World Series of Fighting 27 Results & Play-by-Play

Wes Sharp vs. Alvin Williams

Round 1

The southpaw Williams takes the center of the cage and lunges at Sharp with a long left hand, but “The Punching Preacher” circles out of harm’s way. Sharp moves to the middle but Williams walks after him and moves him toward the fence again. Williams fakes to get Sharp leaning right, then rears up with a left high kick that catches Sharp on the side of the head and sends him to the canvas. Williams moves in to drop follow-up punches on his dazed opponent, but referee Herb Dean intervenes before he can do any further damage.

The Official Result

Alvin Williams def. Wes Sharp via KO (Head Kick) R1 0:30

Zach Underwood vs. Jason Williams

Round 1

Underwood tries to catch a kick and run Williams against the cage, but “The Troublemaker” reverses and puts Underwood on his back at the base of the fence. Underwood threatens with a guillotine choke and holds the neck as he works his way back to his feet. He releases the choke and works on holding Williams against the cage, where the lightweights jockey for position at the 90-second mark. Suddenly, while driving on a single-leg takedown, Underwood appears to blow out his right knee and hits the ground face-first. Williams sprawls and pounds away with punches until referee Herb Dean recognizes that Underwood is injured. Dean has some difficulty prying away Williams, but eventually the fight is halted and the medics are called in to tend to Underwood.

The Official Result

Jason Williams def. Zach Underwood via TKO (Knee Injury) R1 1:28

Justin Hartley vs. Wade Johnson

Round 1

Hartley takes an early grab at the legs of Johnson, who denies the attempt and backs up to flick a few jabs. Hartley steps forward with his outstretched hand open and gives Johnson a poke in the right eye. The action resumes after a few seconds and referee Herb Dean quickly warns Hartley to keep his fingers tucked. Johnson counters a leg kick with a right hand over the top, then shuts down a single-leg attempt and gives Hartley a chop on the lead leg. Johnson is inching forward on Hartley, connecting with combinations and leg kicks but taking his time with the strikes. Another combo tags Hartley and leaves him spinning to the ground as he tries to return fire with a desperate right hand. As Johnson fires on his downed opponent, Hartley powers back to his feet and pins Johnson against the fence. Hartley looks to be recovering as he holds Johnson on the cage, and with 90 seconds left, Hartley finally finishes a takedown. Johnson is back on his feet within 20 seconds, just missing a right high kick as Hartley ducks underneath. Now it’s Johnson’s turn to hit a takedown, but he’s quickly reversed and the welterweights scramble up to their feet. A cracking left hook sends Hartley crashing to the canvas, but it’s only a flash knockdown and referee Dean doesn’t stop the fight. Johnson tries to lock up a guillotine choke but time runs out.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Johnson
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Johnson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Johnson

Round 2

Referee Dean calls time before the start of round two and summons the doctor to check on Johnson, whose left eye is badly swollen. The swelling is underneath the eye and doesn’t seem to be impairing Johnson’s vision, and he’s cleared to continue. After a slow start to the round, Johnson drives forward on Hartley and shoves him against the cage. The ref once again warns Hartley to keep his hands closed during striking exchanges. Hartley reverses and latches on to a single-leg, planting Johnson on his posterior about two minutes into the round. Hartley looks to lock up Johnson’s neck, drops down for the anaconda choke but doesn’t have the position to finish, and Johnson pops his head free. Johnson tries to jump on Hartley’s back for a quick rear-naked choke attempt, transitions to an armbar but can’t get that either. The 170-pounders get back to their feet with under a minute remaining in the round. Johnson gives Hartley an inside leg kick, a jab, then tries to rush him at the fence. Hartley sidesteps and uses Johnson’s momentum to run him to the ground as time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Hartley
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Hartley
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hartley

