Tag Archives: Louis Taylor

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

UNDEFEATED PHIL HAWES REPLACES SHAMIL GAMZATOV AGAINST LOUIS TAYLOR AT WSOF32: MORAES VS. HILL II

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Fresh off his promotional debut victory, undefeated middleweight Phil Hawes (left) will return to the World Series of Fighting cage to face Louis Taylor on Saturday, July 30, live on NBCSN at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT from the XFINITY Arena in Everett, Wash. Photo credit: Ryan Loco/World Series of Fighting

LIVE ON NBCSN FROM EVERETT, WASH.
ON SATURDAY, JULY 30

LAS VEGAS (June 29, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that undefeated, top prospect Phil Hawes (4-0) will make a quick turnaround and step back in the decagon cage just six weeks after his promotional debut, and will square off with Louis “Put The Guns Down” Taylor (12-3) in a middleweight (185 pounds) contest at WSOF32, live on NBCSN at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT from XFINITY Arena in Everett, Wash. on Saturday, July 30.

Hawes of Little Ferry, N.J. will replace Shamil Gamzatov, another undefeated, rising star in the World Series of Fighting stable, after Gamzatov was forced to withdraw from the commitment due to a personal issue.

“We hope to see Shamil back in action soon, and we salute Phil Hawes for having the courage and willpower to return to action less than two months after his first fight with us,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

In his first start for World Series of Fighting on June 17, the 6-foot, 27-year-old Hawes made quick work of Joshua Key, scoring a first round (2:52) TKO on Key with a series of elbow strikes.

A product of the Jackson-Winklejohn camp in Albuquerque, N.M., Hawes was a 2009 junior college national wrestling champion for Iowa Central Community College, also the alma mater of Jackson-Winklejohn teammate and UFC champion Jon “Bones” Jones.

Taylor of Chicago, Ill. is a 5-foot-11, 37-year-old, battle-tested veteran of World Series of Fighting, Strikeforce and Bellator, and a devastating finisher who has earned 11 of his 12 career wins by way of (T)KO or submission.

In his last start and debut for World Series of Fighting on March 12, Taylor extended his win streak to five consecutive bouts by submitting Cory Develain just 29 seconds with a guillotine choke.

Priced from $29, tickets for WSOF32: Moraes vs. Hill II are on sale at XFINITYArenaEverett.com and WSOF.com.

In the world bantamweight (135 pounds) championship main event, Marlon Moraes 16-4-1) will defend his coveted title for the second time against Josh “Gentleman” Hill (14-1) while, in the co-main event and a second world championship rematch, Alexandre “Capitao” Almeida (18-5) will put his featherweight (145 pounds) belt on the line against the fighter he took it from –Lance Palmer (10-2).

In other action on the live NBCSN telecast, costumed crime fighter Phoenix Jones (6-1-1) aka Ben Fodor of Seattle, Wash. will look to settle his rivalry with adopted brother Caros “The Future” Fodor (10-5) of Seattle in a 162-pound catchweight affair.

Unbeaten featherweights Hakeem “Mean” Dawodu (5-0-1) and Marat Magomedov (7-0-1) will square off in a preliminary card bout.

Additional preliminary card bouts for WSOF32 will be announced soon.
mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING FINALIZES MAIN CARD FOR WSOF32 WITH SHAMIL GAMZATOV VS. LOUIS TAYLOR

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LIVE ON NBCSN FROM EVERETT, WASH.
ON SATURDAY, JULY 30

Plus undefeated featherweight rivals
Hakeem Dawodu and Marat Magomedov collide
in preliminary card rematch

LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the completion of the live NBCSN (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT) televised portion of its WSOF32 world championship doubleheader, with the addition of a middleweight (185 pounds) contest between undefeated sensation Shamil Gamzatov (10-0) and red-hot finisher Louis “Put The Guns Down” Taylor  (12-3).

In addition, the league announced the first WSOF32 preliminary bout, a much-anticipated rematch between a pair of unbeaten featherweight (145 pound) rivals in Hakeem “Mean” Dawodu (5-0-1) and Marat Magomedov (7-0-1).

WSOF32: Moraes vs. Hill II takes place at Xfinity Arena at Everett on Saturday, July 30.  In the world bantamweight (135 pounds) championship main event, reigning kingpin Marlon Moraes (16-4) will risk his title for the second time against challenger Josh “Gentleman” Hill (14-1).

