WSOF 8 results: Gaethje, Aguilar crowned champs, 'Rumble' continues to roll
Justin Gaethje (11-0) is World Series of Fighting’s first lightweight champion after scoring a first-round stoppage over Richard Patishnock (6-2).
The bout served as the main event of Saturday’s World Series of Fighting 8 event, which took place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and aired on NBC Sports Network.
Gaethje set the tone with an early flying knee, pushing forward immediately in a non-stop barrage of offense. In the flurry, he landed with a big right hand that rattled Patishnock and set the tone for what was to come.
A durable Patishnock stood tough against the cage, but Gaethje just teed off with big punches and elbows inside. Patishnock would not go to the floor, but referee Troy Waugh stepped in to save the bloodied and battered fighter when it was apparent Gaethje wasn’t slowing down. The end came in just 69 seconds.
In the night’s co-feature, Anthony Johnson (16-4) earned his sixth-straight win with a brutal knockout of Mike Kyle (20-11-1).
Johnson was the busier fighter earlier, throwing power shots from the opening bell. Kyle avoided the early blows and actually worked inside for a takedown, but he couldn’t convert on the attempt. Johnson made him pay for the miss.
As the two started to open up in the pocket, a Johnson right hand over the top connected to the temple, and Kyle hit the floor. He was out on the first blow, though Johnson snuck in one more punch before he could be pulled away at the 2:03 mark of the first round.
With the win, Johnson is now 6-0 since being released from the UFC and is a free agent after completing his three-fight World Series of Fighting deal.
Already considered the world’s top female strawweight, Jessica Aguilar (17-4) is now World Series of Fighting’s first women’s 115-pound champion. “Jag†scored a dominant first-round submission win over the previously undefeated Alida Gray (4-1).
Aguilar was able to move inside early and drag the fight to the floor. Gray tried to hold tight from the bottom, but Aguilar methodically isolated her opponent’s left arm, trapping it against the head and initiating an arm-triangle choke. Gray did her best to keep half-guard underneath and prevent the submission, but Aguilar switched outside the defense and squeezed until she earned the tap at the 2:45 mark of the first frame.
Bollinger edges Nam, Palomino brutalizes Patino
In a key bantamweight contest, Cody Bollinger (15-2) earned a razor-thin decision win over Tyson Nam (12-6).
Bollinger was the busier fighter early, working strikes from all angles, but he struggled to land clean. Nam answered with heavy leather, dropping an off-balance Bollinger in the best shot of the round, but he never could mount a sustained offense.
Bollinger remained creative in the second, rattling off spinning strikes and a cartwheel kick, but a few slips to the canvas and Nam’s simpler but sometimes more effective work.
The third round remained tight throughout with neither fighter truly gaining any substantial attacks. Both looked for opportunities, but neither could connect, and the result seemed anything but certain. Bollinger was the more offensive fighter, but Nam’s counters seemed sharper. In the end, judges leaned toward the busier fighter, and Bollinger was awarded the unanimous-decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.
The night’s first main card matchup saw veteran lightweights Luis Palomino (22-9) and Jorge Patino (35-15-2) combine for a fast-paced slugfest. In the end, it was “Baboon†who stopped “Macaco†in the second frame.
Palomino scored the first real offense of the fight late in the opening round, blasting Patino with a few stiff left hands that opening a cut over his right eye. Patino showed an impressive chin as he survived the flurry and even close the frame by looking for a guillotine choke.
Palomino resumed the attack in the second, blasting away with powerful right hands on the feet. A gutsy Patino tried to return fire, but Palomino wouldn’t slow down. With time winding down in the frame, Palomino used a right hand and a knee to the body to finally bring Patino to the floor. Palomino unleashed one final barrage of strikes, and the bout was waved off with 40 seconds left in the round.
Stinson, Mehmen victorious on prelims
In the night’s featured prelim, welterweight Valdir Araujo (14-5) looked well on his way to defeating a hesitant Tyler Stinson (27-9). Then “The Evolution†took over.
Stinson finally came alive in the third, and a series of body shots that stunned his opponent. Stinson briefly took the fight to the floor, blasting away at the ribs. When he returned to his feet, Araujo was slow to follow. Stinson resumed the attack, and a straight left sent Araujo to the floor and signaled the end of the fight at the 2:23 mark.
Heavyweights Derrick Mehmen (17-5) and Scott Barrett (14-4) combined for a rousing, even if not exactly technical, three-round affair.
Mehmen unloaded on Barrett in the opening round, dropping him twice and busting up his right eye. But “The Bear†refused to go away and fought valiantly for the remainder of the three-round contest. The smaller Mehmen remained the busier fighter, and though he couldn’t earn a finish, he weathered a few Barrett homerun shots and was awarded a unanimous-decision win with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.
Flyweight Alexis Vila (14-4) rebounded from a disappointing October loss to Josh Rettinghouse by outworking Sidemar Honorio (8-5) over the course of three rounds.
While the striking was even in the early going, Vila mixed in several takedowns, as well, scoring points with the judges. In the third round, he really turned up the volume, working Honorio to the floor with impressive slams and unleashing ground-and-pound from top position. In the end, it was enough to take a unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.
In a battle of featherweight prospects, Freddy Assuncao (8-1) and Brenson Hansen (5-2) engaged in a closely contested standup battle throughout their 15-minute affair. In the end, it was Assuncao who was awarded a narrow – and somewhat controversial – split-decision victory.
Hansen appeared to be the aggressor throughout the fight, mixing in kicks and combinations to Assuncao’s counters. However, judges favored his opponent, awarding him a split-decision win.
Afterward, UFC President Ray Sefo took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the call.
“That was a ridiculous decision,†Sefo wrote “@BrensonHansen won the 1st and 3rd round of that fight…â€
In the night’s first contest, Anderson Melo (11-7) needed just 70 seconds to score a submission win over Jose Caceres (5-5).
It was Caceres who pushed the pace early, but after being forced to the floor, Melo turned for a heel hook and snagged a quick tap as he spun through the hold.
Complete World Series of Fighting 8 results include:
MAIN CARD RESULTS
Justin Gaethje def. Richard Patishnock via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:09 – to claim inaugural WSOF lightweight title
Anthony Johnson def. Mike Kyle via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:03
Jessica Aguilar def. Alida Gray via submission (side choke) – Round 1, 2:45 – to claim inaugural WSOF women’s strawweight title
Cody Bollinger def. Tyson Nam via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00
Luis Palomino def. Jorge Patino via knockout (strikes) – Round 2, 4:20
PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
Tyler Stinson def. Valdir Araujo via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:23
Derrick Mehmen def. Scott Barrett via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) – Round 3, 5:00
Alexis Vila def. Sidemar Honorio via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) – Round 3, 5:00
Freddy Assuncao def. Brenson Hansen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00
Anderson Melo def. Jose Caceres via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:10
