WEC 39 Results

WEC 39 produced some exciting moments and was a decent show. With Frank Mir out training, Jens Pulver was on the mic doing the commentary. Mike Thomas Brown looked strong and dominant as he defended his 145 pound belt for the first time.

Mike Thomas Brown def Leonard Garcia via sub (head and arm choke) R1, 1:57- Mike Brown again came out looking like the stronger fighter. Brown connected with an overhand right that fazed Garcia. From there, it was all Brown as Garcia tried to recover. After cutting Garcia with a couple elbows, Brown locked in the fight ending choke in under two minutes. In the post fight interview, Brown said that he would love to fight Urijah Faber again.
*Brown earns Submission of the Night.

(Mike Thomas Brown pictured)

Ricardo Lamas def Bart Palaszewski via unanimous dec- Late replacement Ricardo Lamas came up big in his WEC debut defeating long time vet Bart Palaszewski. Lamas consistently scored takedowns in the fight and dished out some punishment. Bart almost got close to a triangle choke, but just wasn't there. Lamas' best offense came in the first round when he nearly got Bart's back and when standing Lamas kicked him from behind in the face.

Jose Aldo def Chris Mickle via TKO (strikes) R1, 1:39- Aldo was on his game and Mickle kept his hands low. Those two things didn't mix as Aldo landed kicks and punches before a flying knee. Aldo didn't stop until the ref intervened.

Rob McCullough def Marcus Hicks via majority dec- This fight was a snoozer in the first round, and the fans let their disdain be known. The second round had the most action, as Hicks stunnd McCullough and almost got his famous guillotine choke locked. After Rob got out of the choke, he went to work on Hicks with kicks and punches doing some damage. In the third the fight slowed down again with Rob being more active.

Damacio Page def Marcos Galvao via KO (punches) R1, 0:18- Page came out looking absolutely mean in his stare down. Galvao looked a little scared and young, and it showed once the bell rang. Page threw 9 right hand punches, crumpling Galvao before the ref intervened.
*Won KO of the Night.

Danny Castillo def Phil Cardella via split dec
Kenji Osawa def Rafael Rebello via split dec
Alex Karalexis def Greg McIntyre via TKO (punches) R1, 4:19
John Franchi def Mike Budnik via split dec
Mike Pierce def Justin Haskins via TKO (punches) R3, 3:39
Johny Hendricks def Alex Serdyukov via unanimous dec
*Won Fight of the Night.

WEC 39 Preview

WEC 39 will be taking place this Sunday in Corpus Christi, Texas. All fighters have made weight and are ready to go. Here is the line-up of fights:

Mike Thomas Brown vs. Leonard Garcia- This fight is for the 145 pound FW title. Mike Brown won the belt with a knockout of Urijah Faber. Brown (20-4) is riding an 8 fight win streak including fights against Jeff Curran, Yves Edwards and Manny Reyes Jr. Brown usually has a size and strength advantage over most 145 pounders.

(Mike Thomas Brown pictured)

Leonard Garcia (12-3) won his two WEC fights, with knock-out victories of Hiroyuki Takaya and Jens Pulver. Garcia went 1-2 in his 155 pound UFC career, with his two losses decisions to Roger Huerta and Cole Miller. The heavy handed Garcia is better suited at the 145 pound division. Look for him to stand and trade.


(Leonard Garcia pictured)

Ricardo Lamas vs. Bart Palaszewski- Bart Palaszewski (30-11) was victorious in his WEC debut winning via TKO over UFC veteran Alex Karelexis. He is an IFL veteran with victories over John Gunderson, Ivan Menjivar and Ryan Schultz. Ricardo Lamas (5-0) was a late replacement for Richard Crunkliton. His biggest victory was a decision win over James Birdsley (32-6).

(Bart Palaszewski throwing a punch on John Strawn in the IFL)

Marcus Hicks vs. Rob McCullough- Former LW champ Razor Rob takes on former #1 contender Marcus Hicks. McCullough (16-5, 7-3 WEC) is primarily a stand-up fighter who does his best when countering his opponent. Marcus Hicks (8-1) had three straight wins in the WEC before losing a title fight to Jamie Varner. Hicks has a mean guillotine choke and nickname that suits him, The Human Wrecking Ball.

