WSOF 20 ‘Branch vs. McElligott’ Results: Play-by-Play & Updates

Ozzy Dugulubgov vs. Lucas Montoya

Round 1

They meet in the center of the decagon but are passive and cautious. Montoya winds up and launches a monster of a right hand but it misses wildly. Dugulubgov is backing up, looking for an opening as Montoya begins to press the issue more. Dugulubgov shoots in and gets the takedown, but Montoya latches on a somewhat tight guillotine.

The Russian pops his head and tries to ground-n-pound but Montoya defends well. After a short while, Dugulubgov tries to pop out his foe’s guard, Montoya attempts a triangle but it’s too loose and within seconds, the submission is gone. A lack of action prompts the ref to stand them up, but Montoya is grimacing and holding his right arm. It appears as though it’s broken and the ref stops the action, bringing in the doctors. Montoya sits down on a stool as the fight is called. Replays shows the arm being broken from a kick.

The Official Result

Ozzy Dugulubgov def. Lucas Montoya via TKO (Arm Injury) R1 3:39

Steve Mocco vs. Juliano Coutinho

Round 1

The heavyweights circle each other cautiously for the first 30 seconds before anything is thrown. Mocco misses with a loopy overhand right, but the Brazilian doesn’t counter. Mocco cracks him with a straight right but even though it’s mostly blocked, Coutinho stumbles to his side, shaken by the punch. He recovers quickly and disallows “Bear” to follow up.

Coutinho goes to the body with left kick, but he eats another right hand, which he absorbs. With some reddening forming on the left side of Coutinho’s face, Mocco tags him with another right hand. “Banana” slips after another punch and he’s on his back. Mocco takes his time, stands over him and begins to unload. Coutinho rolls over and turtles up, but the American is all over him, raining down punches. Countinho can’t escape and isn’t defending too well and Mirgliotta has no choice but to step in and halt the mugging.

The Official Result

Steve Mocco def. Juliano Coutinho via TKO (Punches) R1 4:02

Emmanuel Walo vs. Ben Fodor

Round 1

Jones storms out to meet Walo in the center of the cage, but nothing noteworthy lands from either. They trade blows and once Phoneix’s back is against the fence, Walo scoops him up and takes him down. Jones scrambles to his feet but Walo is all over him, taking him down again. In Jones’ guard against the cage, Walo is holding tight. Jones is able to wall walk up to his feet but they still clinch. The part-time crime fighter switches position and eventually breaks free. After a brief pause where they circle, Walo dives in and scores another easy takedown, landing in Jones’ closed guard. Walo is staying high on his foe’s chest but he’s not throwing strikes or looking to pass. They are stood up, where Jones misses a left hook and then slammed onto his back again. With 30 seconds left, Walo is again holding position, but this time he’s throwing a few moderate strikes. All Walo. 10-9 Walo.

Round 2

Phoenix storms out of his corner and goes right at Walo, throwing kicks and punches. Walo defends them all and then clinches, his back against the cage. Jones is looking for a single, but Walo is defending it well. Walo reverses position, gets over/under and then drags Phoenix to the canvas. Jones again pulls full guard, but he’s not looking for any submissions or sweeps. Jones opens his hips and appears to be searching for an oma plata, but He’s not close. Walo defends it easily and scoots the Seattle fighter into the cage. Jones eventually pulls to closed guard again, nullifying any advances. Jones scrambles up to his feet but Walo is all over him, not letting him escape. After securing double underhooks, Walo easily tosses his rival onto his back, landing in side control before slipping into half guard. Walo stands up, unfurls a right hand but Jones sucks him back into closed guard. With a dozen ticks of the clock remaining, they are stood up. Jones is able to land a left hook, but it’s partially blocked at the bell. 10-9 Walo.

Round 3

Jones keeps his distance as he looks to strike while chasing down Walo. He can’t crack him with anything clean before Walo closes the gap and clinches. Jones lets go of the single leg attempt and pops him with a left hand, but Walo rolls with it, shoots in, and then scores another takedown. Jones latches on a guillotine, but it’s not terribly tight. After a short while, the Jersey City fighter pops his head out. Jones wall walks back up to his feet, but Walo is on his hips, not letting him free. They separate and Jones nails him with a few decent left hands. Walo, now looking gassed, shoots in but misses the takedown.

Jones delivers two right uppercuts that land and Walo is exhausted. Jones can’t keep it in the feet and is taken down after missing a combo. They are stood up with 90 seconds remaining in the fight; Jones needs a knockout or submission to win. Jones walks him down, looking for the KO but Walo shoots in. He drags him onto the canvas, where Phoenix pulls guard. They scramble on the ground and with 30 seconds left, Jones locks in a triangle. It’s a bit too loose and Walo escapes it. They stand back up just as the bell ends the fight. Very close round that could have gone either way. 10-9 Jones (29-28 Walo).

