By Dwight Wakabayashi
The World Series of Fighting is back for its third show in seven months and this event is highlighted by a couple of hungry UFC castaways in Jon Fitch vs. Josh Burkman.
The WSOF has not officially announced title fights, but this one could easily fit the bill with the two best welterweights on the roster. This fight is also a rematch as Fitch submitted Burkman in the second round at UFC Fight Night 4 in 2006.
Canadian Tyson Steele gets a chance to extend his win streak to five and announce himself as a top contender at 170 pounds as he will fight Steve Carl. The rest of the card is riddled with elite level fights such as Jacob Volkmann vs. Lyle Beerbohm and John Gunderson vs. Justin Gaethje.
Here is a complete breakdown of the card including predictions for every fight:
Jon Fitch (24-5-1, 1 NC) vs. Josh Burkman (25-9)
This one could be billed as a fight for the welterweight title, as these two are the two best in the division. Fitch is a mad, mad man and hungry to dominate all and prove that he still belongs among the very best welterweights inside or outside the UFC.
He grinds on you and doesn’t stop until the final bell goes off and there is no way that Burkman’s faced a fighter like him recently. Burkman is a big and powerful man, but his gas tank is the question mark that has always left him short against the truly elite.
Burkman may have a puncher’s chance as well but his striking has been sloppy at best and Fitch should be better there as well. Fitch gets on top early and submits Burkman again.
Fitch via submission, Round 2
Tyson Steele (10-1) vs. Steve Carl (19-3)
Rising prospect Tyson Steele of Saskatoon is in the biggest fight of his career to date in this one against tough veteran Steve Carl.
Steele has won four fights in a row and has only lost to the ultra-tough Curtis Demarce in his young career. Steele has a very solid game everywhere in the cage, but has been able to finish more when the fight hits the ground. A ground war plays to Carl’s strengths as well and Steele may want to duplicate his last fight and go for the TKO.
A win will put Steele right in line for a shot at the loser of the fight between Fitch and Burkman and a future title shot. He must be aware of Carl’s submission savvy at all times.
Steele via decision
Brian Cobb (20-7) vs. Justin Gaethje (8-0)
It’s the resurging veteran Brian Cobb against the undefeated rising lion in Justin Gaethje in this one and it could turn out to be one of the best fights on the card. Cobb is a very down and dirty type of fighter who is relentless once he gets a hold of you, and he will need his veteran knowhow to try and search out a win.
Gaethje is the real deal and vicious in his approach and a win over Gesias Calvacante stamped his place in the promotion in March. The longer this one goes the better it is for Cobb.
Gaethje via TKO, Round 2
Jacob Volkmann (15-4) vs. Lyle Beerbohm (21-2)
This is a nice lightweight battle between two guys who have flown under the radar and been largely underrated in their careers. Volkmann just recently got released from the UFC, where he went 6-4 (he was 6-2 in the lightweight division).
Volkmann is a rubbery submission artist who is coming off a submission loss to Bobby Green in February. Beerbohm is also a veteran grappling star that has faced some of the best in the business for years, and only has two losses to Shinya Aoki and Pat Healy in his professional career.
Beerbohm is the streaking fighter with six wins in a row and I will take the streaking fighter every time.
Beerbohm via decision
John Gunderson (34-14-2) vs. Dan Lauzon (16-4)
Two more guys who have fought in the UFC will face each other at this event and create a fight that the fans can recognize.
Both guys are on the down side of their careers and it is no secret what each can bring to the centre of the cage. Lauzon is on a four-fight win streak since his UFC release and Gunderson is coming off a loss to David Castillo almost a year ago.
Lauzon via submission, Round 2
Jeff Smith (10-1) vs. Jerrod Sanders (12-1)
Two young, up-and-coming featherweights will collide in what should be a very fast-paced and exciting exchange of MMA. I think these two are going to go at it everywhere in the cage and the fighter who is in the better shape will be the one who is standing in the end. Sanders has been finishing more lately and may be too much for Smith to handle.
Sanders via TKO, Round 2
Kendrick Miree (5-0) vs. Krasimir Mladenov (9-0)
Two relatively unknown fighters take to the cage looking to boost their profiles as Miree and Mladenov both put their undefeated records on the line. Miree is a grappling wizard with all of his fights ending with a finish and Mladenov has been stopping his opponents as well. It has been a year since Miree has been in the cage and that could be the difference in this fight.
Mladenov via decision
Carson Beebe (13-2) vs. Joe Murphy (6-0)
Young prospect Carson Beebe is looking for a bounce back after his loss against Rolando Velasco in November. Beebe was on a seven-win tear before that. Joe Murphy gets a large step up in this fight and could very well be in over his head. Both these men are very good grapplers, but Beebe should be the more refined on his feet and that will be the poison in the end.
Beebe via KO, Round 2
Josh Montalvo (0-0) vs. Brenson Hanson (4-1)
Not much is known about these two fighters and Montalvo is making his professional fighting debut. Hanson has fought on this stage before and should have a large advantage no matter how much skill Montalvo has in his arsenal.
Hanson via decision
