WEC live match-by-match coverage

WEC live match-by-match coverage
By Jeremy Botter

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We're settled in cageside here at the AT&T Center. The building is still fairly empty, but the line for the Chuck Liddell autograph signing outside appears to be a mile long -- and Chuck has been signing and taking pictures with fans for over two hours. Once they wrap that up, the place should fill up fairly quickly. First fight was scheduled to take place at 7pm ET, but the start time has been pushed back a few minutes. We should be under way shortly.

Javier Vasquez vs. Taurosevicius

Round one: Taurosevicius lands a glancing head kick. Vasquez pressing the action. Taurosevicius with another glancing head kick. Vazquez shoots for a takedown but it's stuffed. Vazquez works for an armbar, but Taurosevicius powerbombs him. Vazquez secures a triangle choke and holds it for a minute, but Taurosevicius eventually works his way out. Taurosevicius in side control. Tauro back up to his feet, but drops down into the guard and throws a few bombs. Vazquez is constantly working for a submission and Tauro is constantly looking to punch him in the face. Tauro stands up and knees him repeatedly in the bum. Vazquez with a high rubber guard to close out the round. This one was close, but it goes to Tauro.

Round two: Tauro fakes an inside leg kick and switches to a head kick that misses. Both men exchanging punches on the feet. Vazquez is pressing the action. Vazquez lands a nice right that staggers Tauro against the cage, but Vazquez doesn't press and Tauro recovers. Great leg kick from Tauro and follows it with a shot that may have hit Vazquez in the junk, but he shakes it off. Tauro with a side kick. Tauro circling away, but lands a leg kick that takes Vazquez off his feet, but he gets up immediately. Vazquez lands a hard right. Tauro shoots for a takedown but it's stuffed. Both men swinging wildly to close out the round.

Round three: Tauro with a hard straight right. Vazquez drops Tauro with a right, looked more like a slip than an actual hard shot landing. Vazquez on top, Tauro has a half-butterfly guard. Tauro with the rubber guard and lands several punches, but stops working and the ref stands them up immediately. That was quick. Tauro comes with a straight but Vazquez drills him in the face, sending Tauro staggering across the cage. Vazquez follows up with a missed flying knee, and they scramble around the cage until Vazquez lands on top. Vazquez is working for an arm triangle but not having much luck. Vazquez takes his back and lands some big elbows and punches. Javier working for the submission, but Tauro is able to flip over and get Vazquez in his guard. More elbows from Vazquez. Tauro is looking for a submission, but can't get it. Vazquez takes this round and it should be enough to get him the win.

Taurosevicius won a split decision and the crowd is very unhappy with that.

Cody Wheeler vs. Charlie Valencia

Round one: Wheeler tries a spinning back kick that misses badly. Valencia lands a big knee that stuns Wheeler, who goes to the ground and grabs a leg. Wheeler on the ground going for a leg lock that appears to be a figure four, but Valencia is out and in the guard. Wheeler is up and knocks Valencia down with a big right. Wheeler presses him into the corner and lands a few wild punches, but Valencia survives. Valencia looks woozy. Wheeler has a giant OX tattooed across his stomach. Both men look very tired. Wheeler with a kick that takes Valencia off his feet, but he gets up. Wheeler goes for a spinning kick again, but Valencia kicks him in the back while it's happening. Valencia with a right. Wheeler fakes a superman punch into a spinning backfist. We have ourselves a tiny version of Jon Jones here. Wheeler kicks him in the junk, but Valencia is okay. Valencia probably won that round, but it was close.

Round two: Ox is still very tired. And suddenly, it's a leg kick fest, with both guys throwing wicked kicks. Wheeler tries a spinning backfist again, Valencia ducks and takes him down. Valencia in Wheeler's half guard, but stands up and Wheeler goes for the leg lock again. Valencia grabs the cage right in front of the ref and pulls himself up. More leg kicks all around. Valencia goes for a high kick, but Ox catches it. Valencia with a great body kick and goes for the takedown, misses at first but finally gets it. Valencia in half guard again throwing elbows. Valencia tries a wacky armbar but Ox gets out, only to be taken down immediately. Wheeler goes for the leg lock again, but he's not getting it, so he tries a few upkicks that miss. Valencia back on top. Wheeler appears to be attempting an arm triangle from the bottom. I love this offense. It's not doing anything, but it's fun. Valencia takes this round.

