WSOF 15 Branch vs. Okami: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds

Main Card

Middleweight Champion David Branch (14-3) +350 vs. Yushin Okami (30-8) -500

“Thunder” made his promotional debut last March winning by TKO for the 10th time in his decision laden career. Now Okami matches up for gold against Renzo Gracie student Branch, in what could be 25 minutes of the most boring fight of all time!

Branch has won 4 in a row but let’s just say this guy doesn’t move the needle. God bless him, he’s tried to work on his stand up game but glaciers move faster. The Jiu-Jitsu is always on point but can he take the Japanese fighter down enough times to win on points because he is not submitting Yushin.

Okami has never, never been tapped in his long career and David is hardly dynamic enough to do so. Yushin does have some power in his hands but he’s not known for his volume attack either. Still, “Thunder” has stalwart wrestling and has faced far, far better competition.

Okami is going to show his experience edge and for all his faults, the guy is sturdy and Branch just offers nothing offensive to make him wary. Both men can be tentative fighters which is why we see this being an awful 25 minutes, but “Thunder” finally strikes gold and shows himself to be a mile ahead of the Middleweights in WSOF.
WINNER- Yushin Okami by Decision

Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje (12-0) -225 vs. Melvin Guillard (32-13-2) +175

Gaethje’s career has moved along at exactly the right pace and yet again, he gets a stronger test, but nothing he can’t manage. Justin has a chin of iron, though we don’t suggest he play around with Guillard in a power striking punch out, but he’s got the work ethic and wrestling to ground the arrogant UFC cast off and do work.

Melvin just doesn’t get “it” and will never mature. The guy is walking around the week of this fight saying, “I’m an A-List fighter, in a B-League.” Wow, your employers must be proud. Guillard is always going to be a big puncher who looks like a killer, but he’s not. The guy makes egregious errors all the time   In the last 2 years, Mel has gone 3-4-1 refusing to take responsibility for his losses, and bouncing from camp to camp while rustling feathers. The guy is a punk. Pure and simple. He’s got a puncher’s chance for sure, but when that doesn’t happen, he gives up and has been tapped 9 damn times in his career!

Its no secret MMAFO cannot stand Guillard, but its for good reason. Even if Gaethje gets into trouble early when Melvin is at his most deadly, he can survive to round 2 when Guillard has generally had enough. Justin weathers the early storm before grounding the “Middle Aged Assassin” and pounding him out before the final bell to retain his title and really amp up the UFC talk.
WINNER- Justin Gaethje by Rd.3 TKO

* Weigh-in update! Melvin missed weight (what a shock)! Now the Lightweight title is not on the line and Guillard forfeits 50% of his purse.

Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar (18-4) -375 vs. Kalindra Faria (15-3-1) +285

“Jag” may be the best Strawweight in the world today, and is easily the best 115er not in the UFC. Aguilar has defeated legend Megumi Fuji twice, the UFC’s top recruit Carla Esparza, and is on a 9 fight streak. 

The Brazilian is on a 11 fight winning streak but she’s been on the minor league circuit and this is a giant leap up in competition. Good luck.

Aguilar disposes of Faria in a one sided shut out and the pundits continue to wonder how we can get Jessica out of WSOF and into the UFC where she needs to be.
WINNER- Jessica Aguilar by Decision

Reggie Pena (10-6) vs. Joe Johnson (3-7)
     Oh good god, what is this?
WINNER- Reggie Pena by Rd.1 TKO

Prelims

Edir Terry (4-1) vs. Andrew Connors (2-1)

Jose Cortez (0-0) vs. Ryan Keenan (5-2)

Anderson Hutchinson 3-0) vs. Troy Gerhart (6-3)

Tony Way (2-4) vs. Frederico Moncaio (1-1)

Maurice Salmon (3-3) vs. David Mundell (3-0)

Hector Ochoa (2-2) vs. Robert Reed (1-0)

Jorge Patino (35-15-2) vs. Eric Reynolds (18-8)