WSOF 8 prelims take shape with four fights, including Barrett vs. Mehmen, Patishnock vs. Palomino

The full lineup for World Series of Fighting 8 is starting to take shape, as the promotion has added four preliminary bouts.

MMAjunkie today confirmed with WSOF President Ray Sefo that the night’s four-fight preliminary lineup will include heavyweights Scott Barrett vs. Derrick Mehmen, lightweights Luis Palomino vs. Rich Patishnock, flyweights Sidemar Honorio vs. Alexis Vila and featherweights Freddy Assuncao vs. Brenson Hansen.

Featuring a Justin Gaethje vs. Lewis Gonzalez headliner with the promotion’s inaugural lightweight title on the line, World Series of Fighting 8 takes place Jan. 18 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The evening’s main card airs live on NBCSN while prelims stream on MMAjunkie.

“The Bear” Barrett (13-3), who currently trains with Florida’s Blackzilians team, makes his promotional debut. A heavy-handed 30-year-old, 10 of his 13 career wins come by way of knockout. Meanwhile, “Caveman” Mehmen (16-5), an American Top Team fighter, boasts a four-fight win streak that includes a spectacular WSOF 5 knockout of Rolles Gracie.

AMA Fight Club’s Patishnock (5-1) is already a two-time WSOF veteran and one of a handful of fighters two have two wins over Gracie family members, downing Gregor Gracie and Igor Gracie in his past two outings. “Baboon” Palomino is a 33-year-old Peruvian native who currently makes his home in Florida. A six-time Bellator MMA veteran, Palomino (21-9) has been fighting for the Sunshine State’s Championship Fighting Alliance promotion, where he came up just short in a January bid for that promotion’s lightweight belt.

Brazilian “Sideco” Honorio (8-4), a Renzo Gracie fighter, made his WSOF debut in September and suffered a decision loss to an impressive Jimmie Rivera. Meanwhile, Vila (13-4) is a former Olympic wrestling bronze medalist who is also a former Bellator MMA bantamweight tournament finalist.

Assuncao (7-1), the brother of UFC veterans Raphael and Junior Assuncao, has been on the shelf since June 2012 while recovering from injury. However, he currently owns a six-fight winning streak and hasn’t tasted defeat since 2009. Hansen (5-1) is a Hawaiian-born fighter who currently trains at Las Vegas’ Xtreme Couture. He’s a two-time WSOF veteran who has already notched a decision win over Josh Montalvo and a flying-knee knockout of Tom Marcellino.

MAIN CARD

• Justin Gaethje vs. Lewis Gonzalez – for inaugural lightweight title
• Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
• Jessica Aguilar vs. Alida Gray – for inaugural women’s strawweight title
• Cody Bollinger vs. Tyson Nam

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Scott Barrett vs. Derrick Mehmen
• Luis Palomino vs. Richard Patishnock
• Sidemar Honorio vs. Alexis Vila
• Freddy Assuncao vs. Brenson Hansen

For more on WSOF 8, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Justin Gaethje)