WSOF

World Series of Fighting (WSOF) lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has every reason to be confident in his skill set. 

The 25-year-old fighter is 12-0 with 11 finishes, including his latest second-round knockout of the previously undefeated Nick Newell. 

After his fight with Newell at WSOF, Gaethje talked with Ashley Luther of MMA Mayhem about his upcoming challengers within the promotion, and he made a bold statement about his place in the 155-pound ranks. 

"I owe anybody the shot, and if Melvin (Guillard) wants it, you know, we've trained together before," Gaethje said. "He's the most explosive '55-pounder in the world, I'm the best 155-pounder in the world. What more could you ask for?" 

Guillard also won at WSOF 11, defeating veteran lightweight Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante via second-round TKO. While Guillard missed weight for this fight, he's undoubtedly one of the top contenders under the WSOF banner, and his power and athleticism make him a threat to any fighter, any time. 

But Gaethje is ready to take on all comers. A former Division I All-American wrestler at Northern Colorado University, Gaethje's transition to the world of MMA was smooth and efficient, and he's quickly developed an all-around skill set that has earned him the WSOF lightweight title and a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in the game. 

He's knocked out 10 opponents in his 12-fight professional career, with half of them occurring in the first round. 

After blasting Newell with a crushing right hand at WSOF 11 on NBC, Gaethje's confidence is at an all-time high, and he didn't even flinch when he called himself the best 155-pound fighter on the planet. 

Still, the cloud of the UFC looms overhead, and that promotion boasts a stable of lightweight killers who would beg to differ with Gaethje's words. For now, there are challenges for Gaethje in WSOF, but if he cleans out his division, we might seem him step into the Octagon to live up to his words and beat the world's best.

What do you make of Gaethje's proclamation? How do you think he would fare against the UFC's lightweight class?

Saturday afternoon, Justin Gaethje retained his World Series of Fighting Lightweight Championship with a second-round TKO of one-armed phenom Nick Newell. It was a performance that continued to boost the stock of the WSOF star.

Gaethje pushed his record to 12-0 with 10 knockouts. He is 5-0 with five knockouts in WSOF, including finishes of Newell, UFC vet Dan Lauzon and Strikeforce vet JZ Cavalcante. That is the type of resume that makes Gaethje elite at lightweight.

He has shown to be an excellent striker, using vicious kicks and meat-hook punches that aim for one thing: damage. Most fans don't know this, but this striker also has a wrestling background that we rarely see, making him well-rounded.

He doesn't like fighting the whole 15 minutes as well. He has only gone to a decision once in his career, against the ultra-tough Marcus Edwards. He has ended almost half of his fights in the first round, showing he gets to work quickly.

It's not like he's been fighting chumps either. From the get-go of his pro career, he has been facing tough competition. In fact, he beat Maximum and Titan Fighting Championship vet Kevin Croom in his pro debut. Impressive, to say the least.

Outside of Eddie Alvarez, Gaethje is the best lightweight not currently on the UFC roster. And, as more and more of his contracted fights pass, the closer he is to possibly getting inked by the world's largest promotion.

With Alvarez tied up in Bellator, Gaethje is now the most attractive fighter on the market, assuming he's not completely tied up in WSOF. If he's eligible to be signed, he's the best available fighter for the UFC to pick up.

His strength of schedule and impressive finishing rate make him arguably the most sought-after man in MMA. He's the type of guy who would be a star in the UFC based on his fighting style and no-nonsense way in the cage.

He's young too. That makes him the star of the future in the lightweight division. He's only 25 years old and has improved in every fight he's been in.

Where Gaethje goes next in WSOF, I don't know. There aren't a huge number of contenders lining up outside of maybe Melvin Guillard, who also won Saturday against Cavalcante. That would be the best litmus test for Gaethje as he continues his ascent up the lightweight world rankings.

World Series of Fighting is sitting on a star. He has the potential for great things in the future.

On Saturday afternoon at WSOF 11, undefeated Justin Gaethje looked to defend his lightweight title against the also undefeated Nick Newell.

The fight started off very competitive, with Newell throwing, and landing, combinations and even threatening with a submission at one point. As the round wore on, Gaethje began to land major power shots that slowed Newell down.

By the end of the first round, Newell was clearly exhausted, and the next round consisted of Gaethje stalking Newell around the cage, finally scoring the knockout victory at 3:09 of the second round.