Since he made his professional debut with a second round (1:35) TKO (punches) on Murat Aibazov on January 30, 2012, the 6-foot-2, 25-year-old Gamzatov of Dagestan, Russia has been an unstoppable force, defeating all of his opponents by way of either (T)KO or submission in either the first or second round of action.

In his last start and debut inside the World Series of Fighting decagon on January 23, Gamzatov scored a thunderous, first round (2:32) TKO (punches) on Teddy Holder.

The 5-foot-11, 37-year-old Taylor of Chicago, Ill. is riding a five-fight win streak that he ignited on December 14, 2012 with a first round (4:12) KO (punch) on Joe Vedepo.

Taylor, who has earned 11 of his 12 career wins via (T)KO or submission, made an explosive promotional debut for World Series of Fighting in his last appearance at WSOF29 on March 12, finishing Cory Devela in just 29 seconds with a guillotine choke submission.

A protégé of famed Muay Thai trainer Mike Miles, the 5-foot-8, 24-year-old Dawodu of Calgary, Alberta, Canada launched his professional career inside the World Series of Fighting decagon on February 21, 2014 when he scored a first round (1:07) KO (punch) on Behrang Yousefi.

Following his successful debut, Dawodu claimed four consecutive victories – all by way of (T)KO – under the World Series of Fighting banner, before facing off with Magomedov last December 18.  Following three rounds of battle, the fight was declared a majority draw.

The 5-foot-8, 25-year-old Magomedov of Dagestan is a combat Sambo specialist who has claimed all but one of his wins by way of submission, beginning with his professional debut on July 1, 2011 when he forced Dzhambulat Magomedov to tap out from a triangle choke in the first round (3:40) of their matchup.

Additional preliminary card bouts for WSOF32 will be announced soon.

Priced from $29, tickets for WSOF32: Moraes vs. Hill II are on sale at XFINITYArenaEverett.com and WSOF.com.

In the world featherweight championship co-main event, Alexandre “Capitao” Almeida (18-5) will defend his title for the first time against the fighter he took it from – Lance Palmer (10-2).

In other action on the live NBCSN telecast, costumed crime fighter Phoenix Jones (6-1-1) aka Ben Fodor of Seattle, Wash. will look to settle his rivalry with adopted brother Caros “The Future” Fodor (10-5) of Seattle in a 162-pound catchweight affair.
mixed martial arts, MMA, NBC, World Series of Fighting

THREE NEW MATCHUPS COMPLETE WSOF29: GAETHJE VS. FOSTER MAIN CARD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 12

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NEW, LIVE NBCSN START TIME OF 10 P.M. ET
FROM GREELEY, COLORADO

LAS VEGAS (February 3, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of three main card matchups, including a heavyweight co-main event contest between Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland(11-3) and Mike “300” Hayes (19-10-2), to its highly anticipated WSOF29: Gaethje vs. Foster world lightweight (155 pounds) championship event at the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley, Colo. on Saturday, March 12, live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

In other action on the four-bout live telecast that will be headlined by the lightweight championship showdown between reigning, undefeated kingpin Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (15-0) and number one contender Brian Foster (25-9), middleweight (185 pounds) standouts Cory “The One” Devela (15-6) and Louis “Handgunz” Taylor (11-3) will collide in their respective World Series of Fighting debuts.

Kicking off the live, four-fight telecast will be a welterweight (170 pounds) scrap pitting Josh Cavan (11-6) against Kris Hocum (7-4).

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF29: Gaethje vs. Foster, are on sale at WSOF.com and the University of Northern Colorado’s online ticketing platform.

Josh Copeland vs. Mike Hayes

The 6-foot-1 Copeland of Denver, Colo. is a former number one ranked heavyweight in his home state, and a four-time title holder since turning professional in 2010.

The 33-year-old, former Youth Ministry student at Dallas Baptist College, has earned 8 of his 11 career victories as a professional by way of (T)KO or submission, with 5 of those wins coming in less than 2 minutes.

A teammate of Gaethje’s at Grudge Training Center, Copeland will look to rebound from a second round (2:50) submission (kimura) defeat at the hands ofVitaly Minakov on December 11, a result that snapped a two-fight win streak for Copeland.

During his professional career spanning eight-plus years, the 6-foot-4, 35-year-old Hayes of Redmond, Wash. has faced off with elite level competition, including former world champion Andrei Arlovski and superstar Ruslan Magomedov, both of whom he fought to a decision.

