World Series of Fighting 5 Predictions

                                                  

World Series of Fighting 5 Predictions

September 9, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Waylon Lowe

Nickname:                                        Insane                   |           None

Height:                                                5'8                      |            5'7

Age:                                                     28                       |            32

MMA Record (WSOF Rec):        21-3 (0-0)               |         14-4 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                      68 in.                    |          68.5 in.

Team:                                          Millennia MMA           |  American Top Team

Weight Class:                                           Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: Karakhanyan's WSOF debut.

Preview: Karakhanyan is riding a seven fight win streak. His recent win was over Din Thomas by unanimous decision at Legacy FC 19 (April 12, 2013). Lowe is riding a four fight win streak. His recent win was over Cameron Dollar by KO at WSOF 2 (March 23, 2013).

Predictions: Lowe. Karakhanyan is a very good jiu-jitsu practitioner by Lowe is probably more well-rounded. He's got knockout power, he can strike, and is a former NCAA wrestler. Due to Lowe training with American Top Team and Karakhanyan being known for his jiu-jitsu, Lowe should be ready for Karakhanyan's ground skills. While most of Lowe's losses are by submission, the first was the first fight of his career in 2006. His second sub loss was due to tapping to strikes and that was in 2007. His recent sub loss was two and a half years ago in March 2011. It's safe to say, Lowe has improved since then and being in ATT should give him plenty of brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts to improve his submission defense.

Rolles Gracie vs. Derrick Mehmen

Nickname:                                          None         |         Caveman

Height:                                                 6'4            |             6'4

Age:                                                      35            |              28

MMA Record (WSOF Rec):          8-1 (0-0)      |         15-5 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                     Unknown      |            77 in.

Team:                                  Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu | American Top Team

Weight Class:                                   Heavyweight (265 pounds)

Notes: Gracie and Mehmen WSOF debut.

Preview: Gracie is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Yusuke Kawaguchi by submission at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2012 (December 31, 2012). Mehmen is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Louis DeWerdt by unanimous decision at Pinnacle Combat 13 (May 3, 2013).

Predictions: Gracie. Gracie is a Gracie and thus you know what to expect. That being said, Gracie should still be successful in getting this fight to the ground. Gracie is incredibly seasoned on the ground. He's won many brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments and grappling competitions. Gracie has even won a silver medal in the 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission World Championships. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments aren't the only competitions he's been successful in. He's won two gold medals in Judo as well. Mehmen is training with American Top Team but that will probably not be enough to prepare for such a decorated, life-long grappler.

Elvis Mutapic vs. Jesse Taylor

Nickname:                                          The King        |      JT Money

Height:                                                   6'0              |          6'1

Age:                                                        27               |          29

MMA Record (WSOF Rec):             13-2 (0-0)      |     26-9 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                        Unknown       |        73.5 in.

Team:                                                  Unknown        |     Team Quest

Weight Class:                                       Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Mutapic and Taylor's WSOF debut. WSOF Middleweight Tournament semifinals

Preview: Mutapic is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Sam Alvey by unanimous decision at MFC 36 (February 15, 2013). Taylor is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over John Phillips by submission at Cage Warriors 52 (May 4, 2013).

Predictions: Mutapic. Taylor is one of those guys with a glaring weakness. He's a submission magnet including two straight submission losses in a row from November 2011 to May 2012. Mutapic is also comfortable on the ground as he's won most of his fights by submission (though his last submission win was over a year ago) and won them both on top and off his back. Mutapic has also got knockout power as he's scored some quick knockouts during his five fight win streak including a 25 second win over Ultimate Fighter Brazil season 2 winner Cezar Ferreira.

Dave Branch vs. Danillo Villefort

Nickname:                                         None           |            Indio

Height:                                                 6'1             |             6'1

Age:                                                      29             |              30

MMA Record (WSOF Rec):         12-3 (2-0)      |        14-4 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                        80 in.          |           77.5 in.

Team:                                   Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu |        Blackzilians

Weight Class:                                   Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: WSOF Middleweight Tournament Semifinals

Preview: Branch is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Paulo Filho by unanimous decision at WSOF 2 (March 23, 2013). Villefort is coming off a win over Kris McCray by split decision WSOF 2 (March 23, 2013).

Predictions: Branch. Branch is a talent BJJ grappler as he's a trainee of Renzo Gracie and won several BJJ titles. Branch can be a threat standing up as he's knocked fighters out before and his arms are 80 inches. Villefort spent a year and half off between August 2011 to March 2013 and barely got by Kris McCray in his last fight. You have to wonder if he has enough to get by Branch. Also, Villefort trains with the Blackzilians and on many occasions in 2013, they're fighters have come up short. The team has great fighters but have yet to put it together and be a well oiled machine.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Mike Kyle

Nickname:                                         The Pit bull         |       MAK

Height:                                                     6'4               |         6'3

Age:                                                          34                |         33

MMA Record (WSOF Rec):            19-10, 1NC       |   20-9-1, 2NC

Arm Length:                                           77 in.             |        76 in.

Team:                                                 Jackson's MMA | American Kickboxing Academy

Weight Class:                                        Heavyweight (265 pounds)

Notes: Kyle's WSOF debut. Arlovski is replacing Anthony Johnson.

Preview: Arlovski is coming off a loss to Anthony Johnson at WSOF 2 (March 23, 2013). Kyle is coming off a win over Travis Wiuff by KO at CFA 11: Kyle vs. Wiuff 2 (May 24, 2013).

Predictions: Kyle. This fight is an absolute nightmare for Arlovski. Arlovski has been considered to have one of the worst chins in MMA history. That's not good when he's competing against a striker like Kyle. Kyle is not only a very good striker but has excellent knockout power as he showed when he knocked out Travis Wiuff in 21 seconds. Don't get me wrong, Arlovski has great knockout power of his own and Kyle has been knocked out a few times in his career. But at the end of the day, Kyle can probably take more shots than Arlovski can.