Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. D.J. Linderman: Complete WSOF 1 Fight Preview

A jam-packed weekend of MMA fights is on deck once again, as the highly anticipated World Series of Fighting debuts. A new league attempting to roll with the big boys, WSOF brings a card packed with a multitude of recognizable faces and some slick match-making for their first show.

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. DJ Linderman:

An unprecedented and compelling story continues to unfold before us at WSOF, as disgraced fighter Anthony Johnson looks to salvage his future, facing former heavyweight DJ Linderman at 205lbs. While Johnson’s failure to make-weight after a career at 170lbs became a running joke in the MMA community, the sad reality of his body shutting itself down seems to be lost on many. With no ability to “cut” to a reasonable fighting weight, Johnson took a bold step in his career, going for a monster in the 170lb division to fighting at his walking weight at a 205lber. This has required a complete overhaul of his lifestyle and fighting style, as the strong-arm tactics he employed at Welterweight will get him nowhere as the smaller man. Having found success this far in this journey, he’ll take on his biggest challenge yet, both physically and technically.

DJ Linderman is a busy man. Splitting his time between Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight, Linderman has proven to be a tougher fighter than most give him credit for. Having natural grace for a large man, Linderman has parlayed this into one of the better boxing games you’ll see in this weight class, complete with some Roy Jones Jr style movement. Having stunned some true Heavyweights with his speed, Linderman will have to adjust against the faster still Johnson in what could be the most important fight of both men’s careers.

Miguel Torres vs. Marlon Moraes:

A legend of the lighter weights, Torres got onto the bottom floor of MMA and quickly carved out a place for himself. A long time champion in the Bantamweight division, Torres was an absolute nightmare for years before being put away by Brian Bowles. From there, Torres found his climb back to the top to be harder than expected, being unable to secure enough wins to keep him at the top of the division and eventually finding himself out of the UFC all together. Perhaps the most talented “free agent” on the planet, Torres will compare skills with the vast MMA world and once again make that run toward championship status.

Moraes finds himself in a tough and dangerous fight, but one he’s not entirely unprepared for. Moraes brings an exciting striking style full of dynamite in the pocket, inventive counters, and championship BJJ to make you think twice about making it a ground fight. While Torres has an impressive bag of tools, Moraes could shock the world if the former Bantamweight title holder doesn’t come into this fight ready to rumble.

The weekend in MMA will also see Bellator 79 and another episode of The Ultimate Fighter 16.

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