The World Series of Fighting yesterday announced their ninth event is official with two title fights. It will take place March 29 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The first title fight, which serves as the main event of the evening, sees WSOF welterweight champion Steve Carl try to defend his title for the first time when he takes on former UFC contender Rousimar Palhares. The second title fight, which serves as the co-headliner, sees up-and-coming WSOF star Marlon Moraes take on Josh Rettinghouse for the inaugural WSOF bantamweight title. Although the event is two months out and these fights were announced just yesterday, I already have leans as to who I believe will emerge with the belts. In the main event between Carl and Palhares, I’m really leaning towards “Toquino” to lock on his infamous heel hook and win the WSOF belt. Yes, Palhares has only fought less than a minute as a welterweight, but as we saw against Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29, that’s all the time in the world for Palhares to snatch one of his patented leg locks. The Brazilian was cut by the UFC after the fight not for a lack of talent, but because he held on to Pierce’s leg too long, and I don’t think he’ll make the same mistake against Carl. I like Carl a lot but he seems way too content to go the ground in his fights and once this fight with Palhares hits the mat, it’s over. The only way Carl can wain this fight is if he keeps it standing and rocks Palhares’ notoriously iffy chin, but I just don’t see him being able to keep Palhares off of him and I think “Toquino” deserves to enter this fight as the favorite despite the fact he is the challenger. In the co-main event, I definitely like Moraes to get the win over Rettinghouse, and I think he’ll do so in highlight-reel fashion. All due respect to Rettinghouse, but he really doesn’t even deserve this bantamweight title shot and the fact he is getting one speaks more to the WSOF’s disappointment in Cody Bollinger last weekend at WSOF 8 against Tyson Nam. Moraes, meanwhile, most definitely deserves to fight for the title after stringing off a number of impressive victories to start his WSOF career, and I really think he’ll show in this fight against Rettinghouse that he’s truly one of the best 135-pounders in the entire world of mixed martial arts. No other fights have been announced yet, but if this card is like any other WSOF card then expect it to be full of fun fights that provide exciting finishes, but with many of them being mismatches.
