New WSOF champ David Branch aims to recover, return by year's end

While David Branch didn’t waste much time in dispatching Jesse Taylor for the inaugural WSOF middleweight title, he would like to pause his career to heal from his preparation.

“I want to sit back a little bit,” Branch recently told MMAjunkie Radio. “I had a couple minor injuries going into this fight. I’m going to let that stuff heal up, and then I’m right back. I’d like to fight again before the year’s out, maybe a couple times.”

When he returns, Branch (14-3) will experience something new in his career – being the guy with the target on his back. But that’s not an unwelcome status for the 32-year-old veteran, who submitted Taylor (27-10) in less than two minutes to win his biggest career accolade to date at this past Saturday’s WSOF 10, which took place at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and aired live on NBC Sports Network.

“Right now, I’m in a position where I can let guys come to me,” Branch said. “I’m the champ. The rankings, that’s just a matter of opinion. The mission is to defend my title and then take it from there.”

He’ll need a lot more wins to convince the MMA faithful that he’s as good as those who regularly appear in top-10 lists. Three years ago, he was released from the UFC when his octagon win percentage dropped to .500 with a submission loss to Rousimar Palhares, who now fights in the WSOF as a welterweight after a string of unsportsmanlike incidents prompted his ouster from the UFC.

It should be noted, however, that Branch has won four straight fights, three of which were against notable opposition: UFC vets Taylor and Danillo Villefort and former WEC champ Paulo Filho. Octagon comebacks have been granted on much less.

Branch, though, is just happy to have won his first title in a major MMA promotion. His road to the belt wasn’t a straight line, and it certainly included several serious setbacks. In his earlier career, one of his most notable highlights was also one of his least flattering – a slam-KO loss to Gerald Harris at UFC 116 in 2010.

Taylor was thought by many to be a superior wrestler who might smother Branch en route to a decision. The multi-promotion vet had previously won seven straight fights, albeit against mostly unheralded competition.

When the two locked up, however, it was Taylor that missed a choke opportunity with a guillotine and Branch that finished his with a D’Arce choke.

For Branch, carving out a new identity is gratifying on a professional level, but it also strikes a chord personally.

“My background, I came from absolutely nothing,” Branch said. “I had it really hard coming up in tenement buildings and projects as a kid. To be on national TV with so many people around me, to be able to win a recognized world title, it just meant a whole lot – especially beating a guy like Jesse Taylor, who’s fought so many people. It was a really amazing thing.

“A lot of people didn’t have me winning that fight. I just silenced everybody who doubted me. It was just joy, so much that the tears came out. I was overwhelmed with all kinds of happiness and emotion.”

Branch can take particular pleasure in the fact that his opponent was among those who underestimated his skills. Moving forward, he won’t enjoy that luxury.

A title is now on the line every time he steps into the cage, and potential opponents will be studying him closely in order to take it.

For now, though, Branch is enjoying the fruits of his deceptive talent.

“I knew that, one, I was going to be able to put Jesse on his back, and I knew that he was going to underrate my wrestling,” he said. “I knew that my jiu-jitsu was a lot better than his, so when he shot in on me I was able to get the scramble. He went for the guillotine, but the guillotine never was a danger. It’s very easy to defend that move – as long as you don’t pull your head out. I tricked him – I went to pass the wrong way so his grip would loosen so he could try to switch to the high-elbow guillotine, and he did. When he did that, I was able to pop my head out. From there, I knew I was going to be able to pass.

“He’s got a lot of submission wins by guillotine, so he’s pretty confident in that move. I think he probably said to himself if he goes down to his back, he’s going to probably be able to scramble right back up. But that wasn’t the case.”

For complete coverage of WSOF 10, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of the site.

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