The World Series Of Fighting will be debuting at The Theater At Madison Square Garden on Saturday, December 31 and Joao Zeferino will no longer be challenging lightweight champion Justin Gaethje for the gold due to injury. Luiz Firmino will now be stepping in on short notice to fight for the belt.
Gaethje (16-0-0) will be making the fifth defense of his championship, he previously defended it against Nick Newell, Luis Palomino (twice) and Brian Foster, while he also defeated UFC veteran Melvin Guillard in a non-title fight. Gaethje has held the championship for over two years after he defeated Richard Patishnock at the WSOF 8 to win the belt. Gaethje also held a championship as an amateur, as he held the WAR MMA Lightweight Title in 2010.
Firmino (19-7-0) has won three of four fights under the WSOF banner, defeating Tyson Griffin, Jacob Volkmann and Caros Fodor, while suffering a lone defeat to Brian Foster. Firmino is also a former Championship Fighting Alliance Lightweight Champion, he defeated fellow WSOF veteran Luis Palomino to win the belt. Firmino also spent some time competing in the Japan based PRIDE, winning three of his five fights in the promotion.
World Series Of Fighting 34 takes place on Saturday, December 31 from The Theater At Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Justin Gaethje and Luiz Firmino headlining.
