WSOF 8 Fight Report
Postponement’s, injuries and shuffling have left the WSOF 8 fight card looking less inviting than we’d have hoped. Nevertheless there are some quality mid-tier fighters making their way into the promotion these days to help carry this card.
With a limited roster, the matchmakers did a solid job of tying this one together, so let’s look at what’s in store for us this weekend.
Anthony Johnson vs Mike Kyle: A fight that was rescheduled due to injury, Mike Kyle will once again make it into the WSOF cage, taking on multi-weight class marauder Anthony Johnson. Kyle comes into this off a loss to Andrei Arlovski, and while he did land on the fragile former champion, his fire seems truly out as far as passion in this sport is concerned. While Johnson is always going to be fighting an uphill battle due to his renal issues, he’s a hungry fighter with a remarkable skill set. It may not look great, but Johnson is willing to sweat to win this one, taking a decision due to forward movement and a handful of takedowns.
Cody Bollinger vs Tyson Nam: A fighter that never made it into the big time and failed miserably on the set of TUF, Cody Bollinger gets a chance to shine at long last. For those unfamiliar, Bollinger is similar to a Joe Stevenson in his approach, being well-rounded with his best asset laying in his complicated grappling work. However, he’s not outstanding in any area, and Nam is a true test of a striker, being an unorthodox powerhouse. I don’t like Bollinger’s chances here with such a powerful fighter in Nam, and expect a counter hook to lay out the failed TUF alum within the first round.
Jorge Patino vs Luis Palomino: My personal pick for the best bout of the night, Jorge Patino will face fellow bruiser Luis Palomino. Both fighters are true powerhouses with small yet functional arsenals, with Patino having strong style BJJ and fistic firepower, while Palomino is a bit more fluid on the feet and emphasizing pacing in his bouts. It’s an interesting match-up that should be fireworks, but I have to give Palomino a slight edge in his age and power striking to catch Patino when he slows and take a late TKO win.
Derrick Mehmen vs Scott Barrett: A battle of two veteran sluggers in the heavyweight division, Mehmen will look to duplicate his hilarious KO in his last fight at the expense of Scott Barrett. This fight could be a lot of fun, or it could ruin the night for us, as Barrett is a walking punching bag and Mehmen isn’t that active of a fighter himself. As long as Mehmen can move smartly and take shots at Barrett, it’s all good, but Barrett’s grinding clinch style could make this a real snoozer.
The WSOF 8 will take place this Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The main card will air live on NBC Sports Network at 6pm PT / 9pm ET, while the night’s preliminary card will stream online beginning at 3:30pm Pt / 6:30pm ET.
Main Card:
Justin Gaethje vs. Richard Patishnock (Inaugural lightweight title fight)
Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
Jessica Aguilar vs. Alida Gray (Inaugural women’s strawweight title fight)
Cody Bollinger vs. Tyson Nam
Luis Palomino vs. Jorge Patino
Preliminary Card:
Valdir Araujo vs. Tyler Stinson
Scott Barrett vs. Derrick Mehmen
Sidemar Honorio vs. Alexis Vila
Freddy Assuncao vs. Brenson Hansen
Jose Caceres vs. Anderson Melo
Category: MMA, World Series of Fighting
About the Author (Author Profile)
I'm a 20+ year veteran of martial arts and a fan of MMA since UFC 1, when my world was thrown on its head by the budding sport. I'm obsessive in the pursuit of martial abilities and have competed across the country in everything from Vale Tudo to archery to Scottish broadsword. Once my body broke down, I picked up a pen and went in the direction of writing. I specialize in betting advice, predictions, and I'm a walking encyclopedia of MMA trivia. I own a cafe in Exeter, NH called Hammersmith Sandwich Company and write out of my office between customers.Subscribe
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