Fitch To Make Debut At World Series Of Fighting 3

UFC veteran Jon Fitch will make his debut for Nevada-based promotion 'World Series of Fighting' (WSOF) at their third fight night on June 14th at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Fitch joined the WSOF roster after being cut from the UFC in February of this year following a Unanimous Decision loss to Brazilian fighter Demian Maia. The loss and subsequent cut was the catalyst for much debate in the MMA world with many people calling the UFC's 'fighter retention policy' into question after Fitch was the first fighter to be cut following a single loss. What added even more fuel to the media fire was that Fitch was still a top 10 ranked welterweight with an overall UFC record of 14-3-1 following the loss.

Jon Fitch and WSOF President Ray Sefo announced the signing of a four-fight contract in March with Fitch's promotional debut to come at the WSOF3 main event on June 14th against former UFC veteran and The Ultimate Fighter season 2 contender Josh Burkman in a rematch from their UFC days where Fitch won by rear naked choke.

Burkman is coming off two straight wins (one by unanimous decision against TUF alumni Gerald Harris at WSOF1 and one by KO/TKO against Aaron Simpson at WSOF2) and is looking to continue his winning form against Fitch.

BLACKZILLA's TIP: This fight will go one of two ways. 1. Josh Burkman will knock Fitch out in the 2nd round, or 2. Jon Fitch will lay all over Burkman and wrestle his way to a boring Unanimous Decision. As much as I hope that the former eventuates, I'm inclined to lean the way of the latter option.

The WSOF3 fight card is as follows:

Preliminary Card:

- Dan Lauzon vs. John Gunderson.

- Kendrick Miree vs. Krasimir Mladenov.

- Jeff Smith vs. Jerrod Sanders.

- Carson Beebe vs. Joe Murphy.

Main Card:

- Jacob Volkmann vs. Lyle Beerbohm.

- Brian Cobb vs. Justin Gaethje.

- Tyson Steele vs. Steve Carl.

- Jon Fitch vs. Josh Burkman.

It'll be interesting to see how the promotional change will affect not just Jon Fitch but Jacob Volkmann who was also cut from the UFC earlier this year. There is really only one way to find out as we see them and fellow former UFC fighters Josh Burkman and Dan Lauzon (Brother of top 10 UFC lightweight Joe 'J-Lau' Lauzon) throw down at World Series of Fighting 3 at the Hard Rock Hotel on June 14th.

Until next time,
Peace!

Barnett Set To Make Return To Octagon

Former UFC champion and 'Strikeforce' veteran Josh 'The Warmaster' Barnett is set to make his return to the octagon at UFC164. 'The Warmaster' is back and this time he's sporting a 32-6 record. Winning 9 of his last 10 fights, the only loss came to up-and-coming UFC heavyweight and fellow 'Strikeforce' veteran Daniel Cormier (when they last fought in the now-defunct promotion). 

Cormier has only had one fight in the UFC and in his debut he beat Barnett's upcoming opponent, Former two-time UFC Champion Frank Mir via Unanimous Decision, imposing the superior grappling skill he's been known for since his before his Olympic wrestling days. 

Since Barnett's last stint in the octagon (his last fight being his victory over Randy Couture to secure the UFC Heavyweight title), he's fought in the Pride FC, Sengoku, Affliction, Dream, Impact FC and Strikeforce promotions claiming a mostly successful 14-5  record in his time outside the UFC.

Barnett looks to make a successful return to the octagon against Mir with the latter desperately looking to get back in the 'win' column after losing his last two fights to former champion Junior Dos Santos and former Strikeforce champion Daniel Cormier.

BLACKZILLA's TIP: As much as i like Frank Mir, i think Barnett takes this, either by 1st Round KO/TKO  or by Unanimous Decision and with this loss, i think Frank will seriously consider calling it a career.

On another completely unrelated topic, I should probably go to sleep, it's 3:51am and i have a 16 hour shift at work that starts in just over 3 hours.

So on that note...
Until next time,
Peace!