LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2014) – World Series of Fighting hosted a media conference call in a webinar format on Wednesday, a week before “World Series of Fighting 10: Branch vs. Taylor” is set to take place with three championship fights on the NBCSN-televised main card Saturday, June 21.
Headliners David Branch (13-3) and Jesse Taylor (27-9), as well as main-card competitors Georgi Karakhanyan, Rick Glenn (14-2), and Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (17-4) joined WSOF President Ray Sefo and WSOF Executive Vice President Ali Abdelaziz on the call.
World Series of Fighting 10 will take place on June 21 at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Five main-card bouts air live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT local time) and follow an eight-bout preliminary card which will stream live WSOF.com.
The following are highlights from the conference call:
RAY SEFO:
In stacking this card and WSOF 11 with title fights, are you worried about possibly burning out some of your future title matches?
“Absolutely not. We have great talent and all these guys have obviously proven themselves. When we stack up a card it’s because we have the talent to stack up a card. We have the likes of (Jon) Fitch, Justin (Gaethje), Nick Newell, Josh Burkman, and the list goes on and on. These are big names in the sport. Because this is our first NBC mothership fight card it’s only right for us to put some of our top fighters on this card. I believe from Day 1 we have put on amazing cards and we will continue to and get bigger and bigger.”
Is there any decision on where WSOF 12 in August will be held?
“There are a couple of locations right now but we haven’t finalized anything. Obviously we will announce that in the coming weeks. But it will definitely be in the U.S.”
ALI ABDELAZIZ:
“Here we go again with WSOF 10. We have some great fights from top to bottom… This machine is not going to stop. We want to be the best show in the world. We want to be the best MMA show on the planet, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Jessica Aguilar is the No. 1 115-pound woman in the world. She’s the complete package and she’s been around the sport for a long time. She’s a true veteran of MMA.”
Is there any idea who would be in line for the winner of the Branch-Taylor fight?
“Yes, if you go by the rankings, most likely the winner of this fight would fight Yushin Okami. This is probably the next matchup but we will have to see. We have a big fight on our hands and I believe both David Branch and Jesse Taylor on June 21 have something to prove because they are fighting for the first-ever World Series of Fighting Middleweight title. I’m sure they are both going to put on a great fight for the fans and I just can’t wait for this fight.”
DAVID BRANCH:
“I’m a fighter that doesn’t have any weakness. I don’t have any holes in my game. Wrestling, jiu-jitsu, striking, cage wrestling. It doesn’t matter. I’m ready for everything. I don’t just prepare for wrestling. That’s how I’ve always prepared. There are some people that have similar styles and so you have to go with something else, but I’m not worried if I have to fight from my back.
“I would love to get the finish (knockout), but I don’t rush anything. If it’s there and I get the opportunity I would definitely take it. There’s no doubt about it. That’s always been my style.
“For me it’s all mental. I’ve had a few holes in my game that I’ve had to change up. I’ve been working hard and I’m a hard worker and I’ve been doing everything possible to sharpen up my game. I think one of the turning points was talking to Dan Gable. He started telling me stuff about my game I really didn’t even know, and it was a really cool talk. From then on I just realized that I a Goddamn beast and I just went out there and started hurting dudes, in training and in fights. I just turned into a completely different person and I just don’t give a damn. When it’s time to go out there it’s time to smash.”
“This title would mean the world to me. I’ve been traveling the globe, and it’s hard to get respect in this sport. I’m going to show my skills next Saturday on this high-level show.
“The last time I fought in Las Vegas was back in the old Ultimate Fighter days. So it’s kind of sentimental and feels like I’ve come full circle. I get another chance and I don’t want to lose out on this second opportunity.”
GEORGI KARAKHANYAN:
“I don’t care about the respect and all of that; I just go in there and fight my fights. I’m just happy that I became the first champion for such a great organization as World Series of Fighting and I’m looking to go out there on June 21 and, like always, putting on an exciting show. I have a very tough opponent in front of me and I’m ready for everything. I can’t wait.”
RICK GLENN:
“This is a huge opportunity. It was unfortunate I wasn’t able to make the fight in December, but thankful that they have given me the opportunity for this fight now so I get my shot. It means the world to me. It sucked to have to back out of a fight and I’ve never had to do that before. It sucked knowing I should be in there and watching (Karakhanyan-Palmer). They are both solid opponents. I’m not really thinking about belts and stuff, and I’m just really looking forward to this fight.”
JESSICA AGUILAR:
Do you feel like you’re the best strawweight fighter in the world?
“Yes, I do. I’ve been in the sport for about eight and a half years now and I’ve fought some top-level contenders and I’ve beaten the best of the best. So at this point I’ve proven myself over and over again and I feel like I’m No. 1 in the world in my weight class. My next goal is to be pound for pound the best female fighter in the world. So I’ll keep proving myself till I get there.
“(Emi Fujino) has fought in all different aspects of MMA. She has fought some of the same opponents as I have… A lot of people don’t know these Japanese fighters. They come out like Samurais. It’s do or die.”
