World Series of Fighting president Ray Sefo walked up to the podium inside Madison Square Garden wielding a big grin and took in the scene in front of him. Standing in the middle of the špress conference stage, Sefo could see a room full of fight fans applauding loudly, cheering on the moment that wasnāt guaranteed to happen.
To his immediate left and right sat the fighters who would headline the WSOFās first fight card in the š§Theater at Madison Square Garden, bringing the promotion into the spotlight on New Yearās Eve just four years after being founded.
āWhš§oever has any doubts whatsoever, let me tell you this,ā the 2016 International Marshal Arts Hall of Fame inductee said two days before WSOF hosts an 11-bout card that includes four title fights. āWorld Series ą²of Fighting is here to stay.ā
And the WSOF is doubling down on his words with a card filled with the promotionās best fighters incą¼luding Bronx native David Branch, and decorated MMA veterans Jon Fitch and Jake Shields along with š§øevent headliner, Justin Gaethje.
While the WSOF wonāt be setting the type of gate records the UFC did last month with a $17.7 million receipt, it wonāt be without excitement. At 16-0, Gaethje might have a claim at being one of the best lightweights in the world and the 28-year-old seemed ready for the spotlight, steališng the show at the press conference leading up to the fight.
Gaethje talked down što his title challenger Luiz Firmino (19-7), saying that heās there to entertain and the result of the bout is not in question.
āThis is the biggest city in the country and Iām a performerš¤Ŗ,ā Gaethje said. āIām going to entertain. It doesnāt matter who itās against. This guy right here [Firminio] is going to get knocked out.ā
The confidence ofā the former All-American wrestler at the University of Northern Colorado isnāt just bluster, either. Like another current MMA star, Conor McāGregor, Gaethje has backed up his trash talk in the decagon.
Gaethje has recorded eight wins via a knockout or TKO in nine bouts under the WSOF banner while recording 14 finishes in hisā professional career ovš„erall.
āLuiz Firmino has 19 fights and just one finish. Thatāšs pathetic for him to even say [heās going to finish me],ā Gaethje said. āOne TKO in 19 fights, thatās not we dį¦o in this sport. We go in there, weāre exciting, weāre entertainers and we finish people. So thatās what youāre going to see on Saturday, me finishing him. He has no chance.ā
But that wonāt beź¦ the only bout that should brinš„g excitement.
Branch, just the third fighter alongside McGregor and Dan Henderson to hold two title bšelts simultaneously, brings an exciting style of fighting to the ring in his defense of the middleweight title against No. 1 contender Louis Taylor (13-3). The 35-year-old, who has overcome early childhood demons that caused him trouble with the law, has finished his last six opponents, five of those in the first round.
He said the streak wonāt change either.
āIām going to finish him Saturday night,ā Branch said. āI canāt rush it. I canāt try to force something to š¦©happen. Bad things happen when you do that, but Iām going to go out there and do what I do.ā
If he and the rest of the fighters deliver, the WSOF could š§back up Sefoās opening remarks, leading to more attention and bigger venues in 2017.