The main event is the reason that the majority of people tune in to or show up for a combat sports event. It’s a common practice to feature the biggest names at the top of cards, often in title bouts. But what happens when those big names and title challengers are not available? What happens is World Series of Fighting 24. This is a main event that features two former title challengers who are still in the title picture due to a lack of other viable contenders. Thus, when the cage door locks behind Jon Fitch and Yushin Okami, they will not only be fighting for themselves, but to create some sort of relevance for WSOF as a whole.
The fact that Fitch and Okami are at the top of a card shows just how weak this promotion’s roster is at this time. Neither of these men deserves the prime positioning at the top of the marquee, but there isn’t anyone else for the promotion to offer fans at this time. In fact, looking down this card, it’s a struggle to find anything worth tuning into while the event is going on.
Fitch and Okami are two former UFC title challengers that had their time at the top of their respective divisions. While neither of them was able to grasp the brass ring of a UFC belt, both remained viable contenders until they were jettisoned from the organization in similar fashion. They moved to the WSOF and were expected to own the cage in their respective divisions, but Josh Burkman and David Branch (UFC castoffs in their own right) had something to say about it.
That brings us to Saturday’s main event. World Series of Fighting is devoid of quality opponents to offer its champions. Will Okami and Fitch be the next in line for Rousimar Palhares in the welterweight division? Potentially. One should expect that a victory for Okami would catapult him into a matchup with the current champion. But a victory for Fitch creates a problem. Who else would the promotion have to offer? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is nearly no one.
WSOF is facing a serious problem. At the top of their divisions are quality fighters that have value both to them and other organizations. Unfortunately, WSOF can’t keep these guys active. Justin Gaethje, Lance Palmer, Tyrone Spong, and Marlon Moraes will seemingly continue to maul opponents and cash checks for as long as possible. If these fighters are meant to carry WSOF shows, how can they do so without viable competition? The answer is that they can’t. And if they can’t draw attention, then the promotion itself can’t draw attention. This, in turn, is a recipe for disaster.
Mixed martial arts fans that turn into WSOF 24 will do so almost completely out of their love for the sport. Fighting is on and they will watch; that’s usually how these things work. But looking closely at the main event reveals a glaring problem for the promotion. And if the WSOF continues to struggle with developing stars and creating interesting matchups, it is only a matter of time before the bricks in its foundation start to crumble.
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WSOF 24: Fitch vs. Okami takes place on October 17, 2015 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
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