World Series Of Fighting 34 Preview & Predictions
Capping off the year for MMA fans will be a loaded WSOF 34, which will be featuring a grand total of four title fights on the card. The title fights on this loaded card will be taking place in the middleweight, welterweight, lightweight and bantamweight divisions. Also, Paul Bradley will be taking on Yushin Okami in a battle of UFC veterans who are looking for a big win.
Main Card
Main Event
WSOF Lightweight Title Fight
Justin Gaethje (16-0-0) (Champion) vs. Luiz Firmino (19-7-0)
Gaethje will be making the sixth defense of his championship, last defending it against Brian Foster at the WSOF 29. Firmino will be entering the fight as a late replacement, as he is replacing the injured Joao Zeferino in this fight. Gaethje will be headlining his seventh straight WSOF card, it has been over three years since the last time he wasn’t in a main event fight. Firmino is also a former Championship Fighting Alliance Lightweight Champion, he defeated fellow WSOF veteran Luis Palomino to win the belt in 2013.
Prediction: Gaethje just comes forward and swings while hoping everything connects, he swarms Firmino with strikes on route to a first round finish.
Co-Main Event
WSOF Welterweight Title Fight
Jon Fitch (28-7-1) (Champion) vs. Jake Shields (31-8-1)
Fitch will be making the first defense of his championship, a championship he won by defeating Joao Zeferino at the WSOF 30. Shields has previously challenged for the WSOF Welterweight Title, losing to then champion Rousimar Palhares at the WSOF 22. Fitch will enter the fight riding a two fight winning streak, which is tied for the longest winning streak he has had in the WSOF. Shields is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, he relinquished the gold when he signed with the UFC in 2010.
Prediction: This fight is going to be primarily fought on the ground and both fighters are strong wrestlers, but Shields has the better submission game and he threatens Fitch enough to earn a decision.
WSOF Middleweight Division Fight
Yushin Okami (31-11-0) vs. Paul Bradley (21-6-0)
Okami has only won just one of his last four fights, defeating Shingo Suzuki, while suffering defeats to David Branch, Jon Fitch and Ryuta Sakurai. Bradley will be making his WSOF debut in this fight, but he is a former Ring Of Combat Middleweight Champion. Okami has previously challenged for the WSOF Middleweight Championship, losing to current champion David Branch at the WSOF 11. Bradley is coming off of a five fight run in Bellator MMA, where he earned notable wins over Josh Neer and Chris Honeycutt.
Prediction: Okami has a good striking game, but the years are starting to catch up to him in a big way, Bradley uses his striking to set up the takedowns on route to a decision win.
WSOF Bantamweight Title Fight
Marlon Moraes (17-4-1) (Champion) vs. Josenaldo Silva (25-4-0)
Moraes will be making the fifth defense of his championship, his last defense came against Josh Hill at the WSOF 32. Silva will be making his WSOF debut in this fight and he will be doing so while riding a seventeen fight winning streak. Moraes will be competing for the third time this year, which is the most active he has been since signing with the WSOF in 2012. Silva will also be making his North American MMA debut in this fight, as the majority of his professional MMA fights have come in the country of Brazil.
Prediction: Silva has a really underrated striking game that can give Moraes a lot of issues, but Moraes figures him out by the second round and he uses his striking to get a decision win.
Preliminary Card Quick Picks
David Branch over Louis Taylor to retain the WSOF Middleweight Title
Jared Rosholt over Caio Alencar
Shane Krutchen over Jeremy Mahon
Jake Heun over Smealinho Rama
Vagab Vagabov over Bruno Santos
Andre Harrison over Bruce Boyington
Tom Marcellino over Matt Denning
