Gaethje, Fitch, 2 other champions defend titles at WSOF 34

Continuity was the story of World Series of Fighting's last event of 2016, as four of its champions retained their titles.

After two highly contested rounds, lightweight king Justin Gaethje beat short-notice challenger Luiz Firmino's right eye shut to earn a TKO via doctor's stoppage before the fourth round of the main event of WSOF 34 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday.

The undefeated Gaethje improved his promotional record to 10-0 with his fifth successful title defense, but not before the always game Firmino gave him all he could handle. The pair set a near frenetic pace in short order, the champ scoring points with blistering leg kicks, "Buscape" with his mitts and some early takedown attempts.

The striking exchanges had swung in the Brazilian's favor going into the third round, putting him ahead on all three scorecards, but Gaethje made made it a brawl, matching the challenger zinger for zinger until the doctor intervened to examine Firmino's eye. Much to Buscape's dismay, the physician deemed him too banged up to continue, bringing the thrilling scrap to an anticlimactic end.

Gaethje enters free agency with a record of 17-0, while Firmino - who stepped in for an injured Joao Zeferino on 18 days' notice - sees his promotional record drop to 3-2 with his second straight loss.

Jon Fitch took his five-round grappling match with fellow UFC alum Jake Shields by unanimous decision to keep his welterweight title in the co-main event. Moments after the judges had given him the nod over a listless Shields, the longtime 170-pounder revealed he was strongly leaning towards calling it a career, citing nagging medical issues.

Marlon Moraes' fifth bantamweight title defense didn't end in the most desirable fashion, but he submitted a typically dominant performance nonetheless.

The Brazilian dissected Josenaldo Silva on the feet before the challenger sustained a freak injury to his right knee, prompting him to tap out just 2:30 in.

Saturday's fight was the last on Moraes' contract. He joins Gaethje in free agency with an unblemished promotional record of 11-0.

Also defending his title was middleweight champion David Branch, who regaled his fellow New Yorkers with a fifth-round submission over Louis Taylor. Branch improved his WSOF record to 10-0 with the tapout.