What We'll Remember About This Fight

The power shots landed by Gaethje, and eventually the knockout, were the most memorable part of the bout. Gaethje was scoring some major shots to the head and body, which slowed Newell down. Most of the second round consisted of Gaethje loading up to throw one big strike at a time. He finally landed a huge right hook and ended Newell's night.

What We Learned About Newell

His striking was good, just not good enough. He was able to hang with Gaethje in the early going, even possibly rocking him at one point, but Gaethje was able to recover and hurt Newell badly with strikes.

His cardio also gave out pretty quickly. Maybe it was the body shots from Gaethje, or an adrenaline dump, but either way, Newell was exhausted by the end of the first round.

What We Learned About Gaethje

Gaethje is a serious striker in the lightweight division. With the win, his record moves to 12-0, including 10 wins by (T)KO, and seven in a row. At only 25 years old, Gaethje could be a force in the lightweight division moving forward.

What's Next for Newell

Newell has a number of options for his next fight. Dan Lauzon is 1-1 in the WSOF, having also lost to Gaethje by second-round TKO in his last fight. 

If a fight with Lauzon doesn't happen, there are any number of UFC and Strikeforce veterans for Newell to face, including Jacob Volkmann, Gesias Cavalcante, Tyson Griffin or Antonio McKee.

What's Next for Gaethje

A fight with Melvin Guillard, who also scored a second-round TKO at WSOF 11, is a possibility. Guillard faced Cavalcante, and it was Guillard's first fight with the WSOF.

If not Guillard, then Gaethje may face Luiz Firmino. Firmino is 2-0 in the WSOF and has scored decision victories over UFC veterans Volkmann and Griffin.

World Series of Fighting produced its 11th event on Saturday afternoon, and it aired live and free on network television.

The four-fight main card was on NBC for the first time, and the action was headlined by a lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Nick Newell.

It was a successful card for the promotion and a quality primer for the upcoming night of MMA action for fans. It was a fun appetizer before UFC 175 kicked off. Let's have a quick recap of the event from Daytona.

Result	Method	Round	Time
Melvin Guillard def. Gesias Cavalcante	TKO	2	2:36
Cody Bollinger def. Pablo Alfonso	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:37
Jon Fitch def. Dennis Hallman	Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)	3	5:00
Justin Gaethje def. Nick Newell	KO	2	3:09

Melvin Guillard vs. Gesias Cavalcante

Guillard and Cavalcante used to be training partners, and both dynamic lightweights love to scrap. It was almost assured to be a fun bout, and it delivered.

Guillard was active early, and Cavalcante tried to respond. Both men landed several big strikes in the first round, but it was Guillard who had the edge. He continued that in the second frame before staggering JZ on the feet.

Guillard was measuring Cavalcante with punches and elbows when the referee stepped in. Cavalcante was still on his feet when the stoppage occurred. While Guillard was in control, it would have been nice to see the referee give Cavalcante more of a chance.

Regardless, Guillard picks up the victory and could be placed in a WSOF title tilt sooner rather than later.

Cody Bollinger vs. Pablo Alfonso

Bollinger missed weight, but he looked fantastic in the catchweight bout.

Bollinger out-grappled Alfonso. There were several nice transitions on the mat, but Bollinger was the one who got into better position time and again. He went for a guillotine, but he didn't have it. Shortly after that submission attempt, he got Alfonso's back to choke him out with the rear-naked choke.

He will be moving up to 145 pounds for his next bout, and if he continues to perform like this, he should be able to compete against the featherweights under the WSOF banner.

Jon Fitch vs. Dennis Hallman

Fitch and Hallman had the fight you would expect.

Fitch took Hallman down and controlled him. The former UFC title contender would stay active on the mat with strikes but not do too much damage. Hallman tried his same old techniques, and they were never close to catching Fitch.

It was a runaway. Fitch continues to grind out fights wherever he is fighting. There was nothing surprising about the bout.

Justin Gaethje vs. Nick Newell

The main event was for the WSOF lightweight championship. The champion, Gaethje, was a strong favorite heading into the bout against one of the feel-good stories in MMA, Newell.

The feel-good story would stop at WSOF 11.

Gaethje had no problems handling Newell and finished by TKO in the second round.

Newell was game early on, but it was quickly evident that he was out of his depth against Gaethje. The champion was able to do what he wanted on the feet. He had the space to work. When Newell was on his back, Gaethje was on top delivering big ground-and-pound.