Round three: Both men land straight rights at nearly the same time. Wheeler takes Valencia down with another leg kick but he's back up immediately. Ox with another spinning back kick that misses and gets kicked in the back. Valencia with a good body kick. Valencia pressing the action now, perhaps looking to finish. Ox with the body kick followed by a leg kick. Valencia is chasing him down, but stops to wipe off his feet. Ox is telling him "Let's do this" and Valencia responds with a flying knee. Ox gets kicked in the junk now, but he's okay as well. Spinning back kick from Ox that misses again. He keeps trying, at least. Valencia hits him with a power right but Ox slaps himself in the face to indicate that he can't be hurt. Another spinning back kick from Ox. He didn't hit a single one the entire fight. Very entertaining fight and round.

Charlie Valencia d. Ox Wheeler (unanimous decision)

Manny Tapia vs. Eddie Wineland

Round one: Both men circling and feinting jabs. Wineland showing good footwork, lands a leg kick. Tapia lands an overhand right. Tapia lands a good left. Tapia tries to finish but Wineland ducks and gets in an uppercut. Tapia with the inside leg kick. Wineland is dodging most of Tapia's punches and looks quick and precise. Wineland with the leg kick. Tapia misses another punch and Wineland lands a counter left. Tapia tries to clinch but Wineland shakes him off and lands with the right hand. Wineland is literally pulling an Anderson Silva with his head movement here, dodging everything Tapia throws at him. Tapia goes for the takedown but Wineland stops it. Tapia finally lands a punch, which has to feel good. And then he lands about five more. Wineland takes this round.
Round two: The crowd is chanting for Manny now. Tapia lands a good body shot. Wineland with a great uppercut. Wineland loads up the right hand but misses. Wineland stuns Tapia with a right, but he recovers quickly, only to get punched in the face again. Wineland appears to be having the time of his life tonight and is smiling. Tapia finally lands one but misses the next three shots. Wineland's head movement is awesome. Tapia drops down to try and go for a single, but Eddie stuffs it and punches him again. Eddie is switching between regular and southpaw stances. Wineland is so much faster than Tapia. Wineland wins another round.

Round three: Wineland with a right hook, then lands about four punches, causing Tapia to try for another takedown. Doesn't work this time, either. Wineland with the inside leg kick. I don't want to say Wineland is making Tapia look like a fool here, but it's pretty close. Tapia can't connect with anything, because Wineland is too fast and dodges it with ease. Tapia tries for a clinch but Wineland shakes it off and lands a right. Tapia is finally attempting some knees and kicks, perhaps realizing that he's not going to win the boxing war tonight. Tapia is telegraphing his overhand right and Eddie is ducking it with ease. Every time. Tapia misses a half-hearted flying knee. Wineland with a body kick. Wineland with a superman punch and then a takedown to end the fight. Great display by Wineland here.

Eddie Wineland d. Manny Tapia (unanimous decision)
Round one: Semerzier had trouble making weight yesterday, so we'll see if that affects him here. Both guys circling slowly and the crowd is getting restless. Fabiano charges for a takedown. Semerzier stuffs it briefly but Fabiano ends up in half guard. Semerzier secures a triangle. Fabiano taps and Semerzier wins one hell of an upset.

Mackens Semerzier d. Waggney Fabiano (submission)

Scott Jorgensen vs. Noah Thomas

Round one: Super fast entrances for both guys, as they are running low on time. Jorgensen pushes forward with a takedown. Thomas tries to pull rubber guard but Jorgensen picks him up for a power bomb that sees Thomas land on his feet. Jorgensen takes him down and goes into the guard. Thomas with an armbar attempt but Jorgensen shrugs him off. Jorgensen drops Thomas with a big right and follows it up with punches and elbows on the ground, but Thomas nearly gets an armbar. Jorgensen back in the guard and lands several big right hands and elbows. Jorgensen lands another big right and Thomas is out. Ref stops the bout.

Scott Jorgensen d. Noah Thomas (Round one, TKO)
MUHSIN CORBBREY VS. ANTHONY NJOKUANI

Round one: Not much action for the first minute and a half or so, and the crowd doesn't like it one bit. Njokuani with an inside leg kick. Njokuani misses a right hook and Corbbrey lands a body shot. Njokuani is testing out his reach. Njokuani with an inside leg kick. Njokuani lands two big hooks and gets the clinch against the cage. Corrbrey tries what appears to be a flying armbar but fails. Njokuani standing over him and landing punches. Njokuani with a falling punch and then gets back up immediately. Corbbrey is kicking him in the knees. Njokuani backs off and motions for him to stand, so he does. Njokuani lands a right and Corbbrey responds in kind. Njokuani with a left hook to the body followed by an overhand right. Njokuani lands a combo and Corbbrey misses a head kick. Njokuani takes this round.

Round two: Corrbrey pushing now, lands a combo. Crowd is really booing the lack of action now. Njokuani with an inside leg kick. Njokuani lands a big leg kick that drops him to the ground, and then punches him right in the face. Corrbrey goes limp but another punch wakes him, then Njokuani puts him out. And does some breakdancing in the middle of the cage for good measure.