Jose Aldo vs. Chris Mickle- Aldo has looked lightening fast in the striking department in his 3 straight WEC wins. Aldo has 8 T/KO's, and crushed Rolando Perez in his last fight. Chris Mickle (26-11) last won in the MCC beating then title holder T.J. O'Brien. Mickle fights out of Des Moines, Iowa.

UNDER CARD

Phil Cardella vs. Danny Castillo
Marcos Galvao vs. Damacio Page
Johny Hendricks vs. Alex Serdyukov
Kenji Osawa vs. Rafael Rebello
Alex Karalexis vs. Greg McIntyre
Mike Budnik vs. John Franchi
Justin Haskins vs. Mike Pierce

WEC 36

On November 5th, 2008, WEC 36 will be held in Hollywood, Fla and broadcast live on Versus. Here are the announced matches on Versus.com.

Maincard
Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown (FW Title)
Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen (MW Title)
Leonard Garcia vs. Jens Pulver
Nissen Osterneck vs. Jake Rosholt
Donald Cerrone vs. Rob McCullough

Undercard
David Avellan vs. Aaron Simpson
Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Brookins
Yoshiro Maeda vs. Rani Yayha
Steve Steinbeiss vs. TBA
Danny Castillo vs. TBA


*Urijah Faber pic found on photobucket.com

WEC 34 Preview

WEC 34 bouts as listed on wec.tv. WEC 34 takes place in Las Vegas on June 1st.

FW (145) Championship- Urijah Faber (20-1) vs. Jens Pulver (22-8)- This should be an absolute war between two of the best at 145. Faber has rattled off 12 straight wins including 5 in the WEC. Pulver has yet to lose at 145 and is considered a legend of sport. Pulver will most likely try to keep the bout standing, and Faber will try for a takedown to ground and pound. It will be exciting.

BW (135) Championship- Miguel Torres (33-1) vs. Yoshiro Maeda (22-4)- Torres has been on fire at 135, after competing mainly at heavier weights. Torres have 14 or so wins in a row, depending on what database you look at. Torres looked fast and powerful in his recent destruction of Chase Beebe. Pancrase veteren Maeda won his only fight in the WEC with a vicious body kick to Charlie Valencia.

Mark Munoz (3-0) vs. Chuck Grigsby (15-3)- Both fighters are making their much anticipated debut's in the WEC. Grigsby at 6'6" is a powerful striker who will have a reach advantage. Look for Grigsby to try to keep the fight standing and land some heavy right hands and knees. Munoz is a decorated NCAA wrestler, and will probably go for the takedown. For a full length exclusive on Grigsby, scroll down.

Jeff Curran (31-9) vs. Mike Brown (16-4)
Rob McCullough (15-3) vs. Kenneth Alexander (5-2)
Jose Aldo (10-1) vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira (13-4)
Danny Castillo (5-0) vs. Donald Cerrone (7-0)
Alex Serdyukov (8-4) vs. Luis Sapo (6-2)
Charlie Valencia (9-3) vs. Dominick Cruz (10-1)
Tim McKenzie (11-5) vs. Jeremy Lang (12-0)
Chase Beebe (13-1) vs. Will Ribeiro (8-1)

*Charles "The Reverend" Grigsby

WEC 32 - Must Watch TV

For those who missed the WEC 32 card, check it out at Ultimate MMA videos (MMA Friends on right side) or wait for Versus to replay it 6-10 times over the next couple months. It was a solid card from top to bottom with vicious KO's and submissions throughout the night. Two belts changed hands and one stayed put.