Round 3

Johnson walks Hartley toward the fence in a wide southpaw stance but doesn’t let his hands go, maybe looking to counter. Hartley swings and sure enough Johnson is waiting to throw hands, and a left hook gets Hartley’s attention. Hartley drops levels and hits a double-leg takedown at the fence, then passes to side control on Johnson’s right side. As he works for a mounted crucifix, Hartley loses the position, allowing Johnson to get to his knees. Hartley looks to catch him in the transition and take the back, but Johnson powers back to his feet with just over 2:00 on the clock. Johnson is throwing shots now, catching Hartley with some hard right hands as he walks him across the cage. Hartley reverses course, shoots low and completes another double near the fence, now with 90 seconds left to fight. Hartley stands to adjust his position, catches Johnson driving forward and spins to take the back. He secures the position with hooks and tries to soften up Johnson with punches for a choke attempt. Johnson peels him off and gets to his feet, but Hartley tags him with a pair of good right hands before the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Hartley (29-28 Hartley)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Hartley (28-28 Draw)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hartley (28-28 Draw)

The Official Result

Wade Johnson def. Justin Hartley via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Jaleel Willis vs. Chauncey Foxworth

Round 1

Willis goes straight after a takedown, wrestles Foxworth to the mat in the middle of the cage and passes to side control. Foxworth escapes out the other side and scrambles to his feet, but Willis stays glued on and drags him back to the floor. Willis works from half guard on Foxworth’s left side now, scooting his opponent toward the fence as they near the midway point of a grapple-heavy opening round. A few hammerfists land for Willis but nothing which seems to hurt Foxworth, who powers back to his feet for a split second before being floored for a third time. Heavy top pressure from Willis, who passes to the side again, lands a few more hammerfists and jumps on the back as Foxworth tries to escape. Willis secures his hooks and slaps on a rear-naked choke with seconds remaining, but Foxworth buys himself time with two-on-one defense and survives to hear the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Willis
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Willis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Willis

Round 2

Willis snaps back the head of Foxworth with a jab and follows up with a hard leg kick. He fails to catch a kick from Foxworth but walks after him and socks the Arkansas fighter with a right hook on the end of a combo. Foxworth lands a leg kick, slips to the ground and jumps back up before Willis can capitalize on the mistake. Foxworth scores with a left hook, then counters a Willis leg kick with a right hand. This sends Willis shooting for a takedown, and after a few seconds of fence grappling, he puts Foxworth on the floor again. Willis postures up in Foxworth’s half guard and puts a forearm across his throat, trying to find some space to throw strikes. Foxworth bridges and explodes back to his feet, where he stays for about three seconds before Willis trips him up again. Willis rides out the final 20 seconds in top position.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Willis
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Willis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Willis

Round 3

The cageside doctor clears Willis to return for round three after examining a deep cut on his face inflicted by a first-round Foxworth elbow strike. Willis hits a takedown and begins spraying blood all over the mat, prompting referee Herb Dean to pause the action and call for the doc again. Willis gets the OK, and the fight resumes back on the floor, with Willis in side control on Foxworth’s right side. Foxworth rolls to his knees, blood from Willis’ face now coating half of his body, and slowly works back to his feet. The welterweights slip and slide on the bloody canvas for a few seconds before Willis hits a bodylock takedown. Referee Dean calls time once again, but the doctor’s opinion still hasn’t changed. Willis is cleared and the fight resumes back on the floor with just under three minutes left to fight. Foxworth works back to his feet but can’t slip free of Willis, who clings to a leg, working for another takedown. Foxworth yanks the leg free and walks forward on Willis, who drops levels and takes down his opponent yet again, now inside the final minute. Foxworth clambers back up for the final time, Willis still wrapped around his waist, and that’s where the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Willis (30-27 Willis)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Willis (30-26 Willis)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Willis (30-27 Willis)

The Official Result

Jaleel Willis def. Chauncey Foxworth via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Jorge Medina vs. Bryce Mitchell

Round 1

Medina slips throwing a kick and has to scramble up as Mitchell tries to rush him and keep him on the floor. As he stands, Medina catches Mitchell in a head-and-arm throw, tossing him to the ground. Mitchell keeps scrambling, catches Medina kneeling and jumps on his back. Within seconds, Mitchell has applied a rear-naked choke, and it looks like a deep one. Medina gets rolled onto his side; trapped in a body triangle with the RNC on tight, he has no choice but to submit.