Newell was a bloody mess by the end of the fight, and it proved he is not a top-tier fighter. He is a good story and a tough guy, but he cannot compete against the lethal lightweights of the world. He will get brutalized each and every time.

Gaethje's performance showed that he may be one of the best lightweights who is not in the UFC. It will be interesting to see where he goes next.

That was what happened at WSOF 11, but the bigger story may be yet to come. How did the general public catching this on NBC view the main event with Newell? It may not have been the best look for WSOF or the sport at large.

WSOF will return to Las Vegas for their next fight card on Aug. 2.

Strip away the inspirational narratives and the championship storylines and take a look at World Series of Fighting (WSOF) 11 headliners Justin Gaethje and Nick Newell. 

They're not so different. 

Each man boasts an impressive 11-0 record, and each has gone to a decision just once in his career. 

The WSOF lightweight champion, Gaethje, is three years younger (25) than Newell. Each man comes from a successful amateur wrestling background, and each has mastered the art of the first-round finish. 

So when they step into the cage Saturday afternoon in the WSOF 11 main event in Daytona Beach, Florida, fans can expect to see two of the sport's finest 155-pound fighters standing toe-to-toe in search of the finish. 

Just one day after the Fourth of July, there will be plenty of fireworks left over for our enjoyment with this matchup on deck. 

"Me and Nick are going to put on a show for you guys," Gaethje told Bleacher Report. "Whether it ends in the first round, 10 seconds, 24 minutes—it doesn't matter. We're going to be trying to finish each other."

We've heard that before though, right? We're too wise to fall for these hollow statements. 

We heard about the grudge between Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and we know all about the serious beef between Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald. Those fights were absolute duds, and we've received similar promises with no payoff throughout MMA's history. 

But something separates Gaethje and Newell. When you hear each man talk about losing rather than winning, you hear just how unafraid he is to step up and look for the finishing blow or submission. 

"Fighting is not scary to me," Newell told Bleacher Report. "There's much worse things in this world than getting knocked out in a fight. It's happened to people before, and they've been fine."

Gaethje echoed his opponent's sentiments. 

"I like to take chances," Gaethje said. "I know that the only way I'm going to advance in this sport is to be exciting and to finish fights, and I'm fine with that."

While the calm exhibited by these two fighters before their Saturday night battle is impressive, there was a time when each combatant was unsure of himself. The two WSOF lightweights come from stellar wrestling backgrounds, sure, but there's something different about getting punched, kicked, kneed and elbowed in the face. 

"I had no idea if I could fight when I first started. My first four amateur fights, I had never even been punched in the face or trained of any kind," Gaethje said. "I've never been in a street fight before, like one-on-one. In college, there were a couple brawls where I had to help some friends out, and then, yeah, I punched like two guys in college, and I knew I had knockout power because of that. Other than that, I had no idea." 

Inexperience? No matter for Mr. Gaethje. 

The former Northern Colorado University wrestling standout went 7-0 in his amateur career, earning four knockouts along the way. 

Newell, on the other hand, was not so fortunate in his amateur debut. He went 2-1 as an amateur fighter, but that lone loss occurred in his first bout, and Newell remembers the circumstances well. He jumped up from lightweight to welterweight after his initial opponent fell off the card and another slot needed filled at 170. 

Making no excuses, Newell ate the loss and vowed to never let it happen again. 

"Here's the thing: That was my first fight…ever. I don't come from a rough neighborhood. I was never a kid that got into a lot of fights. I was just somebody who was always intrigued by action movies and martial arts and pro wrestling," Newell said. "I did put a lot of pressure on myself in that one, and I didn't win, and I learned from it, and it actually helped me relax every fight after that. I was very calm, because the worst thing that could happen happened. I lost. All my friends still liked me, you know?"

As much as we can focus on the mirror images of Gaethje and Newell, marveling at their eerily similar career trajectories, the differences persist.

Gaethje, a Division I All-American wrestler training at one of the nation's top camps at Grudge Training Center in Denver, is supposed to be here.

He's a stud, an athletic specimen equal parts natural gifts and hard work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImSXjqxmomA

Newell, due to a condition known as congenital amputation, was counted out from day one, but he defied the odds.

He racked up over 300 wins throughout his high school and college wrestling careers, but the kid with only one hand couldn't become a legitimate mixed martial artist, could he? He'll get demolished!

Only he didn't.

To this point in his career, Newell has done the demolishing, and he attributes his success to a tried-and-true method of self-improvement. 

"I appreciate the value of hard work," Newell said. "Having one hand has never been a big deal to me. I know that sounds crazy to some people. I think people make a bigger deal out of it than I ever had. I learned that's the way things are, and I've accepted it a long time ago. Nothing I do astonishes me."

After traversing a road that's seen him overcome obstacle after obstacle, Newell has arrived on the big stage on network television to fight for a world title under the WSOF banner. 

And when the cage door closes, he knows just what will make the difference in the fight. 

"I wouldn't put him (Gaethje) down in a textbook on how to strike, you know, but he gets away with it because of his physical gifts and his relentlessness," Newell said. "I feel like technique is going to be the difference-maker in this fight, and I'm going to be the more technical fighter."

To his credit, Gaethje is well aware of his opponent's strengths and skills, and he's prepared to slog through the deep waters to secure his first title defense.

"I feel that you guys are going to see that I'm going to be able to go for 25 minutes of straight time trying to knock him out," Gaethje said. "The quicker I can get it over with, the quicker my family doesn't have to worry and I can get out of there. I love it, man. I'm going to keep trying to finish at all costs."  

Nick Newell is a story within mixed martial arts that is being missed by the mainstream sports world. This Saturday at World Series of Fighting 11 two undefeated lightweights will enter the cage to compete for the WSOF lightweight title. Justin Gaethje will defend his title against Newell but that isn't what makes this story stand out among others in the sport. Newell is a congenital amputee that hasn't allowed his condition to stop his meteoric rise to this point.

Newell was born with a left arm that stopped just past his elbow. In a sport that demands the ability to punch, grab and wrestle, Newell has proven naysayers wrong since he first stepped into the cage to compete. Five years after his professional debut, the man known as “Notorious” has done nothing but win. His abilities allow him to stay undefeated but can't take the attention away from his condition that most would deem a disadvantage. Newell has come to terms with his condition as an athlete but doesn't let it hold him back from performing at a high level.

“I have never been like 'check me out,' I have one arm and I'm out here fighting, is that unique?” Newell told MMA Mania's C.J. Tuttle in 2013. “All I have ever done is put on exciting fights and win. If it helps market me and helps me stand out and make a living, that's cool. Whatever gets you to watch.”

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Newell's story has captured the attention of the mainstream sports industry. A few days out from the event, major sports mediums such as ESPN haven't touched the story. The main MMA page on ESPN still lists headlines that are weeks old rather than any mention of the event planned for Saturday.

There are a number of reasons that may have attributed to this situation. Newell fights in the World Series of Fighting promotion which many consider the second or third dog in the MMA promotion game. Even though the WSOF has steadily grown since their first show back in 2012, they haven't garnered much attention outside the vessels that normally cover mixed martial arts.

Another factor that may pull attention away from Newell's story is the continued increase of MMA news and action available to the industry. The Ultimate Fighting Championship just featured two shows in one day this past Saturday. This weekend features not only WSOF 11 on Saturday, but UFC 175 later that evening and UFC The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale on Sunday. Now, with the newest developments of the Chael Sonnen story, Dana White and co will be the talk of the town; taking attention away from Newell and the WSOF.

Still, Newell and Gaethje both deserve to be covered for what they will do on Saturday. The fact that a major promotion is hosting a card that will be headlined by a fighter with such a disability is a story that makes sports so enjoyable. Athletes such as Jim Abbott and Anthony Robles have inspired multitudes of people by overcoming similar challenges. Newell could be a similar story that benefits not only his career, but the promotion of the WSOF as a whole. While there is the question as to whether or not his disadvantage will “catch up with him,” Newell deserves the opportunity that he has coming on Saturday. The rest of the sports world should be aware to cheer him on.

Nick Newell will bring an 11-0 record with him into his main event confrontation on Saturday. With that he'll bring a story that's worth telling to the whole sports world. Sadly, the mainstream sports community is missing out on the opportunity to show yet another example of what makes the industry so enjoyable.

　

Jessica Aguilar competed for the second time in 2014 earlier in June, and she showcased why she is the No. 1-ranked strawweight fighter in the world.

Not only is she the best 115-pound female on the planet, she may be the best fighter—regardless of weight or gender—on the World Series of Fighting roster.