WW Champ Carlos Condit vs. Carlo Prater - Condit (22-4) and Prater didn't stay on their feet for long as Prater almost immediately used a lateral/hip toss to get Condit on his back. Prater was unable to do much damage from the top, and Condit worked for submissions. After a failed guilotine from full guard and arm bar attempts, Condit was able to secure a tight guilotine forcing the stoppage in the first round. Condit now has four straight wins in the WEC and avenged his first loss.
Winner- Condit - (Guillotine Choke) R1 3:48

LW Champ Rob McCullough vs. Jamie Varner - Razor Rob just did not look on his game and Varner was full of energy. The first round saw Varner trying continously for the takedown and Razor defending well. But he wasn't putting much punishment on Varner for his failed attempts. In the third round Varner switched his strategy and started to box with Razor. After Razor landed a couple big shots knocking out Varner's mouthpiece, he didn't finish Varner off. Ref Steve Mazagoti gave time to Varner to put the mouthpiece back in and Varner came out firing and got the TKO over Razor in the third round. New LW Champ- Jamie Varner (14-2, 3 straight stoppage victories).
Winner- Varner- TKO (Punches) R3 2:54

BW Champ Chase Beebe vs. Miguel Torres- Both fighters fired off kicks before the fight went to the ground. After Torres landed a couple elbows from the bottom, Beebe absorbed a vicious upkick while trying to back off. When the fight went to the ground again, Torres, sporting a sweet mullet, was able to go from shoulder lock, to omaplata, to anaconda choke, to a modified guilotine/reverse rear naked choke. The sequence was awesome. It was pretty sweet, and Torres seems like the real deal. New BW champ- Miguel Torres (21-1), 14 straight victories, 2 in the WEC.
Winner- Torres- (Modified Guillotine Choke) R1 3:59

Leonard Garcia vs. Hiroyuki Takaya- Leonard Garcia (11-3) seemed a little too small for the UFC's 155 weight class, and at 145 he looked fast and powerful. He fired bombs at Takaya, and eventually connected dropping Takaya to the mat and followed up with another head shot.
Winner- Garcia- TKO (Punch) R1 1:31

Antonio Banuelos vs. Manny Tapia- Tapia wins via split decision. It was originally called a split draw, but there was a scoring mistake. Not much to talk about in this one.
Winner- Tapia- Decision (Split)

Under Card

Mark Hominick vs. Josh Grispi- W- Grispi- (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 2:55
Del Hawkins vs. Coty Wheeler- W- Wheeler- (Flying Armbar) R2 1:57
Yoshiro Maeda vs. Charlie Valencia- W- Maeda- KO (Body Kick) R1 2:29
Chance Farrar vs. Micah Miller- W- Miller- KO (Punch) R1 1:39
Scott Jorgensen vs. Damacio Page- W- Page- Dec. (Unanimous) R3 5:00

*Looking at the undercard, they better put the two KO's and the two submission victories on an upcoming Wrecage show.

**I can't believe the crowd actually boo'd during the Razor v. Varner match. It was an exciting fight! There were only two decisions on the entire card, which was one of the WEC's best. True MMA fans do not boo!

WEC 32 Tonight - Three Title Fights

The WEC (Zuffa owned) is starting to get extremely packed with talent in the lower weight classes. The increase of talent probably is a sign that the UFC needs to get a featherweight and bantam weight class. Also, like I have always said, the UFC and WEC needs to show more fights on their broadcasts. How many movie review trailers can they cram into two or three hours?

Main Card

WW Champ Carlos Condit vs. Carlo Prater - Condit came in weighing 167 and is riding a 6 fight win streak, including 3 in the WEC. Prater beat Condit in 2004, and is on his own 3 fight win streak.

LW Champ Rob McCullough vs. Jamie Varner - Razor Rob has been impressive in his two WEC fights crushing Kit Cope and Richard Crunkilton. Razor is riding a 9 fight win streak. Varner has two wins in a row since his loss in the UFC to Hermes Franca.



BW Champ Chase Beebe vs. Miguel Torres - Beebe has six wins in a row, with his last 2 coming in the WEC. Those wins were by unanimous decision. Torres has 12 wins in a row, all but one by a stoppage.

Antonio Banuelos vs. Manny Tapia
Leonard Garcia vs. Hiroyuki Takaya

Under Card

Mark Hominick vs. Josh Grispi
Del Hawkins vs. Coty Wheeler
Yoshiro Maeda vs. Charlie Valencia
Chance Farrar vs. Micah Miller
Scott Jorgensen vs. Damacio Page