weapon through the third and fourth round. Magalhaes’ face was swelling significantly in multiple spots by the end of Round 4 while Branch looked nearly as fresh as when he walked through the cage door.
Instead of coasting in a fight he was clearly winning, Branch fought Round 5 like a man wanting to make a statement with a finish. Magalhaes scored the moral victory of making it to the final bell but took even more punishment down the stretch.
The final scorecards read 50-44 across the board for Branch.
Branch is now riding a nine-fight winning streak, all nine of those victories coming in his undefeated stint with WSOF.The multi-division champ said he doesn’t know if he can stay at light heavyweight much longer because
Following his victory, the multi-division champ said he doesn’t know if he can stay at light heavyweight much longer because he can feel the size difference more as time goes on.
Magalhaes said the bout will be his last in MMA. He said the decision was made easier by the loss. Magalhaes said he will focus on running his gym and spending time with his family.
Zeferino punch stops High’s winning streak
It took Jason High (20-6) very little time to threaten Joao Zeferino (21-8) with his trademark guillotine choke in their co-main event 160-pound catchweight fight. Zeferino survived the early threat to take over control of the fight before scoring a third-round TKO.
Zeferino found his best success in the opening round when he was able to keep the fight at distance, where his longer limbs allowed him to crack High with solid punches. High was wobbled by a cracking right hand and Zeferino used the opportunity to score a takedown.
High survived the opening round and battled for control in the Round 2, reversing a takedown to gain top position and grinding in the clinch against the cage. Zeferino’s strength took over, however, and he repeatedly scored takedowns and pinned High’s back to the mat.
In Round 3, High landed a cracking left but Zeferino fired back with a right hand. High fell to the canvas, and despite appearing to be in position to defend himself, the referee called a halt to the bout at the 0:51 mark of Round 3.
High had a two-fight winning streak snapped in defeat while Zeferino snapped his own two-fight losing skid.
Foster taps Firmino with early triangle choke
Brian Foster (27-9) and Luiz Firmino (19-7) met in a bout with potentially significant ramifications in the lightweight division.
After Foster scored successfully in early frantic exchanges on the feet, the fight hit the floor. Firmino settled in on top, fending off the submission attacks of Foster. However, as he attempted to dive in with more ground-and-pound, Foster threw his legs up and locked in a triangle choke. An armbar was quickly added to the choke and Firmino was forced to tap at the 3:14 mark of Round 1.
Following his victory, Foster called for a rematch with the man who beat him in his previous bout, WSOF lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.
Gaethje scored a first round TKO due to leg kicks in their title bout at WSOF 29. Foster earned that title shot by winning the eight-man lightweight tournament at WSOF 25.
Nurmagomedov outworks Howard for decision win
Abubakar Nurmagomedov (13-1) and John Howard (24-14) stood close to toe-to-toe from the start of their welterweight bout, trading punches and takedowns. Nurmagomedov displayed a more well-rounded game, however, and took the fight by unanimous decision.
After Nurmagomedov edged the first round with top control after a takedown, he got loose in the second with solid kicks and punches, eventually badly dropping Howard with a short elbow in the clinch. Howard survived the round, however, and even scored with his own takedown moments after rising to his feet.
Howard hung tough throughout Round 3 but had trouble keeping Nurmagomedov from putting him on his back. Howard had his best moment in the fight with a minute left in the fight when Nurmagomedov left himself open to be struck with a heavy combination as he looked up to see the remaining time on the arena’s big screen.
The official scorecards read 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27, all for Nurmagomedov, who is now riding a five-fight winning streak.
Jordan pounds out Gooch
Ashley Gooch (10-5) entered the cage to face fellow heavyweight Shawn Jordan (19-7) riding an eight-fight winning streak. He was going to have to weather some heavy leather to build on that impressive run, something he was unable to do.
Jordan’s heavy hands rocked Gooch early and he used the big man’s lack of balance to score a takedown. Jordan, who was fighting outside the UFC for the first time since September 2011, patiently waited until the opportunity presented itself to fire away with heavy punches from Gooch’s back. The referee was forced to call a halt to the bout at the 4:40 mark of Round 1.
Timur Valiev’s (11-2) takedowns and ground control were too much for Chris Gutierrez (9-2-1) in the opening bout of the main card. The bantamweight fight was a rematch of their clash at WSOF 28, which Gutierrez won by split decision.
The fight quickly went to the ground and Valiev kept it there, grinding with punches on the ground. Gutierrez’s attempts to turn the fight into a striking battle were repeatedly negated by Valiev’s forward pressure and perfectly timed takedowns.
Valiev took the fight by official scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27.
Full WSOF 33 results include:
MAIN CARD (NBCSN, 11 p.m. ET)
- Champ David Branch def. Vinny Magalhaes via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) – to retain light heavyweight title
- Joao Zeferino def. Jason High via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:51
- Brian Foster def. Luiz Firmino via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:14
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov def. John Howard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Shawn Jordan def. Ashley Gooch via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:40
- Timur Valiev def. Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 8 p.m. ET)
- Bekbulat Magomedov def. Jesse Brock via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Abu Azaitar def. Mike Arrant via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Bobby Cooper via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Bryce Mitchell def. Brandon Phillips via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:14
For more on WSOF 33, check out the MMA Events section of the site.
View full post on News | MMAjunkie
