The higher-ups at World Series of Fighting don’t often make the right moves when it comes to running an MMA promotion. However, with a lack of title challengers at lightweight for one of their premiere fighters in Justin Gaethje they made the right call in running back one of MMA’s most entertaining fights from 2015. Luis Palomino will challenge for the 155lb belt once again in the main event of WSOF 23, and the promotion hopes the rematch will provide a fraction of the action of the first bout. Palomino wasn’t expected to present much of a challenge the first time he faced Gaethje, with the public taking a -300 opener for the champion and betting it all the way up to -525 by fight time. This time, it will be interesting to see if the challenger gets a bit more respect given the offense he was able to generate back in March. Gaethje will still be a sizable favorite, but his fighting style leaves him open to be hit, and if it weren’t for his Lineker-esque chin, he may not have emerged victorious from that first encounter. Whether he fine tunes his style given what worked and didn’t in the last fight remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t we should be in for another treat. WSOF 23 will also feature a second title fight, as Dave Branch attempts to become one of the few fighters to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously. In the conclusion of the organization’s light heavyweight tournament, Branch will face upstart Teddy Holder, who knocked out Thiago Silva on short notice to earn his shot for the title. Branch has not lost since a 2012 bout to Anthony Johnson, while Holder has been flawless since 2009, with 8 straight finishes to his name. Rounding out the WSOF 23 main card are three additional bouts: bantamweight prospect Timur Valiev takes on Tito Jones, Brian Foster drops to lightweight for the first time to face undefeated LaRue Burley, and Ben Fodor (aka “Phoenix Jones” …sigh) faces a much more appropriate test (remember that thing about WSOF not making the best decisions? Fodor facing Manny Walo was not a smart one at all) in Roberto Yong. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting lines for WSOF 23 today at Several Bookmakers. Take a look: ——————– MAIN CARD (NBC Sports Network, 10pm ET)
——————– PRELIMINARY CARD (Internet Stream, 7pm ET) Clifford Starks -175 Krasimir Mladenov +135 ——————– Brad’s Analysis: Heading into their first fight, I thought Palomino had a decent shot against Gaethje, and put some money on him. I think he has a bit less of a chance this time because Gaethje knows that if he just stays on the outside and uses his leg kicks he should be able to pick up the victory. However, we’ve also seen that Gaethje sometimes fights more to put on an entertaining show than to take advantage of his biggest strengths over his opponents, so that could leave the door open for Palomino. If the line climbs from this opener, I may end up on Palomino again, but it would certainly be a small play. Dave Branch has faced and beaten better competition than Teddy Holder, and I think that gap in experience will shine through here and have him emerge as the first ever WSOF light heavyweight champion. Holder is a knockout threat early, but the longer this fight goes the more it favors Branch, or if it hits the ground at any time, Branch has a massive advantage.