WEC live from Sacramento

, does Urijah get a title shot; Who is lightweight champion
Welcome to our live coverage of the WEC from Sacramento’s Arco Arena. We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to

Will Campuzano beat Coty "Ox" Wheeler in the opener. I arrived during round three. Wheeler’s face was a mess, covered in blood, and people were saying it was a hell of a fight. Crowd gave both guys a standing ovation. Scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27

Much smaller crowds than in the past in Sacramento. Entire upper deck curtained off. An early arriving crowd in the sense that the bottom is 90% packed. Looks like 6,000 to 7,000.

George Roop vs. Eddie Wineland

Wineland is a former WEC bantamweight champion before the Versus era. Wineland staggered him with a punch i the first but didn’t follow up. Roop, who is 6-1, fought at 135 pounds. He doesn’t look emaciated either. Roop missing some slow high kicks. Roop has a big reach edge but not utilizing it. Wineland ducking punches and connecting. Roop tried a flying bicycle kick but Wineland easily moved out of the way. Crowd booing late in the round. A lot of swinging and missing. Crowd booed the round. 10-9 Wineland.

Wineland connected and ducks Roop’s punches and then comes back. Nobody going for a takedown. Roop constantly missing. Crowd booing but Wineland doing a real good job here fighting a tactical fight. Roop just too slow. Now Roop going for low kicks. Good left counter by Wineland. Crowd booing because it’s mostly Roop swinging and missing bad. Now Wineland connected with a few. Crowd booed this round even heavier. 20-18 Wineland.

Roop has swelling around the nose area. Wineland knocked him down with a counter shot and a few punches on the ground but Roop back up. Wineland moving in for the finish but Roop able to evade blows now. Roop needs to try something because this boxing isn’t working but he’s done few low kicks and tried no takedowns. Wineland connected with several punches late in the round and slipped when he got aggressive and time ran out. I can’t see any score but 30-27 Wineland because even though he dominated, he really didn’t do any serious sustaining damage.

30-27 Wineland

Bryan Caraway vs. Mark Hominick

Caraway a former Elite XC fighter making his WEC debut. Hominick came out to "Final Countdown." The fans don’t chant, "It’s the Final Countdown" at him, though. Caraway with a takedown right away. Caraway with some punches from the top. Hominick punching from the bottom and some good movement, but Caraway got the best punches in with leverage. Caraway winning the round, but it’s close. Another good punch from the top before Hominick tied him up. Hominick tried to reverse, but Caraway blocked it, but in doing so, in the transition, Hominick got the triangle choke and armbar. Nice finish.

Clint Godfrey vs. Wagnney Fabiano

Fabiano out to the theme from "Rocky." Lucky for him, Dana (who apparently hates that song) is in Virginia tonight. Godfrey tried a takedown and Fabiano easily spraweld and not has top position and side control. . Fabiano trying to improve position but doing no damage. Nothing happening and crowd starting to boo. Fabiano on top the entire round doing very little damage. He was at one point trying to isolate an arm. Got full mount with seconds left and did some punching. 10-9 Fabiano

Godfrey went for a knee, but Fabiano used a bodylock takedown into side control. He’s trapped the arms and throwing lefts to the head. They aren’t hard punches but Godfrey can’t block them. Nice sweep by Godfrey. But Fabiano swept back to the top and back to a full mount. Fabiano not doing any damage. Ref Herb Dean ordered a stand up with 45 seconds left. Fabiano tried a takedown but didn’t get it. Now got it with 10 seconds left and riding him. Fabiano got his back right a the horn. 20-18 Fabiano. Crowd not booing but at this point they don’t care.

Godfrey got the takedown to start the round. He’s throwing short lefts. Crowd boooing. Godfrey can’t win the fight doing this. He went for a guillotine but doesn’t have it. Fabiano escaped and on top with 3:12 left. Fabiano now has side control. Dean ordered a stand-up with 1:05 left. Fabiano went for a takedown but Godfrey blocked and got his back. Fabiano out of trouble and took Godrey downand got his back. Goffrey rolled to his back. Time running out. Total nothing fight. I guess 30-27 Fabiano although nobody did much for takedowns in the round.

Crowd completely dead as this last fight just killed it. All three judges have it 30-27 for Fabiano.

Akitoshi Tamura vs. Charlie Valencia

Tamura booed. I figured as much. Tamura throwing kicks but Velancia coming back with much crisper kicks. Valencia, billed at 5-3, looks tiny out there next to 5-9 Tamura. Valencia with a good knee. Another good low kick by Valencia. Valencia with an overhand right missed. Tamura with a kick to the groin and fans booed that lot. High kick by Valencia. Valencia with punches , got a takedown. Now Tamura trapped Valencia’s head in what can be called a double rubber guard. Now he’s got a triangle attempt but it doesn’t look dangerous. Tamura tried an armbar. Valencia powered out and throwing a lot of punches. The most excitement in a while. Hard elbows from the top by Valencia. That flurry clinched him the round 10-9 Valencia.

Tamura got behind Valencia and has a pieggy back position and body triangle, throwing punches and working for a choke. Tamura keeping the position. Tamura with some punches to the side of the head, but these aren’t hard punches. He remains holding the body triangle while piggy backing Valencia. Tamura trying a choke with 25 seconds left. Doesn’t fully have it and time ran out. Crowd cheered Valencia surviving the round. 19-19 even as has to be Tamura’s round.

Valencia in with punches. Tamura missed a kick badly and missied a spinning back fist by a half mile. Valencia in with punches. Body kick by Valencia. A series of punches and Valencia put Tamura down with a right to the side of the head. He’s throwing punches on the ground. Tamura back up and Valencia connecting with more punches. Body kick by Valencia. Lefts by Valencia. Good body shot by Valencia. Nice left by Valencia. Uppercut staggered Tamura. Hard knee by Tamura. High kick by Tamura, not sure if it landed tho. Good knee by Tamura. Valencia firing late. Good third round, close but I’d go 29-28 for Valencia.

29-28 Valencia, 29-28 Tamura, 29-28 Valencia

Mackens Semerzier vs. Deividas Taurosevicius

DT bulled him into the cage. He picked Semerzier up for a high slam. Semerzier back to his feet. Body kick by DT and working for a takedown. Semerzier trying for a guillotine but DT slammed him down off it. DT moved him into the cage and throwing body punches. A standup was ordered and I’m not sure why. DT has him by the cage and wrestling with him as time ran out in the round. DT 10-9

High kick by Semerzier and now he tried for a takedown but DT powered him over and took him down. Semerzier back on his feet. Another takedown by DT. Now he’s behind him standing. High slam. Semerzier threw an up kick an tried a triangle but DT escaped before it was trouble. DT with some punches from the top. Two hard punches by DT from the top. Another hard punch on the ground by DT. DT 20-18.

Semerzier with a hard body kick. He threw a second body kick, but DT caught the kick and used it to get the takedown. Semerzier back up. DT tried another double leg but Semerzier stopped him. Right by DT and then they traded knees to the body. DT shot in and Semerzier blocked, then grabbed a Kimura and DT trying a heel hook. Semerzier out of trouble. Semerzer dropping punches to the body and one to the head. Semerzier dropping more punches to the body while standing to DT on the ground. More punches. Now Semerzier is on top but in guard and getting no offense going. DT’s forehead is cut from the punches. Semerzier going for a guillotine with 20 seconds left. DT powered out. Time ran out. Semerzier’s round making it 29-28 for DT.

All three have it 29-28 for DT

This just isn’t up to the standards of most WEC shows. The Valencia match was good and the opener was good but the other matches have ranged from dull to so-so, but sicn ehtey were prelims they won’t be airing on the TV show.

Mike Brown vs. Anthony Morrison

Brown got the first reaction of the show. This isn’t a hot crowd and the reaction was more we know this guy but that’s about it. He wasn’t booed a lot, but there were boos, and there were cheers.

Some boos for Morrison. Brown looks totally ripped and very confident. Morrison with body kicks. Brown missed wild. He’s now going for a bodylock takedown and got Morrison to the ground. He’s crucifixed the arms and threw lefts to the wide open head. Morrison got out momentarily but put on his back again. Brown has his back, going for a choke. Morrison tapped. Solid performance by Brown. He pretty much outclassed Morrison.

I just needed a win. I wanted a wins so badly. It’s very important you don’t drop two in a row. I want a shot at the title. Jose Aldo, the winner of Faber-Assuncao will probably get Aldo and I’ll get a shot in the future.

Chuck Liddell is hair and he no longer has the Mohawk haircut after 20 years.



Dave Jansen vs. Kamal Shalorus

Shalorus is the guy who speaks and you’d swear it was the Iron Sheik. Trading punches. Shalow has wild standup but heavy punches. Jansen couldn’t get a takedown. Hard low kick by Shalorus. Shalorus got the takedown and threw punches but Jansen back up. Shalorus connected with some hard punches. Jansen cut under the left eye. USA chant. Got pretty loud. Jansen with a good punch . Trade and Shalorus knocked him down. Jansen right back up. Good round. 10-9 Shalorus.

Both swinging. Shalorus’ punches are landing with louder thud. Both swinging wildly and missing. Shalorus connecting with a few punches solidly. Shalorus got the takedown midway through the round. Jansen back up. Jansen’s left eye looking nastier. Jansen went for a takedown to no avail. Now Jansen cut on the forehead. Jansen knocked Shalorus down with a punch that may have gone to the back of the head. Shalorus starting to tire. But he connected with a good right. Both swinging wildly. Jansen tried and failed to get another takedown as time ran out. Closer round, but I’d go with Shalorus making it 20-18.

Shalorus dropped him with a right but Jansen back up. Low kick by Shalorus which Jansen didn’t expect. Hard right by Shalorus. Sharlorus grazed him with a punch meant to kill. Low kick by Jansen. Shalorus with another takedown. He backed off and let Jansen up. Jansen tried a takedown and didn’t get it. Big knee by Jansen. Jansen’s head is covered in blood but he seems to have more life right now. Another takedown by Shalorus. Jansen needs submisssion and hasn’t threatened. Time running out as Jasnen go back to his feet. Time expired, should be 30-27 Shalorus. Crowd booings. That’s six decisions in eight fights tonight.