The WSOF roster is not a treasure trove of talent, but that is to be expected. The UFC is the premier mixed martial arts organization on earth, and they hold the vast majority of talent. WSOF does not hold too many elite fighters outside of Aguilar.

That is not to discredit everyone on the roster.

WSOF houses some quality fighters such as Jon Fitch, Josh Burkman, Yushin Okami and JZ Cavalcante. It also plays home to several up-and-coming fighters like Marlon Moraes, Justin Gaethje, Nick Newell and Tyrone Spong.

What they lack are fighters who could conceivably compete at the highest levels of their respective divisions right away. That is not the case with Aguilar who has already proved her ability to defeat the elite.

Aguilar has won nine straight fights including two over former No. 1 Megumi Fujii and one over the Invicta FC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (a cast member of the upcoming 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter).

WSOF created a women's strawweight title after signing Aguilar, and she easily defeated Alida Gray to capture the gold. She defended it against Emi Fujino on June 21.

Aguilar is a strong grappler with good submission skills. She is able to submit her opposition (eight career submissions), and is good at defending against top-level submission artists. Recently, Aguilar has shown a propensity for striking.

In her most recent bout, against Fujino, she defeated a striker at striking. It shows that Aguilar is constantly improving in spite of being at the top of the mountain.

It is unclear how WSOF will continue to find legitimate competition for Aguilar, but she will need to continue to hone her skills against quality fighters in order to remain at the top of the heap. The UFC's newly minted strawweight division will do just that right out of the gate on The Ultimate Fighter.

As women's MMA continues to garner more interest, it would be a shame if Aguilar went under the radar. Her accomplishments and skills should come to light as more casual fans take note, and the WSOF's television partnership with NBC will also assist in highlighting her profile.

Aguilar is an elite fighter and brings it in the cage. She deserves greater notoriety. Whenever she steps back into the cage to compete, everyone should take notice at the current best in the deepest division of women's MMA.

The World Series of Fighting organization may be a relatively new addition to the mixed martial arts landscape, but it has picked up solid momentum in a short amount of time. 

Since making its debut in November 2012, the Ray Sefo-led promotion has rolled out a steady string of events that have showcased a variety of talent from all corners of the ever-evolving roster.

In just 19 months of work, the Las Vegas-based organization has put a strong focus on bringing the best talent available under its promotional banner, which has served to keep a solid amount of buzz attached to its name. 

WSOF's aggressive approach to the free-agency market has allowed the organization to land a collection of proven talent, as well as notable fighters who were either former champions or legitimate title contenders for their previous promotions. Those high-profile signings—in addition to a handful of talented prospects—have allowed WSOF to establish a solid roster in the brief span of its existence.

That said, in order to have proper divisional hierarchies in the weight classes, WSOF needed to institute titles in each division. While it has kept a measured pace in bringing championship belts to every weight class under the promotional banner, the process to establish champions got underway late in 2013 and took another step in that direction at WSOF 10. 

Coming into Saturday night's fight card in Las Vegas, five of the eight divisions already had crowned champions, and it was finally the middleweight division's turn to establish a titleholder.

Former UFC veteran David Branch squared off with The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 alum Jesse Taylor in the main event at WSOF 10 with the opportunity to become the promotion's inaugural 185-pound champion hanging in the balance.

Both fighters carried a solid amount of momentum into the championship tilt on Saturday night, with Taylor finding success in his last seven showings and Branch having won five of his past six outings. With the middleweight title on the line, one of those streaks would come to an end, and it was Taylor's that disappeared in a flash.

Branch wasted no time getting the action to the canvas—and once there—immediately set about looking to advance his position. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for, as he locked up a D'arce choke and submitted Taylor shortly after to become WSOF's first-ever middleweight champion. 

While the fight at the top of the billing determined a divisional champion, the co-main event tilt between Georgi Karakhanyan and Rick Glenn saw a champion attempt to make the first successful defense of his title.

The talented Armenian striker became the first featherweight champion in WSOF history when he battered and then submitted highly touted prospect Lance Palmer at WSOF 7 last December. His win over the Team Alpha Male fighter added another strong chapter to Karakhanyan's already impressive winning streak.

The GFC-trained fighter came into his bout with Glenn carrying a nine-fight winning streak, but that run of fortune would come to an abrupt end on Saturday night.

