Dave Branch, the former World Series of Fighting light heavyweight and middleweight champion, is coming back to the UFC.
As per a report on MMAFighting, Branch (20-3) has agreed terms to return to the UFC following the expiration of his WSOF contract. Branch went 2-2 in an earlier run with the UFC where he earned wins over Tomasz Drwal and Rich Attonito but came up short in bouts with Rousimar Palhares and Gerald Harris.
Since the Palhares loss in March 2011, Branch has been defeated just once (against Anthony Johnson, of all people) and has gone an impressive 12-1 with wins over the likes of former UFC middleweight title contender Yushin Okami as well as Jesse Taylor, Paulo Filho and Vinny Magalhaes.
It is expected that Branch will compete in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Branch’s most recent bout was a fifth round rear naked choke victory over Louis Taylor last New Year’s Eve at WSOF 34.
His somewhat advanced years (he is 35 years old) coupled with the fact that he has been a two-weight world champion means that Branch will likely be handed a tough test for his second UFC debut and a win there could well mean that the UFC’s middleweight fold has yet another contender to add to what is fast becoming one of the deepest divisions in mixed martial arts.