On November 2, 2013, Hayes notched his most impressive victory to date, scoring a devastating, third round (3:11) KO on decorated MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wrestling champion Jeff “The Snowman” Monson with a head kick.

In his last start on June 4, 2015, Hayes produced another impressive result, fighting former South African national wrestling champion and four-time MMA titlistTrevor Prangley, to a draw.

Cory Devela vs. Louis Taylor

The 6-foot-2, 31-year-old Devela of Bonney Lake, Wash., will enter the decagon cage in the midst of a four-fight win streak that includes a unanimous decision victory over superstar Nick “The Promise” Ring on June 26, 2015.

A longtime protégé of MMA superstar and submission expert Dennis “Superman” Hallman, Devela, who has notched 11 of his 16 career wins by way of (T)KO or submission, burst into the national spotlight at a Strikeforce promoted event in Tacoma, Wash. on February 23, 2008, scoring a first round (1:22) TKO on heralded superstar Joe “Diesel” Riggs with a thunderous slam that rendered Riggs unable to continue fighting.

Devela’s recent ascendance that has him knocking on the door of becoming a world championship contender again, comes after he took an extended, three-year hiatus from competition to care for a sick loved one between 2010 and 2013.

Also looking to earn his fifth consecutive win, the 5-foot-11, 36-year-old Taylor of Chicago, Ill. is the number one ranked middleweight in his home state, according to the latest Tapology.com ratings.

A prolific striker who has finished 10 of his 11 opponents to date by way of (T)KO or submission, Taylor’s last four victories all came inside of the first round of battle.

Prior to becoming a mixed martial artist, Taylor was a wrestling standout for the NCAA Division I program at Eastern Illinois University where he benefited from training with fellow, former team member turned assistant coach Matt Hughes, who went on to become a two-time UFC champion and Hall of Fame member.

Josh Cavan vs. Kris Hocum

Fighting out of Denver, Cavan is a 5-foot-10, 32-year-old, lifelong athlete who competed at the minor league level of professional hockey before turning his attention to MMA.  A winner of 9 of his 11 professional career fights by way of (T)KO or submission, Cavan will look to bounce back from a second round (1:28) TKO (punches) defeat at the hands of Joe Eichelberger on November 6.

The 5-foot-11, 30-year-old Hocum of Fort Collins, Colo. made his professional debut on October 27, 2012 as a participant in a one-night, eight-man tournament, defeating multiple opponents to emerge the victor of the grueling affair.   He will look to regain momentum after back-to-back losses in his last two appearances.

The WSOF29 preliminary bout card will be announced soon.
mixed martial arts, World Series of Fighting

World Series of Fighting  Signs Red Hot Rising Stars LaRue Burley and Louis Taylor To Exclusive Contracts

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LAS VEGAS (June 23, 2015) – World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has inked two fast-rising stars – undefeated lightweight (155 pounds) LaRue “The Cannibal” Burley (6-0) and red-hot, middleweight (185 pounds) finisher Louis “Handgunz” Taylor (11-3) – to exclusive, multi-fight agreements.

Both fighters’ WSOF debut dates and opponents will be announced in the near future.

“As we continue our incredible growth at WSOF, we also continue to seek out the best athletes in MMA for our ever-growing roster,” WSOF President Ray Sefo said.  “LaRue and Louis are two of the sport’s top prospects, and will no doubt make an immediate impact in the WSOF decagon cage.”

Burley, fighting out of Arizona’s Power MMA Team, has been competing professionally since 2012. The 31-year-old has rattled off six consecutive victories to start his professional career, including two by submission – both via guillotine choke – and two by KO.

While competing almost exclusively in Arizona, Burley has notched victories under numerous regional banners, earning brief national exposure with a 2013 victory overBubba Jenkins, but he now will be thrust into the national spotlight under the promotion of WSOF.

Taylor comes to WSOF on the strength of a four-fight winning steak that has seen the 36-year-old earn all four victories by first-round stoppage. A Chicago native who still fights out of the Windy City’s Chicago Fight Team, Taylor has been competing professionally since 2007.

In 14 career contests, Taylor has fought to a judges’ decision just once, using a strong mix of striking skills and grappling prowess to consistently seek out a finish.

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
World Series of Fighting (WSOF) is a worldwide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visitWSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter (@MMAWorldSeries) and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo).