After two UFC events last Saturday and another dose of back-to-back shows this weekend, it’s easy to see how World Series of Fighting’s 11th event could get lost in the combat sports shuffle.
While WSOF 11 doesn’t have the flashy names like B.J. Penn or Ronda Rousey, it does still pack a punch with a championship match and a number of UFC veterans throughout the card. Here are five reasons to tune into WSOF 11 this Saturday afternoon.
Lightweight gold up for grabs
In the main event, newly crowned WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje makes the first defence of his title against Nick Newell. The 25-year-old is 11-0 and holds wins over UFC veterans Drew Fickett and Dan Lauzon while also boasting nine knockout victories. His opponent has a pretty remarkable story.
Born with a congenital amputation in which his left arm stopped growing past the elbow, the 28-year-old Newell has adapted his game and also posted a perfect 11-0 record. Despite having what many would consider a disadvantage, the Fighting Arts Academy product has developed an impressive ground game, which includes eight submission victories.
With former WSOF fighters Anthony Johnson and Andrei Arlovski leaving to sign with the UFC earlier this year, it’s no secret the winner of this fight could find themselves in a similar situation. It’s rare for fans to be able to witness two top fighters square off outside the UFC, but that’s exactly what’s slated to go down Saturday.
Next in line?
The co-feature pits a pair of UFC veterans looking to inch closer to a WSOF welterweight title shot. Former UFC title challenger Jon Fitch aims for his first two-fight win streak since 2010, as he battles late replacement Dennis Hallman. Fitch (25-6-1 NC) has endured a carousel of opponents for this event. He went from fighting for the title against Rousimar Palhares, then Jake Shields, then Josh Burkman and now finally Hallman. Make no mistake about it, Fitch needs to win this fight to remain relevant in the WSOF 170-pound division.
Meanwhile, Hallman (53–14–2, 1 NC) has won three straight fights, including one over Canadian John Makdessi in the UFC, but he was eventually released after missing weight multiple times. At 38-years-old, you have to wonder how much Hallman has left in the tank, so expect both these fighters to come out with a sense of urgency.
The Young Assassin returns
Melvin Guillard makes his WSOF debut Saturday evening as he battles former teammate Gesias Cavalcante. “The Young Assassin” signed on with WSOF after being released from the UFC following a lacklustre loss to Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 37. Both Gulliard and Cavalcante were training partners back when Guillard worked with the Blackzilians in 2013. It’s no secret that Guillard will want to keep this fight standing, as 20 of his 31 career wins have ended by knockout. Cavalcante will likely want to get this one to the mat as eight of his 18 victories have come by way of submission. In addition, Gulliard’s glaring weakness throughout his career has been the ground, where he’s been submitted nine times. Despite neither fighter being on a hot streak of late, the winner of this bout could be next in line for the lightweight title.
Shot at redemption
Cody Bollinger makes his second appearance for WSOF this Saturday as he battles fellow bantamweight Pablo Alfonso. The 23-year-old Bollinger is perhaps best known for missing weight and getting kicked off Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. His WSOF debut this past January was supposed to be a validation of him being a top prospect, instead he walked away with a controversial decision over Tyson Nam. His victory was so uninspiring that WSOF snubbed Bollinger and gave Josh Rettinghouse the next bantamweight title shot against Marlon Moraes.
Alfonso (9-5) has won three straight and is coming off an impressive victory over former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres. The win marked his seventh career submission. For Bollinger it’s a chance to get a step closer to championship gold, while Alfonso has the opportunity to make a name for himself against a TUF veteran.
Ideal timing
Did I mention this event starts at 2 p.m. EST? So there is no chance of it conflicting with UFC 175, which begins later that evening. The main card starts at 4 p.m. EST and will be finished in time for you to jump right into the UFC online prelims which start around 7 p.m. EST. In other words, combat sports fans get the best of both worlds on Saturday.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC 175 prelims Saturday at 8 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360 and watch the entire live TUF 19 Finale Sunday starting at 7 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360.
Here’s a look at the entire WSOF 11 lineup:
MAIN CARD
— Justin Gaethje (11-0) vs Nick Newell (11-0)
— Jon Fitch (25-6-1, 1 NC) vs Dennis Hallman (53-12-2, 1NC)
— Melvin Guillard (31-13-2, 2 NC) vs Gesias Cavalcante (18-7-1)
— Cody Bollinger (15-2, 1 NC) vs Pablo Alfonso (9-5)
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Brian Cobb (20-8) vs Luis Palomino (22-9)
— Alexandre Pimental (13-1) vs Jerrod Sanders (14-1)
— Neiman Gracie (1-0) vs David Mundell (1-0)
— Jake Heun (5-3) vs Kendrick Miree (5-1)
