WSOF 9 Predictions

WSOF 9 Predictions

March 27, 2014

By Ryan Porzl

Mike Corey vs. Shane Kruchten

Nickname:                                           None        |          None

Height:                                                   5'9          |           6'1

Age:                                                        30          |       Unknown

MMA Record (WSOF):                  12-3-1 (0-0) |      11-2 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                         67.5 in.     |       Unknown

Team:                                               Team Curran  |      The Arena

Weight Class:                                     Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: Corey and Kruchten's WSOF debuts

Preview: Corey is coming off a loss to Daniel Straus by unanimous decision at Bellator 65 (April 13, 2012). Kurchten is riding an eleven fight win streak. His recent win was over Joey Apodaca by submission at Xplode MMA (May 18, 2013).

Prediction: Corey. I'll admit, this is more of a guess as I know almost nothing about either of them and it's a fight between a guy who hasn't fought in nearly a year vs. a guy who hasn't fought in nearly two years. Corey seems to have the tools to have success as he's a former wrestler who won grappling competitions. He also trains at Team Curran which allows him to train and spar with the Curran cousins who are very talented with Pat being an elite fighter.

Yushin Okami vs. Svetlozar Savov

Nickname:                                        Thunder         |         None

Height:                                                  6'2             |          6'1

Age:                                                       32             |           25

MMA Record (WSOF):                  29-8 (0-0)      |     12-3 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                        72 in.           |     Unknown

Team:                              Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo |   CBS Respect

Weight Class:                                    Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Okami and Savov's WSOF debuts

Preview: Okami is coming off a loss to Ronaldo Souza by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader (September 4, 2013). Savov is coming off a win over Bojan Velickovic by majority decision at WFC 17 (October 21, 2012).

Prediction: Okami. Despite being cut from the UFC, Okami is still an elite fighter. Savov has talent but you still have to question the level of competition he's had. Savov is Bulgarian so it's possible that's he doesn't have the wrestling skills to neutralize Okami's and it's doubtful if he has the trainers or sparring partners to prepare for a fighter with the caliber of Okami. Okami is a big middleweight with great wrestling and is capable of grinding out decisions. His striking is also underrated and despite the fact he's a grinder, he has shown he can pick apart fighters standing up and can knock opponents out occasionally. Okami is also a smart fighter who has proven he will change strategies if his first strategy isn't working.

Josh Burkman vs. Tyler Stinson

Nickname:                               The People's Warrior |   The Evolution

Height:                                                 5'10               |         6'3

Age:                                                       33                |          28

MMA Record (WSOF):                 26-10 (3-1)        |     26-9 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                        72 in.              |       75.5 in.

Team:                             The Pit Elevated Fight Team | Grudge Training Center

Weight Class:                                      Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes:

Preview: Burkman is coming off a loss to Steve Carl by submission at WSOF 6 (October 26, 2013). Stinson is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Valdir Araujo at WSOF 8 (January 18, 2014).

Prediction: Burkman. Burkman is coming off coming up short in a title fight but he's still one of the top fighters in WSOF. Burkman is a pretty well-rounded fighter as he can strike, he has power, and is very good with submissions. Stinson is mostly a knockout fighter but Burkman has never been knocked out in his career. Both men's weaknesses have been submissions and Burkman is the better fighter with submission as he's won more fights by submission and even recent fights. Perhaps the most impressive performance in Burkman's career was submitting Jon Fitch last year in only 41 seconds despite Fitch having a great reputation for submission defense. If Burkman can submit Fitch then he should be able to submit Stinson.

Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Rettinghouse

Nickname:                                       None             |       The Finisher

Height:                                              5'6                |           5'6

Age:                                                   25                |            24

MMA Record (WSOF):              12-4-1 (4-0)      |       10-2 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                    66.5 in.           |          65 in.

Team:                                                Valor            |       BJJ Spokane

Weight Class:                                   Bantamweight (135 pounds)

Notes: For the WSOF Bantamweight Championship

Preview: Moraes is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Carson Beebe by KO at WSOF 6 (October 26, 2013). Rettinghouse is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Alexis Vila by unanimous decision at WSOF 6 (October 26, 2013).

Prediction: Moraes. It's hard not to go with Moraes. Since arriving in WSOF, he's been a wrecking ball that's torn through many fighters. He beat MMA star Miguel Torres. He knocked out Tyson Nam who had a lot of momentum. He trashed Brandon Hempleman and quickly knocked out Carson Beebe. Moraes has a lot of skill as he's a decorated Muay Thai practitioner and holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Rettinghouse seems like a good fighter but he hasn't been tested like Moraes.

Steve Carl vs. Rousimar Palhares

Nickname:                                         None       |          Toquinho

Height:                                                6'0         |               5'8

Age:                                                     29          |               34

MMA Record (WSOF):                 21-3 (1-0)  |          15-5 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                       72 in.       |             71 in.

Team:                                      Team Hard Drive |    Team Nogueira

Weight Class:                                 Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: For the WSOF Welterweight Championship. Palhares' WSOF debut.

Preview: Carl is riding a seven fight win streak. His recent win was over Josh Burkman by submission at WSOF 6 (October 26, 2013). Palhares is coming off a win over Mike Pierce by submission at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields (October 9, 2013).

Prediction: Palhares. Both fighters are submission fighters but Palhares has never been submitted in his career. Carl will also not be on his game as he's a submission fighter. However, with Palhares having a reputation of being a leglock specialist who keeps holds on too long, Carl may not be focused on the ground as he'll probably be more worried of getting caught in a leglock instead of submitting Palhares.