The World Series of Fighting (WSOF) 23 "Gaethje vs. Palomino 2" card was a chance for Vagab Vagabov to make a big splash on the North American fighting scene. WSOF touted his signing back in May, noting that he hailed from the Russian republic of Dagestan, which MMA fans may recognize for the Nurmagomedov brothers, among others.
The undefeated middleweight was originally scheduled to face Kelvin Tiller, but due to injury, wound up facing Brian Grinnell instead as a late replacement last Friday night (Sept. 18, 2015) at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, on NBCSN.