The Official Result

Emmanuel Walo def. Ben Fodor via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Nick Newell vs. Joe Condon

Round 1

Condon comes out tentatively, tossing out a few light low kicks. Newell misses with a sweeping right hand, keeping his distance. Newell delivers a left kick to his foe’s gut and then clinches. Newell attacks the leg again after they separate. Condon backs up and nails Newell with a right hand. Newell unloads a furious right hook but he misses badly; Condon doesn’t attack with a counter. Condon is playing is cautiously, looking for an opening. “The Technician” goes to the body and legs with some kicks, but they are more range-finding than anything. Newell answers the attacks with two thudding left kicks to the stomach with about 90 seconds remaining. Newell continues to pound his shin off Condon’s ribs. Newell shoots in with 30 seconds left and slams his foe down, quickly taking his back. He gets his hooks in deep and searches for the rear-naked choke, but the bell betrays him. 10-9 Newell.

Round 2

“Notorious” Nick opens the round with the lead left kick to the body. Condon seems a little perplexed by Newell’s style, not really opening up his offense. Newell continues to rake the body with kicks and then mouths to Condon to “bring it on”. Newell shoots in but Condon stuffs him. They clinch against the cage, where Newell executes a perfect hip toss. Condon shoots up to his feet but he is pressed up against the fence again. Newell is all over him, looking to drag him onto the canvas again. The Connecticut fighter goes for a single, scoops Condon up but can’t finish the takedown. Newell switches to Condon’s back and then scoots over for another single leg attempt. Condon scrambles out and shoots in for a takedown of his own, but Newell sees it coming from a mile away and sprawls. With 40 seconds left, they separate on their feet where Newell cracks him with another thudding kick to the stomach. Newell grabs a foot and drags him down, landing in Condon’s guard just before the bell. All Newell. 10-9 Newell.

Round 3

Condon throws a right kick to the body, but Newell catches it. From there, Condon peppers him with right hands until Newell lets go. A few moments later, Newell shoots in for another takedown but he’s stuffed. Newell is starting to look a little fatigued as he kneels down, with Condon across his back. They stand up and clinch along the fence. Newell looks for a standing guillotine and then drops to his side to sink it, but Condon is too slippery. Newell turtles up after missing the sub where Condon goes to the side, landing meager hammer strikes.

Newell stands up and separates; he is exhausted. Halfway through the round, it appears that Condon needs to go for broke, but he’s staying off the gas pedal. Newell shoots in and misses, allowing Condon to take his back. They reset in the center where they both gasp for air. They take turns landing glancing right hands. Newell goes for a single when he catches a kick. Condon switches to a standing kimura but he misses it and finds himself caught in a deep guillotine. Newell drops down to close the show and it’s deep. Condon continuously gives the thumb’s up sign to the ref until the bell ends the fight. Very close round but Condon nabs it. 10-9 Condon (29-28 Newell).

The Official Result

Nick Newell def. Joe Condon via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

David Branch vs. Jesse McElligott

Round 1

McElligott paws with the jab, looking a little passive. Branch unfurls a vicious kick but it’s blocked. McElligott clinches, but Branch drives him in to the cage. They clinch for a short while until Branch slams the late-replacement fighter onto his back. McElligott is able to recover into half guard, but Branch is all over him. McElligott is looking to sweep and escape, but the defending WSOF middleweight champ won’t allow it. Branch controls him for a solid minute, but he’s unable to dish out some ground-and-pound. Finally, McElligott is able to achieve full guard, but Branch begins to stick him with repeated right hands. Branch isn’t looking to break the guard; rather, he’s content pounding away with short punches. Branch lands three decent left elbows and then follows those up with some right punches. McElligott is frustrated as he can’t get Branch off him and instead opts to suck the Brooklyn fighter closer, possibly aiming for a stall. McElligott tries to trap the left arm of Branch, but he can’t get anything by the time the bell ends the round. All Branch. 10-9 Branch.

Round 2

McElligott again starts the frame with a series of pawing right jabs. He throws a decent right side kick but then eats a right hand in return. McElligott continues to paw with the jab and then lands a straight left. Branch walks through it and then lands a powerful knee on the inside. McElligott is shaken and then backs into the cage. Branch tees off on his woozy opponent but the he shoots in for a takedown. He easily takes McElligott down and lands in side control. McElligott has a hold of Branch’s neck and doesn’t let go. He applies a deep shoulder choke and within seconds, McElligott is unconscious. Mirgliotta immediately pries Branch free, ending the fight.

The Official Result

David Branch def. Jesse McElligott via Technical Submission (Shoulder Choke) R2 1:28