After getting off to a good start, locking Glenn in a deep armbar, Karakhanyan was no match for the Duke Roufus-trained prospect.

Once Glenn broke up Karakhanyan's submission attempt, he set about peppering the champion with huge shots from the top position. While Karakhanyan survived the first round, he probably wishes he hadn't, because the amount of the punishment he received multiplied in the second round. 

Things were going downhill in a hurry for him, and the chances of anything getting better were slim to none. With that in mind, he did not answer the bell to begin the third round, and a new featherweight champion was crowned.

Although the two bouts at the top of the billing carried the majority of the weight where name recognition was concerned at WSOF 10, plenty of face-punching action went down at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Saturday night.

Let's take a look at the good, bad and strange from WSOF 10.

The Good

When David Branch signed with World Series of Fighting in 2012, he saw the potential to begin a definitive chapter in his career. Up until the point where he joined the Ray Sefo-led outfit, the North Carolina native's career had been in a holding pattern where genuine progress was difficult to come by.

Granted, he was landing some big fights on some solid platforms, but he wasn't able to find a place where he could have a future. That all changed when he joined WSOF in November 2012—and on Saturday night in Las Vegas—he solidified himself in the history books as well.

The New York-based fighter made short work out of Taylor to become the first middleweight champion in the history of the promotion. He earned the opportunity to compete for inaugural championship gold by winning his first three showings out of the gates and was determined to carry that run all the way to champion status.

With Taylor's strength and wrestling skills, the bout was expected to be a grinding affair, but that's simply not how Branch was going to have things go down.

Rather than enduring a long, drawn-out affair, Branch put Taylor away in less than a full round of work as he submitted The Ultimate Fighter alum with a D'arce choke in the opening frame. It was an impressive submission finish and undoubtedly one of the best showings of Branch's career, as he took his place atop the WSOF's middleweight division.

Rick Glenn came to WSOF 10 to make the biggest statement of his young career, and it was a task he accomplished in brilliant fashion.

While champion Georgi Karakhanyan came into the co-main event tilt with the featherweight title and the oddsmakers on his side, the 25-year-old Roufusport fighter brought a few things of his own.

The biggest of which was a 12-fight unbeaten streak where he'd continued to progress his skill set and grow his confidence with each and every step, and he was determined to silence the buzz growing around the 145-pound titleholder.

That said, things looked grim in that department when Karakhanyan locked on a tight armbar shortly into the opening round.

While Glenn was in dangerous waters, he kept calm and not only broke free of the submission attempt but also flipped the script to take top position on the ground. Once he established the advantage, he used his reach to blast the champion with ground-and-pound from outside of the guard and was landing clean on nearly everything he threw.

The champion was clearly rattled as the opening round came to an end—and when Glenn immediately returned to battering him at the start of the second—Karakhanyan's will began to visibly break.

While he didn't get trapped with his back to the canvas like he did in the first round, he wasn't much better off in the second, as he was pinned against the cage and eating a buffet of shots Glenn launched in his direction. The 27-year-old Armenian was able to make it out of the second round, but he wouldn't see the next round begin.

In between rounds he chose not to answer the bell, and Glenn became the new featherweight champion on the strength of an excellent showing in Las Vegas. This bout was only Glenn's third showing under the promotional banner, and his stunning display of skills and determination served to officially elevate him to legitimate status on the WSOF stage. 

*** Coming into his bout against Adam Acquaviva at WSOF 10, Timur Valiev was already considered one of the most promising young talents on the roster...even if he hadn't yet officially competed for the organization.

The Dagestan-born fighter came into his promotional debut on a six-fight winning streak, and he validated the hype surrounding him on Saturday night, thoroughly dismantling Acquaviva en route to picking up the victory.

The Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter battered his opponent throughout the first two rounds before salting Acquaviva with a beautifully violent flying knee to end the fight in the third. The knockout was brutal and the perfect end to a maestro performance by the 26-year-old Russian.

With the lack of depth in the WSOF's bantamweight division, it will be interesting to see how the organization handles Valiev's progression. Yet, after his drubbing of Acquaviva on Saturday night, it is highly doubtful there will be a long list of fighters itching to face him inside the cage.

*** Another prospect who knows a thing or two about expectation is Lance Palmer. The Team Alpha Male fighter created a lot of hype by winning his first seven outings in the professional realm, and that buzz was recognized by WSOF as it gave The Party a championship opportunity in his promotional debut back in December.

