The WSOF returns tonight as the promotion will be holding a fight card at the AXIS Theatre inside the Planet Hollywood Resort Casino in Las Vegas.
The event will kick off with the online preliminary card on WSOF.com at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with five fights and the main card will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN.
The event will feature two title fights as Rousimar Palhares defends the welterweight title against Jake Shields in the main event and bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes defends the 135 pound title against Sheymon Moraes.
Below is a pre-fight statistical breakdown of the four fights that will take place on the main card broadcast on NBCSN.
Rousimar Palhares (17-6) vs. Jake Shields (31-7-1, 1NC)
Palhares was signed by the WSOF last year and became the WSOF welterweight champion when he defeated Steve Carl by submission in 69 seconds. He is coming off a successful title defense in December of last year against Jon Fitch and he is currently on a three fight winning streak.
- Victory over Carl is the 2nd fastest stoppage in WSOF title fight history.
- Tied with Shields for 2nd most submissions in WSOF welterweight history.
- Total cage in his two WSOF fights is 2:39.
Shields also entered the WSOF last year and just like Palhares, both of his wins in the WSOF have come by submission. Both of those wins came in the first round and he is coming off a win in January against Brian Foster.
- Both of his WSOF have come by rear-naked choke submission.
- 5-1, 1NC in his last seven fights.
- Prior to entering WSOF, his last submission came in 2009 against Robbie Lawler.
Marlon Moraes (14-4-1) vs. Sheymon Moraes (7-0)
Marlon has been with the WSOF since their inaugural event and he enters this fight on a nine fight winning streak. He became the WSOF bantamweight champion last year when he defeated Josh Rettinghouse and this will be his second title defense.
- Tied with Justin Gaethje for most wins in WSOF history.
- His 32-second knockout victory at WSOF 6 against Carson Beebe is the fastest victory in WSOF bantamweight division history.
- Will become the first fighter in WSOF history with eight fights in the promotion.
Sheymon made his WSOF debut at the end of last year and defeated Gabriel Solorio by split decision. It was the third time in his career that he went to a decision and two of those fights have ended in a split decision.
- Prior to entering WSOF, he defeated Felipe Alves by knockout in 20-seconds.
- All of his stoppage victories have come by TKO/KO.
- Holds a TKO victory over former UFC fighter Pedro Nobre.
Mike Kyle (21-12-1) vs. Clifford Starks (11-2)
Tonight will mark the third WSOF fight for Kyle and he recently snapped a three fight winning streak with a submission win against Baga Agaev. He is 2-3 in his last five fights and both of those wins have come by stoppage.
- Made his professional debut in 2001 and has competed as a light heavyweight and heavyweight.
- Thirteen wins by TKO/KO.
- Twelve wins by stoppage in the first round.
Starks stepped up to take this fight on Monday and is currently on a three fight winning streak. After winning two fights in Bellator, he made his WSOF debut in March and defeated Jake Heun by submission at WSOF 19.
- Won back to back fights by submission.
- Undefeated when the fight goes to the decision (5-0).
- Six wins by knockout or submission.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov (9-1) vs. Jorge Moreno (4-1)
This will be the WSOF debut of Nurmagomedov and he is the younger brother of top UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is entering this fight following a TKO win in February against Vladimir Gunzu and all of his victories have come by stoppage.
- Six wins by TKO/KO, three by submission.
- Has only made it out of the first round once in his career.
- Only defeat in his career came against current UFC lightweight Magomed Mustafaev.
Just like Nurmagomedov, this is the WSOF debut of Moreno. He made his professional debut just over a year ago and after winning his pro debut by decision, his last three wins have come by stoppage.
- Both of his TKO wins have come in the first round.
- Scored a brabo choke submission win earlier this year against Mike Devose.
- Making his welterweight debut.
Jimmy Spicuzza (6-2) vs. Islam Mamedov (11-1)
Spicuzza has gone 3-1 in the WSOF and enters this fight following a split decision win at WSOF 19 against Benny Madrid. Two of his three wins in the promotion have come by decision and his stoppage victory came against Gil Guardado.
- His victory over Guardado is the 4th fastest submission victory in WSOF lightweight history.
- Tied for 2nd most wins in WSOF lightweight history with Nick Newell and Roger Alves.
- All of his stoppage victories have come by submission.
Mamedov won his WSOF debut in April with a first round victory against Leon Davis. He has won ten in a row after starting 1-1 in his career and he has only gone to the decision twice in his career.
- Nine wins by stoppage (7 submissions, 2 TKO/KO).
- Seven wins have come in the opening round.
- Only defeat came in 2009 against Bellator lightweight Alexander Sarnavskiy.
The WSOF 22: Palhares vs. Shields fight card is below.
Main Card: (NBCSN – 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT)
Rousimar Palhares (17-6) vs. Jake Shields (31-7-1, 1NC)
Marlon Moraes (14-4-1) vs. Sheymon Moraes (7-0)
Mike Kyle (21-12-1) vs. Clifford Starks (11-2)
Abubakar Nurmagomedov (9-1) vs. Jorge Moreno (4-1)
Jimmy Spicuzza (6-2) vs. Islam Mamedov (11-1)
Preliminary Card: (WSOF.com – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
Jake Heun (7-4) vs. Davin Clark (5-2-2)
Donavon Frelow (4-0) vs. Carlos Garcia (0-0)
Jimmy Jones (4-3) vs. Marco Simmons (0-0)
Cory Hendricks (2-0) vs. Julio Hinojosa (3-1)
Gil Guardado (3-1) vs. Pete Martin (5-3)