The World Series of Fighting returns on Thursday night as the promotion will be holding a fight card at the Edmonton Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the main card will air live on NBCSN.
The event will kick off with the online preliminary card on WSOF.com at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with two fights and final three preliminary bouts will air after the main card at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
The main card on NBCSN will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will be headlined by a title fight as Marlon Moraes defends the bantamweight title against Josh Hill.
Below is a pre-fight statistical breakdown of the four fights that will take place on the main card broadcast on NBCSN.
Marlon Moraes (14-4-1) vs. Josh Hill (10-0)
Moraes became the inaugural WSOF bantamweight title last year when he defeated Josh Rettinghouse by unanimous decision and this will be his first title defense. In his last appearance, he submitted Cody Bollinger in a non-title bout at WSOF 13.
- Tied with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje for the most wins in WSOF history.
- His 32-second win at WSOF 6 against Carson Beebe is the second fastest victory in WSOF history.
- Currently on an eight fight winning streak and four of those wins have come by stoppage.
Hill was scheduled to meet Moraes last year, but an injury pulled him out of the fight. This will mark his second WSOF appearance as he won his debut last year against Mike Adams at WSOF Canada 2.
- Four wins by knockout or submission.
- His knockout win against Adams was his first stoppage win since 2010.
- Member of Team Tate during The Ultimate Fighter 18.
Derek Boyle (13-6) vs. Shane Campbell (10-2)
Boyle is currently on a three fight winning streak and he is coming off a TKO win in October against Shawn Fitzsimmongs at Rumble in the Cage 50. This will be his WSOF debut and will be looking for his four fight winning streak in his career.
- Eight wins by TKO/KO.
- Four of his six defeats are by submission.
- Back in 2012, he defeated Dan Ring at MFC 34 in 20-seconds by TKO.
Campbell has won back to back fights and six of his last seven fights. Just like Boyle, this will be his WSOF debut and his last win came in October as he defeated Marcus Edwards by TKO at MFC 41.
- Six wins by TKO/KO or submission.
- Has not made it out of the 2nd Round in his last five fights.
- Holds a 34-second TKO win over Leo Constant.
Mukai Maromo (8-4) vs. Jose Rodriguez (7-3)
Maromo has lost back to back fights and the last defeat same in May against Kurt Southern at MFC 37. Prior to those defeats, he had won five in a row and three of those wins came by stoppage.
- Back in 2011, he defeated Bellator veteran Scott Cleve by TKO in 36-seconds.
- Five wins by TKO/KO or submission.
- His last two defeats have come by north-south choke submission.
Rodriguez will also enter this fight following a defeat as he lost to Boyle at Rumble in the Cage 49 by split decision. Prior to that defeat, he has won back to back fights including an anaconda choke submission against Nick Heynen at EFC 10.
- Six wins by TKO/KO or submission.
- Record of 1-2 when the fight goes to the scorecards.
- Submission victories have come by kimura, armbar, and anaconda choke.
Hakeem Dawodu (3-0) vs. Tristan Johnson (9-5)
All of Dawodu’s fights have come in the WSOF and his last victory came in October against Mike Malott. Two of his three fights have ended in the first round, including the victory over Malott.
- Longest fight of his career happened at WSOF Canada 2 against Jake MacDonald, which finished at the 18-second mark of the second round.
- All three of his victories have come by TKO/KO.
- Fourth fight since turning professional at the beginning of last year.
Johnson has been fighting professionally since 2007 and is coming off a knockout win in June against Keven Morin. He is 4-3 in his last seven fights and two of those wins have come by TKO/KO.
- Four wins by TKO/KO.
- Opened his career 5-0.
- Last defeat came in April of last year against current UFC bantamweight Rob Font.
The current WSOF 18: Moraes vs. Hill fight card lineup is below.
Main Card: (NBCSN – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
Marlon Moraes (13-4-1) vs. Josh Hill (10-0)
Derek Boyle (13-6) vs. Shane Campbell (10-2)
Mukai Maromo (8-4) vs. Jose Rodriguez (7-3)
Hakeem Dawodu (3-0) vs. Tristan Johnson (9-5)
Preliminary Card: (WSOF.com – 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT)
Andrew McInnes (5-1) vs. Cody McKenzie (15-6)
Mark Drummond (6-2) vs. Spencer Jebb (9-3)
Dan Lariviere (3-2) vs. Garret Nybakken (6-6)
Preliminary Card (WSOF.com – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
Matt Baker (11-7) vs. Ali Mokdad (6-3)
Marcus Hicks (19-24) vs. Graham Park (3-1)