Anthony Njokuani d. Muhsin Corbbrey (Round two, TKO)

And that ends our coverage of tonight's preliminary bouts. Dave will be taking over for the televised bouts.

For more WEC coverage, check out my interview with main eventer Ben Henderson and our story on the Jaime Varner/Donald Cerrone rivalry.



Damacio Page vs. Will Campuzano

Both men came out swinging. Page was looking for a knockout with every blow. It went to the ground and Campuzano went for a triangle from the bottom, but Page got out and got Campuzano's back. He worked for a choke, got it, and Campuzano tapped out. Exciting 1:00 fight.

Raphael Assuncao vs. Yves Jabouin

Hard round to score. It was mostly standing with neither getting a blow that hurt the other. Jabouin may have had a slight edge and probably hit the best punch. It wound to the ground twice with Jabouin on top but he did nothing on top except try and back out and get it back standing. 10-9 Jabouin

Round two mostly standing. Assuncao was moving forward, but neither man had any real advantage again. Crowd booed a decent amount even though it never slowed up. The key to the round was Assuncao getting a late takedown and going for a guillotine that to me won him the round so we're even 19-19 going into the third.

Third round saw Assuncao early getting Jabouin down and had his back for about a minute working for a choke. Jabouin escaped the position and they were back on their feet. Jabouin had a slight advantage standing landing a spin kick. Assuncao got a takedown late. I've got is 29-28 for Assuncao.

30-27 Assuncao; 30-27 Jabouin (?); 29-28 Assuncao

Rich Crunkilton vs. Dave Jansen

Interesting first round. Jansen dominated most of the round with his grappling and went for several types of chokes but never really came close to finishing. In the last 30 seconds, Crunkilton got up and got the better of the stand-up and dropped Jansen. You could go either way. Both guys looked tired late in the round. 10-9 Jansen.

Most of this round was with Jansen in an advantage position on the ground. Crunkilton got the better of the stand-up again but didn't really get any telling blows in. Jansen wins a close round and we've got it 20-18.

Even though exhuasted, Jansen was able to get several takedowns. Crunkilton tried a D'Arce choke while Jansen later went for a Kimura. Crunkilton was better standing but kept getting taken down. The ref was standing them up quick, ridiculously quick at one point. Overall I've got to still give the round to Jansen. 30-27 Jansen.

30-27. 29-28. 29-28 for Jansen

Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson for the interim lightweight title headlines the show

Real good first round. Cerrone missed a kick and Henderson rushed in, but then got caught in a guillotine, and then in a triangle. Henderson was in a lot of trouble and got out. Henderson got a takedown and learned to keep distance and do ground and pound and Henderson won the last three minutes but Cerrone was closer to finishing so I'd give Cerrone the round. But Henderson has a good strategy to nullify Cerrone's good submission game.

Another good round. Cerrone looked strong from the bottom in the early minutes, punching hard from the bottom and going for an armbar. Henderson escaped and the last few minutes were similar to the prior round with Henderson being standing with Cerrone on his back and Henderson getting hard body and head punches in. Henderson's round I've got it 19-19 here.

Cerrone can't keep it standing and that's the difference here. First round was Henderson connecting with good ground and pound. Later in the round Cerrone would get up, but then get taken down before he could do any damage standing. Henderson had four takedowns and should be ahead 29-28.

Another great round. Cerrone had a tight guillotine early and held it for close to 90 seconds, but somehow Henderson escaped. But after, Cerrone was able to stop all of Henderson's takedowns for the rest of the round. Cerrone didn't hurt him standing but did kick the legs while Henderson was on his back. Cerrone put him down with a low kick at the buzzer. 38-38 and 5th round should decide it.

Cerrone was better conditioned in round five. He went for a few triangles and armbars and a shoulder lock. Henderson got out of a lot of trouble when it looked bad but Cerrone controlled the grappling in round five so he should take it 48-47.

Another match of the year type performance from Cerrone, that's three in the last year (Henderson, Varner and Razor Rob McCullough). All three had it 48-47 for Henderson. Crowd is booing.

I'm guessing that they gave Henderson round one since he won on top more which would be the difference because no way Cerrone doesn't win four and five.

A few late notes:

On all three cards, Henderson won rounds one through three and Cerrone won four and five. Even though watching on TV, and the announcers clearly called the fight as if Cerrone won round one, I'm told that live at ringside, the power of Henderson's first round punches were such that most thought he won the round. There was not any significant talk live that Cerrone was robbed and nobody even asked him any questions regarding the judging.

Lorenzo Fertitta was so impressed with the main event that he doubled the best match bonus, giving both men $20,000 instead of the $10,000 that the bonuses were originally scheduled to be.