World Series of Fighting 3 Preview
The Prelims
John
Gunderson has more wins than anyone on the WSOF 3 card. | Photo: D.
Mandel/Sherdog.com
Lightweights
John Gunderson (34-14-2, 0-0 WSOF) vs. Dan Lauzon (16-4, 0-0 WSOF): A three-time UFC competitor, Gunderson will look to control the action with top control-based grappling; however, if his takedowns are thwarted, he is vulnerable to a balanced standup attack. In recent bouts, Gunderson has shown improved work from his back, and Lauzon must be wary of his crafty submission game. Lauzon -- who went 0-3 in the Octagon -- needs to make his Gunderson fight from his back because his boxing cannot win the fight by itself. Lauzon has not proven he can beat higher-level competition. Gunderson takes this by submission.
Featherweights
Jeff Smith (10-1, 0-0 WSOF) vs. Jerrod Sanders (11-1, 0-0 WSOF): Anchored at American Top Team OKC, Sanders has not lost since submitting to a rear-naked choke from Jeremy Spoon at Bellator 37. Smith, a late replacement for the injured Chris Gruetzemacher, has been similarly successful, winning 10 fights in a row since dropping his professional debut in 2009. Smith also fell short in a preliminary bout against Jeremy Larsen during Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Smith wins by submission in round two.
Bantamweights
Carson Beebe (13-2, 0-0 WSOF) vs. Joe Murphy (6-0, 0-0 WSOF): Beebe, the younger brother of former World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion Chase Beebe, looks to rebound from a November loss to Rolando Velasco at Tachi Palace Fights 15. In that contest, Beebe struggled to combat Velasco’s takedowns and aggressive standup attack. He will be the most difficult test to date for Murphy, who has earned five of his six career victories by way of submission. Beebe fares better when he can control the wrestling aspect of a fight, which he does here to win a decision.
Middleweights
Krasimir Mladenov (9-0, 0-0 WSOF) vs. Kendrick Miree (5-0, 0-0 WSOF): Miree, a product of American Top Team Atlanta, has finished all but one of his victories inside of a round. Mladenov, a 27-year-old Bulgarian wrestler, last appeared on the undercard of Ricardo Mayorga’s bizarre MMA debut, submitting O.J. Aguilar with a keylock 2:06 into the first round. Mladenov captures a decision.
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