30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Shalorus

"I’m Iranian, I’m world class wrestler, nobody can take me down." People are booing him like he’s with Volkoff about to sing the anthem.

Urijah Faber vs. Raphael Assuncao

Heavy booing to Assuncao. Faber got a super reaction. I mean, one of the bigger reactions I’ve heard i a long time. Loud Faber chants. Early round saw Assuncao bull Faber into the cage. They were trading knees. Assuncao has him back against the cage and missed a punch. Faber with a punch. Body and head punch by Assuncao. Faber in with a right and a knee. They traded with Faber landing an elbow. Faber with a punch and Assuncao with a knee. Very close round, but I’d go 10-9 for Faber.

Faber got the takedown to start the round. Elbow by Faber on the ground. Faber with a guillotine . He didn’t get it. Knee to the body by Faber. Assuncao back up and hit a knee. Kicks and punches by Assuncao. Faber with a right. Assuncao missed with a right. Faber with a body kick but nothing on it. Assuncao with a right. Faber knocked him down with an elbow. Assuncao tried an armbar but Faber broke free. Faber on top. Faber with a hard elbow from the top. Lou Faber chant. I mean loud. Faber broke free for another punch. Another punch. Assuncao throwing elbows from the bottom. Assuncao back up to end the round. 20-18 Faber.

As Pat Patterson would say, they are going banana. Loud Faber chant. Assuncao with two punches but missed a body kick. Another punch by Assuncao but Faber timed it to get the takedown. Assuncao up but hit with a punch as he was getting up. Assuncao tried a takedown. Faber blocked and threw an elbow. Assuncao looked at the clock. Assucano has Faber against the cage. Threw a body punch and let him off the cage. Push kick by Faber who lost balance and went down. Faber then knocked him down with a right and on top in the guard with 2:30 left. Faber with a punch on the ground but mainly holding him down. Faber got his back and going for a choke. Assuncao tapped out to the choke.

This is freaking deafening. They’ve got their wish of Aldo vs. Faber as the big match of the year.

Not a match of the year, but this was the most heated match live in a long time.

Faber: "It feels great, guys I love you, Sacramento, thanks for coming out. Thanks to Raphael. People don’t know him but he’s No. 5 in the world, give it up for Raphael. I’m ready to get that belt. We’ve got a great champion, Aldo is phenom, he’s talented and creative and I want to get my belt." Brought in Aldo. "You won’t take my belt." Faber: "I’ve got to bring m A game, he’s a tough guy, but in my mind that’s my belt."

Jamie Varner vs. Ben Henderson for the lightweight title

Varner wasn’t booed that much. People are staying for the main event but crowd not into this like a main event. Henderson wasn’t cheered that much. Varner got the takedown right away. Elbowing the let hamstring by Varner. He’s got a front headlock. Knee to the body and another knee by Varner. Varner has a standing guillotine and threw a knee to buckle Henderson’s knee and he went down. Varner outclassing him. Herb Dean called a standup. Varner had a clear advantage position at the time and was throwing knees. He wasn’t going to finish him from there but there wasn’t a lack of action. Henderson poked him in the eye but Dean didn’t call it. Henderson rushed for a takedown but Varner reversed and put him down. Body punches and knees to the body by Varner. Henderson up with 37 seconds left. Elbow by Henderson at the horn. Varner’s round easy 10-9

High kick to the chest by Varner. Varner tripped him with a kick and Henderson down. Henderson up and threw a kick to the body. Crowd booing the lack of action., Varner pressed forward with a punch. Varner back with a body kick. Crowd booing some more. Another body kick by Henderson. Henderson in with this high kick and Varner threw him down off it. Henerson moved in with a low kick. Henderson shot and Varner escaped. Body punch moving in by Varner. Trading knees to the body in a clinch against the cage. Varner threw him down and Henderson back up. Knee by Henderson. Closer round, I have it 20-18 for Varner but there are peole who gave the round by Henderson.

They just showed Cerrone in the crowd.

Varner in with a punch and has Henderson pinned against the cage. Hard body kick by Henderson. Knee to the body by Henderson landed hard. Another body kick by Henderson. Henderson did a Rocky Johnson shuffle. Body kick by Henderson. Knee by Henderson. Varner went for a takedown but Henderson got the guillotine and Varner tapped. Wow.

So looks like Henderson vs. Cerrone rematch with Faber vs. Aldo in April or May.

Henderson with the All things throghchris. "Jamie Varner’s a tough, scary looking dude.

I’ll fight whoever Sean Shelby wants to put against me. I love the Cowboy Donald Cerrone. I’ve got mad love for him. He put me on the map.

Varner: "I came to fight. Ben was a better man. He caught me with that guillotine. I wanted to box. He wanted to kick. Shit happens. I was winning the match, I was getting the takedowns. I had the control. I came to fight, Ben came to grapple, two different things." Fans booed him.