Source:MMAJUNKIE.COM
If we’re not talking about Justin Gaethje (14-0) vs. Luis Palomino (23-10) nine months from now, you can believe 2015 will have been one hell of a year for MMA.
In what seems absolutely destined to be on every “Fight of the Year” list compiled at the end of the current calendar, WSOF lightweight champ Justin Gaethje retained his belt with a third-round finish of Luis Palomino in an absolute barnburner.
The contest served as the headlining bout of Saturday’s WSOF 19 event, which took place at Phoenix’s Comerica Theatre and aired on NBCSN.
As the action got underway, Gaethje was the one to draw first blood, wobbling Palomino with a wild haymaker. Palomino pulled himself off the canvas and fired back with bombs of his own, but he struggled to land clean. Gaethje continued to press, scoring with a high kick and then a big slam to the floor.
Palomino refused to stay on the canvas, and both men teed off in the pocket. It was an incredible pace, and both men landed flush on several occasions. With both men firing shots with reckless abandon, Gaethje slammed Palomino to the floor and then fired away with knees and elbows. Palomino again worked his way to the feet, but Gethje was there to continue the brawl.
Both men traded shots on the feet until the final bell, when Gaethje ended the incredible round with a rolling front kick.
At the start of the second, Gaethje continues to press forward, though he stayed a bit more compact and direct in his attacks, using traditional combos and chopping at the legs. Meanwhile, Palomino was more than happy to retreat and fire massive counter hooks. Gaethje started to bleed a bit over the eye, but he again pressed forward into a takedown but couldn’t take advantage of the situation. When Palomino moved back to his feet, Gaethje’s right eye was bleeding badly.
With both men understandably tiring due to the incredible pace, the third became a test of wills. Gaethje remained the aggressor, and while Palomino continued to flash destructive counters, it was Gaethje who did the most damage. With low kicks adding up, Gaethje continued to attack the legs and sent Palomino to the floor when his limb failed. Gaethje refused to follow, forcing Palomino up and then blasting away with a flying knee and a low kick that again sent him toppling. A flurry of blows on the floor then sealed the result, with Gaethje retaining his WSOF lightweight belt at the 3:57 mark of the third.
Alternate Holder steps in, shocks Silva
In a light heavyweight tournament contest, Teddy Holder (9-1) stepped up on just a few hours’ notice to deliver a crushing first-round TKO of Thiago Silva (16-4).
Holder, who was originally expected to compete in a tournament reserve fight, stepped up when Matt Hamill was forced to withdraw earlier in the day due to illness.
The two didn’t waste any time engaging on the feet, with both men firing heavy punches and Silva mixing in low kicks, as well. Holder seemed to be a little quicker, but it was a Silva right that scored the first big damage. However, Holder shook off the blow and charged back, scoring his own big shot and sending Silva crashing to the floor. Seizing the opportunity, Holder pounced on his wounded foe and punches away until he earned the TKO win at the 2:00 mark of the first.
Holder will now fight for the inaugural WSOF light heavyweight belt against the winner of a WSOF 20 bout between Dave Branch and Ronny Markes.
Valiev crushes West
In bantamweight action, Timur Valiev (9-1) continued his rapid rise up the WSOF ranks with a first-round destruction of Ed West (18-10).
With both men looking ready to strike, it was Valiev who landed first, moving forward, changing levels and firing heavy hands that clipped West and sent him to the floor. West valiantly pulled back up to his feet, but Valiev simply pushed inside and wailed away with elbows until West hit the floor. Once there, a devastating right hand rocked his opponent on the canvas, and a flurry of hammerfists sealed the deal at the 1:39 mark of the opening round.
West’s face was busted up from the flurry, including a nasty cut over his left eye.
Starks moves up, taps out Heun
In the night’s first main-card contest, natural middleweight Clifford Starks (11-2), who was supposed to fight on the evening’s preliminary card, moved to the main card due to Hamill’s illness and scored an impressive submission win over Jake Heun (7-4).
Despite being the natural light heavyweight, Heun appeared the quicker man to start. However, Starks patiently waited for his opportunity to strike, moving inside and taking the fight to the floor. Heun would eventually crawl back to his feet, landing a spinning elbow as they broke apart, but Starks ended the frame by again scoring a takedown.
The second frame started with a quick pace, though both fighters need an early break after a rare double groin strike. On the restart, both men again were happy to stand and trade in the pocket. As Heun began to gain some momentum with with strikes, he was deducted a point for landing an illegal knee to the head of a grounded Starks. On the restart, Starks continued to look for the takedown, and for good reason. Once on the floor, he deftly slipped into an arm-triangle choke attempt, moved to the side and squeezed until he earned the tap at the 4:11 mark of the round.
MAIN CARD (NBCSN, 9 p.m. ET)
- Champ Justin Gaethje def. Luis Palomino via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:57 – for lightweight title
- Teddy Holder def. Thiago Silva via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:00 – light heavyweight tourney opening round
- Timur Valiev def. Ed West via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:39
- Clifford Starks def. Jake Heun via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:11 – light heavyweight tourney reserve bout
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6 p.m. ET)
- Jimmy Spicuzza def. Benny Madrid split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Joseph Gigliotti def. Brendan Tierney via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 4:45
- Andres Ponce def. Juan Archuleta via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 0:53
- Dan Huber def. Israel Aquino via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:03
- Matthew Frincu def. Eric Regen via knockout (kick) – Round 2, 0:14
- Erik Villalobos def. Joe Madrid via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
WSOF 19 results: Justin Gaethje retains belt in sure 'Fight of the Year' candidate
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