The Official Result

Bryce Mitchell def. Jorge Medina via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 1:02

Teddy Holder vs. Shamil Gamzatov

Round 1

After a minute of testing the range with jabs and kicks, Gamzatov puts a kick on the inside of Holder’s lead leg and follows with a short left hook. A hard, straight right hand cracks Holder, who winces and takes a step backward as Gamzatov steps forward. The Russian catches Holder with a left hook, another leg kick and a straight right which leaves Holder grabbing his eye. Referee Herb Dean, who was in good position to see the punch, tells Holder to keep fighting. Gamzatov smells blood, lands a pair of leg kicks and a right cross. Holder eats the shot and steps off the fence to throw punches of his own, but he walks straight into a beautiful right-handed counter. Holder’s legs give way and Gamzatov steps over to full mount, landing a few perfunctory left hands until referee Dean steps in to stop the fight.

The Official Result

Shamil Gamzatov def. Teddy Holder via TKO (Punches) R1 2:32

Luiz Firmino vs. Caros Fodor

Round 1

The lightweights meet in the center of the cage and Firmino immediately lights up Fodor with a barrage of punches, knocking “The Future” backward to the fence. As they hit the cage, Firmino digs an underhook and begins working for an outside trip, but Fodor keeps his balance through the first 90 seconds of the fight. “Buscape” drops for a double-leg try, switches to a single, but Fodor keeps his footing. They fight over to the other side of the fence, where Firmino finally completes the takedown and then has to work his way out of a Fodor armbar. The Brazilian extracts his right arm and comes down to flatten out Fodor, possibly framing up an arm-triangle choke as he works to pass half guard. Firmino releases and stands over Fodor but can’t score with any strikes as the longer American uses his legs to keep distance. Firmino comes back to the ground, lands a couple punches and stands again. This time, Fodor trips the veteran to his posterior and drives forward to take top position with 30 seconds remaining. Fodor briefly hunts for a kimura but can’t isolate Firmino’s right arm before time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Firmino
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Firmino
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Firmino

Round 2

Both men stick jabs in the opening moments of the round, then Fodor comes across the center with a swiping left hand. Fodor walks Firmino backward to the fence, where “Buscape” spins him around and pins Fodor to the fence with an underhook. Firmino leans over to try a double-leg takedown but has to work slowly as Fodor threatens to turn a headlock into a guillotine. Another takedown from Firmino lands him in side control on his opponent’s left side, but Fodor quickly reclaims half guard. Back to side control goes Firmino, now halfway through the round and the fight, and now he passes to full mount. Firmino briefly looks for the arm-triangle setup, but Fodor is a step ahead of him and blocks it. A few seconds later, Firmino tries to muscle the arm-triangle choke from full mount, but he’s too high and Fodor nearly sweeps. A nice ankle pick from Firmino keeps him in top position, although Fodor is able to push him back to full guard as they fight inside the final minute of the frame. Fodor explodes to his feet with 20 seconds on the clock, but Firmino stays on his knees, working for a single-leg takedown until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Firmino
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Firmino
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Firmino

Round 3

Fodor taps Firmino’s face with a few good jabs as the tired lightweights circle the center of the cage. Firmino isn’t doing much with his hands until a minute in, when he gets Fodor’s attention with a left hand on the temple. “Buscape” drives on Fodor’s legs and runs him against the fence, hunting for another takedown. Fodor looks for a guillotine but Firmino stands up to get his neck out of harm’s way, and now the Brazilian continues to muscle Fodor on the chain link. There’s not enough action for referee Herb Dean, who rightfully breaks up the fighters with 2:30 on the clock. Fodor walks forward on his opponent, pawing at the exhausted Brazilian with jabs, but Firmino puts him right back against the cage. Firmino attacks Fodor’s left leg, digging hard for one more takedown as they hit the final 60 seconds of fighting. Referee Dean tells Firmino to work or risk losing the position. Firmino doesn’t get any busier, though he switches between a body lock and double-leg takedown attempt for the last minute, which is enough to keep him on the outside position to the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Fodor (29-28 Firmino)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Fodor (29-28 Firmino)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Fodor (29-28 Firmino)

The Official Result

Luiz Firmino def. Caros Fodor via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00