The 26-year-old locked up with fellow contender Georgi Karakhanyan to determine the organization's inaugural featherweight champion. Unfortunately for Palmer, the scrappy striker was the better man that night and picked up the victory via submission in the fourth round.

The ability to bounce back strong from a setback is a crucial element in the development of a young fighter, and the former Ohio State University wrestling standout proved he was up to the challenge against Nick LoBosco at WSOF 10.

From the opening bell, Palmer was in the driver's seat, as he put LoBosco on his back with a powerful double-leg takedown. Once Palmer had top position, he poured on the offense, and LoBosco had very little to offer in terms of resistance. Palmer eventually locked up the match with a fight-ending rear-naked choke late in the opening round.  

*** Krasimir "The Wrestler" Mladenov lived up to his nickname on Saturday night as he used his grappling talents to earn the unanimous-decision victory over Angel DeAnda. The Bulgarian powerhouse kept the pressure on throughout the 15-minute affair as he shot, snatched and power-bombed his way to victory at WSOF 10. 

*** After a successful run in the amateur ranks, Ashlee Evans-Smith decided to start her 2013 campaign as a professional. The 26-year-old's decision paid immediate dividends, as she cruised to victory in each of her first two showings, with her most recent win coming against controversial transgender fighter Fallon Fox back in October.

Evans-Smith wanted to keep things rolling in her WSOF debut, and that's what she accomplished by defeating Marciea Allen on the preliminary portion of the card. 

While the first two rounds weren't necessarily action-packed, Evans-Smith remained patient as she continued to work toward putting Allen where she wanted her. That opportunity materialized early into the final frame, as Evans-Smith put Allen on her back and quickly moved into the crucifix position.

With her arms pinned, Allen couldn't defend herself, and the Orange County native rained down short elbows until the referee stepped in to stop the fight. With the victory, Evans-Smith not only made a strong promotional debut on Saturday night but also kept her undefeated record intact in the process.

*** Debuts always come with an added element of pressure, and A.J. Williams was making two "firsts" at WSOF 10.

Not only was he making his first showing under the WSOF banner, but his fight against Tanner Cowan was also his first in the professional ranks. While those circumstances could have proved overwhelming for Williams, Black Dynamite made a blistering first impression as he flushed Cowan shortly into the opening round. 

The Bad

The sport of mixed martial arts can be described in many ways, but "forgiving" isn't one of them. It is a rigorous realm where the opportunity to obtain glory is already a small window, but when said window begins to close, it can do so in rapid and brutal fashion. 

Five years ago, Tyson Griffin was considered one of the elite lightweight fighters on the planet. The Xtreme Couture fighter had been a staple of the 155-pound ranks for years and began his run under the UFC banner by winning seven of his first nine showings inside the Octagon.

Along the way he carved out his place in the upper tier of the lightweight fold—and in 2010—appeared to be poised to make a run at the 155-pound throne. 

Yet, fortunes can change quickly inside the cage, and Griffin certainly fell victim to the shifting tides. Whereas he had only lost two bouts over his first three years with the organization, the next two years would see him drop four out of five outings, with three of those setbacks coming in consecutive fashion.

Looking to break out of his three-fight skid, he decided to drop down into the featherweight ranks. While he found victory in his debut in the weight class, his next showing would be his undoing with the UFC, as he not only failed to make the 146-pound weight limit but also came out on the business end of a first-round knockout at the dynamite hands of Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137.

Following his fourth loss in five fights, Griffin was released from the promotion and set about trying to get his career back on track. He picked up a victory over fellow UFC veteran Efrain Escudero on the regional scene, and that earned the Sacramento, California, native a call from the World Series of Fighting.

Griffin was hoping to start a new chapter with WSOF, as he squared off with Gesias Cavalcante in his promotional debut at World Series of Fighting 4 last August. 

Unfortunately for Griffin, the Team Blackzilians fighter proved to be too much, as JZ earned the TKO victory in the third round. With the loss being his first setback on a new stage, it wasn't going to be enough to push Griffin out of the picture entirely, but it put a lot of emphasis on him finding victory in his next outing.

The 30-year-old came into his bout with Luiz Firmino on Saturday night with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Not only did he need a victory, but he also needed to do so in impressive fashion to silence the doubt that had steadily increased since his release from the UFC. Griffin needed to look reinvigorated inside the cage, and that just didn't happen at WSOF 10.

