David Branch (fighter) facts for kids

David Branch, born on September 26, 1981, is an American former mixed martial artist. He competed mostly as a middleweight fighter. From 2007 to 2023, he fought in major organizations like the UFC, World Series of Fighting, and Bellator. Branch is well-known for being a champion in two different weight classes in the World Series of Fighting. He held both the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight titles.

Early Life and Training

David Branch was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but grew up in the Bronx, New York. He started training in Karate for about two and a half years. After that, he switched to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a martial art focused on grappling and ground fighting.

Branch went to A. Philip Randolph Campus High School in New York. He trained for many years to become a skilled fighter. He earned his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after training with Renzo Gracie for about ten years. Besides mixed martial arts, Branch also won titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions across the country.

Mixed Martial Arts Journey

David Branch began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2007. He quickly built a strong record of three wins and no losses.

Fighting in Bellator

After his early success, Branch joined Bellator. He won his first fight there by submission in the first round. He later returned to Bellator and won another fight by submission.

Time in the UFC

In May 2010, Branch signed a contract to fight in the UFC, which is one of the biggest MMA organizations. His first UFC fight was at UFC 116, where he lost for the first time in his career.

However, Branch quickly bounced back. He won his next two fights in the UFC by unanimous decision. He later faced a tough opponent, Rousimar Palhares, and lost by submission. After this fight, he left the UFC for a while.

Fighting in Other Promotions

After leaving the UFC, Branch continued to fight in other organizations. He won several fights, showing his skills in different promotions. One notable fight was against Anthony Johnson, which he lost by decision.

Becoming a Champion in WSOF

Branch then joined the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). He quickly made a name for himself there. He won several fights by unanimous decision, showing his strong all-around skills.

In 2013, WSOF announced a tournament to crown its first Middleweight Champion. Branch was one of the four fighters chosen. He won his semifinal fight and then faced Jesse Taylor in the final at World Series of Fighting 10. Branch won the fight by submission in the first round, becoming the first-ever WSOF Middleweight Champion.

He successfully defended his Middleweight title three times. He also competed in a Light Heavyweight tournament and won that title too. This made him the first fighter in WSOF history to hold championships in two different weight classes at the same time! He also defended his Light Heavyweight title once.

Return to the UFC

In February 2017, David Branch announced that he was returning to the UFC. He won his first fight back by split decision. He then faced former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and lost by submission.

Branch continued to fight tough opponents in the UFC. He earned a "Performance of the Night" bonus for a knockout win against Thiago Santos. His last UFC fight was in March 2019, which he lost by submission.

In September 2019, Branch was suspended from fighting for a rule violation. He was later released from the UFC.

After the UFC

After leaving the UFC, Branch fought in other promotions. He competed in Russian Cagefighting Championship 7 in December 2019. In 2022, he signed with ONE Championship, another major MMA organization, but did not compete there.

Family Life

David Branch has two brothers who are also professional boxers: Sechew Powell and Jamelle Hamilton.

Achievements and Awards

David Branch achieved many great things in his mixed martial arts career:

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (One time) – for his knockout win against Thiago Santos
• World Series of Fighting
  • WSOF Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
  • One successful title defense
  • WSOF Middleweight Championship (One time)
  • Three successful title defenses
  • WSOF Middleweight Championship Tournament Winner
  • WSOF Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament Winner
  • First fighter to hold Championships in multiple weight classes in WSOF
  • Tied for 2nd most wins in WSOF history (10 wins)
  • Most Submission wins in WSOF history (4 wins)
  • Undefeated in WSOF (10 wins, 0 losses)

Mixed Martial Arts Record

See Also

• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of WSOF champions
• Double champions in MMA