WSOF closed out 2016 with its Big Apple debut and a fight slate that included four title bouts. Check out the highlights. Saturday’s event took place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the network-televised main card aired on NBC following prelims on NBCSN and MMAjunkie. In the main event, lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (17-0) posted yet another title defense – yet again in spectacular, crowd-pleasing fashion – after stopping game challenger Luiz Firmino (19-8) due to an eye injury. Here are the highlights and the doctor’s stoppage: Justin Gaethje vs Luiz Firmino #WSOFNYE Rolling Thunder! pic.twitter.com/OGLHHBDAaJ — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 Your browser does not support iframes. Justin Gaethje def Luiz Firmino via Doctor Stoppage #WSOFNYE pic.twitter.com/eAdkwajJoB — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 In the co-headliner, welterweight champion Jon Fitch (29-7-1) retained his title with a convincing decision win over Jake Shields (31-9-1) – and then hinted at a possible retirement: Jon Fitch Post Fight Interview #WSOFNYE pic.twitter.com/xyyLWBdp19 — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 In the main card’s first title fight, bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes (18-4-1) retained his title with a first-round stoppage win over Josenaldo Silva (25-5), who was forced to submit due to an injury: Marlon Moraes DEF Josenaldo Silva #WSOFNYC pic.twitter.com/nKNAVn4L4g — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 On the NBCSN prelims, heavyweight Caio Alencar (11-1) stopped Jared Rosholt (14-4) in 77 seconds, middleweight champ David Branch (20-3) choked out Louis Taylor (13-4) in the second round, and light heavyweight Smealinho Rama (10-2) punched out Jake Heun (10-6): Caio Alencar def Jared Rosholt via Ref Stoppage #WSOFNYE pic.twitter.com/s8FwL1yDmD — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 Dave Branch def Louis Taylor via RNC #WSOFNYE pic.twitter.com/8moqiQBFAd — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 Smealinho Rama def Jake Heun via Ref stoppage #WSOFNYC pic.twitter.com/Atfpp4iqqz — #WSOFNYC (@MMAWorldSeries) December 31, 2016 For more on WSOF 34 , including a full event recap , check out the MMA Rumors section of the site
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