While he had moments where he put some solid shots on Firmino's chin piece, Griffin spent the majority of the 15-minute affair looking as if his legs were never truly under him. He was constantly off balance as he slung wild punches, and Firmino frequently took advantage of this by getting inside and easily putting Griffin on his back.

Whereas Griffin was once a formidable grappler by any standard, the former UFC fighter either couldn't figure out how or didn't have the energy to get Firmino off him. The end result was Griffin coming out on the losing end of a unanimous decision and getting handed his sixth loss in his last eight fights.

The fight was a rough look for Griffin, and the doubt that lingered prior to his fight on Saturday night will amplify in the aftermath of WSOF 10. Five years isn't a long stretch of time by most indicators, but inside the vortex of MMA, those five years can yield brutal results, and he has quickly become an example of just how unforgiving the sport can be.

The Strange

There are a handful of elements involved in determining whether or not an event is successful from a presentation standpoint.

The biggest of which is easily the quality of the fights on the card, and WSOF had done a solid job in that regard through the nine shows it had put on coming into Saturday night's stop in Las Vegas. Granted, not every card carried a ton of name value, but the majority of the fights inside the WSOF cage had been passable coming into WSOF 10.

That said, the men making the call from the commentator's table also play a huge role in how the show comes across, and that area hadn't been doing the promotion any favors throughout its first nine shows. 

While Todd Harris and Bas Rutten are well-versed in calling the live action that takes place inside the cage, the duo has struggled in their WSOF role.

While the MMA legend's high-energy delivery has always been "hit or miss" with the MMA fanbase, El Guapo hasn't been able to find a groove over the course of the first nine events he's called for the organization. But while Rutten has been rough in the booth, he's been sparkling when compared to the job Harris has done thus far.

Considering the years Harris has under his belt calling fights, the former WEC commentator has come off nothing short of aloof during his time with WSOF. And with both men off their respective games, the play-by-play element of the organization's shows has been a big knock, while the action inside the cage has mostly been praised.

That said, Saturday night's event was a different story. Harris and Rutten bucked their recent trend and called a solid show. Where head-scratching moments came in droves throughout their previous shows, the commentary duo stayed pretty much on point throughout the 11-fight card.

Rutten kept his zaniness in check, while Harris remained on task from start to finish, as the team behind the microphones gave their best offering to date at the WSOF table.

Nevertheless, not everyone in the MMA universe shared my opinion. While Harris and Rutten were better on Saturday night than they were during their previous efforts, things still aren't where they need to be for WSOF's presentation to match what is happening inside the cage. 

A few installments back in this column, I decided to include a "Tweet of the Night" at the end every one of my "GBS" articles, and my motivation to do so came from two different places.

First, I wanted to highlight what I believed to be the brightest gem from what is typically a storm of 140-character entries on a fight night. I also believed it would be a fitting way to cap off a night of face-punching and liver-kicking and provide a proper closing point for the article as well.

Although TOTN is still a relatively new addition, I'm confident my reasons to include it have been validated.

The current schedule chaos from the major MMA promotions all but guarantees every weekend will be filled with caged ruckus in some form, which means the timelines of MMA Twitter will be pumping with electricity, commentary and a tasty brand of nuanced snark that can only come from the world of MMA media.

While previous winners of this honor did so by taking their perspectives outside of the proverbial box, on Saturday night, Bleacher Report MMA's own Jeremy Botter pushed things to the next level by creating a new verb that has the potential to grow legs.

During the heavyweight "sludge" fest between Derrick Mehman and David Huckaba, The Caveman employed an unpopular method of offense to obtain the victory.

While there are plenty of names for putting your opponent on the canvas and then simply holding him there (lay and pray, the wet blanket approach, etc.) Botter saw an opportunity to coin a new term, and midway through the second round, "Rosholting" was born.

The term pays a certain type of homage to Team Takedown's sibling duo of Jake and Jared Rosholt. The brothers Rosholt are notorious for using their grappling talents to put their opposition on the canvas but then not doing much once the fight hits the mat.

While referee stand-ups are common in a fight where one of the Rosholts is involved, they only provide short-term relief, as Rosholt will undoubtedly put things back exactly where they were before the pesky official got involved. 

Mehman's approach to fighting Huckaba on Saturday night was a page taken straight out of the Rosholt playbook, and Botter felt obligated to bring his analysis to the masses.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.