WSOF 15 will take place this coming Saturday night (Nov. 15, 2014) at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida, and live on NBC Sports. The main card features three title fights and a clash in the lightweight division.
David Branch will look to defend his middleweight title against former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title contender Yushin Okami in the main event. Justin Gaethje takes on Melvin Guillard in his first fight since defeating Nick Newell to win the WSOF lightweight title at WSOF 11 back in July, and Jessica Aguilar defends the women's strawweight title against Kalindra Faria.
Let's take a look at the matchups.
Middlweight title: David Branch (14-3) vs. Yushin Okami (30-8)
Branch has won four straight in WSOF and landed a slick D'arce choke to finish Jesse Taylor at WSOF 10 to win the WSOF middleweight crown. He now faces a step up in competition in Okami, who looked good in his WSOF debut, choking out the overmatched Svetlozar Savov.
Branch is a grinder like Okami and has less tread on the tires even though they are around the same age. I'd expect this one to go the distance with Branch getting the decision victory, although it wouldn't shock me if Okami won. I just expect Branch's good fortune to continue.
Branch wins by unanimous decision
Lightweight title: Justin Gaethje (12-0) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-13-2, 2 NC)
This is the one most are excited about. And it's a very good bet that this fight doesn't make it past the first round. Gaethje is aggressive and at times a bit reckless, but he remains undefeated and has finished all but one of his 12 career opponents.
Guillard -- who once trained with Gaethje at Grudge -- will more than welcome a face-punching party and these two will most likely bite down on their mouth pieces and let it rip until one of them drops. I'm betting on Guillard falling first in this one.
Gaethje wins by first-round technical knockout
Women's strawweight title: Jessica Aguliar (18-4) vs. Kalindra Faria (15-3-1)
Aguilar dominated Emi Fujino over five rounds her last time out and made quick work of Alida Gray in her WSOF debut when she won the title. Faria has fought on the regional scene and for XFCI, the international branch of XFC. And while she does have an impressive record, it is worth noting that two of her losses are to Claudia Gadhelha, and Vanessa Porto.
Both are fighters who are on Aguilar's level, which doesn't bode well for the Brazilian. I suspect Aguilar will control the action with her wrestling. I can see the American Top Team (ATT) fighter finding a submission in the third and fourth, but I'm thinking another dominant five-round performance is headed our way.
Aguilar wins by unanimous decision
155 lbs: Jorge Patino (35-12-2, 1 NC) vs. Eric Reynolds (18-7)
Patino has been in the game quite a while now. The Brazilian fought Pat Miletich at UFC 18 for the welterweight title. Now at 41 years old, father time is catching up. Patino suffered a brutal knockout to Luis Palmoino at WSOF 8 and I don't think things will be getting any better for him at WSOF 15.
The fight should be competitive at first, but Reynolds will eventually land a good one and finish up on the ground for the victory.
Reynolds wins by second round technical knockout
That's a wrap.
Be sure to check us out Friday afternoon for the live weigh ins, then kick it on back here Saturday evening for our live results and play-by-play of "Branch vs. Okami."
See you then!