(PRESS RELEASE) -- LAS VEGAS — Tickets for the highly-anticipated, live NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)-televised World Series of Fighting (www.wsof.com) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) championship tripleheader event at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. go on sale tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. EST.
“We are excited to return to the state of Florida with what is, without a doubt, going to be the most exciting and highest stakes World Series of Fighting event since we launched our live event series in 2012,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.
“On Nov. 15,” continued Sefo, “the fates of three world champions and their respective, top contender opponents will be determined, and the landscape of three of our weight divisions could potentially change dramatically.”
In the main event, World Series of Fighting Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt David Branch (14-3) of Brooklyn, N.Y. will put his title on the line against superstar Yushin “Thunder” Okami (30-8) of Kawaski, Kanagawa Japan.
The co-main event will see undefeated, reigning lightweight (155 pounds) champion Justin Gaethje (12-0) of Safford, Ariz. defend his crown against fellow KO artist Melvin Guillard (32-13-2, 2 NC) of New Orleans, La.
In a third world championship showdown, women’s strawweight (115 pounds) champion and submission expert Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (18-4) of Houston, Texas will risk her title against fast-paced finisher Kalindra Faria (15-3) of Taubate, Sao Paulo Brazil.
Additional matchups will be announced soon. The card is subject to change.
The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:00 p.m. EST.
David Branch vs. Yushin Okami
The 34-year-old Branch, a protégé of all-time great Renzo Gracie, will also put on the line a four-fight win streak that he ignited with a unanimous decision over dangerous power puncher Dustin Jacoby at the inaugural World Series of Fighting event on Nov. 3, 2012.
Following wins over superstar Paulo Filho and Danillo Villefort, respectively, Branch was crowned the first middleweight champion in World Series of Fighting history on June 21 when he made quick work of Jesse Taylor, submitting the former NCAA wrestling standout with a d’arce choke in the first round (1:41) of action.
Okami, a 33-year-old, top 10 world ranked contender, will make his second start in the World Series of Fighting decagon cage, following a spectacular second round (4:46) submission (arm-triangle choke) of Svetlozar Savov on March 29.
A 12-year veteran of the sport, Okami has finished 50 percent of his opponents and boasts victories over a host of fellow marquee competitors, including Hector Lombard, Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz and Alan Belcher.
Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard
The 25-year-old Gaethje has been tearing through MMA’s professional lightweight division, running to 12 consecutive victories, 11 of which have come by either (T)KO or submission. On Jan. 18, Gaethje was crowned the first-ever World Series of Fighting lightweight champion after he decimated Richard Patishnock with a barrage of punches and elbow strikes in the first round (1:09) of their matchup. Gaethje defended his title for the first time on the first-ever live NBC broadcast of a World Series of Fighting event, scoring a second round (3:09) TKO on Nick Newell on July 5.
Gaethje’s opponent, the 31-year-old Guillard, holds the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) record for the most victories (8) by way of (T)KO. A member of master trainer Greg Jackson’s elite fight squad, Guillard made his World Series of Fighting debut live on NBC, scoring a thunderous, second round (2:36) TKO (punches and elbow strikes) on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Gesias “J.Z.” Cavalcante on July 5.
Jessica Aguilar vs. Kalindra Faria
Recognized as the world’s top 115 pound fighter in the sport’s women’s division and a top 5 pound-for-pound competitor, the 32-year-old Aguilar is aiming for her 10th consecutive victory and her 3rd straight in the World Series of Fighting cage. On Jan. 18, the Mexican American superstar became the first World Series of Fighting women’s champion in history after submitting Alida Gray with an arm-triangle choke in the first round (2:45) of battle.
Faria will make her World Series of Fighting debut, riding a spectacular, 11-fight win streak that dates back to Aug. 6, 2011. To date, the 28-year-old has produced finishes in 10 of her 15 career professional victories.
About "World Series of Fighting" (WSOF) "World Series of Fighting" (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow "World Series of Fighting" on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and "World Series of Fighting" President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
About NBC Sports Network NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America's Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
About Global Spectrum Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the USF Sun Dome, as well as more than 120 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 24-million people attended more than 15,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor, which operates in 48 of the 50 United States, also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.