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WEC 46 “Varner vs. Henderson” Preview & Event Coverage By Justin Bolduc
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This weekend the WEC returns to action on the Versus network. In the main event WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner returns from an eye injury to face WEC interim lightweight champion Benson Henderson. Former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber is also set to appear on the card against top ten featherweight Raphael Assuncao with the winner likely challenging Jose Aldo.
The main card will also feature former featherweight champion Mike Brown's first return since losing to Aldo as he faces journeyman Anthony Morrison. The main card is rounded out by an exciting clash between Dave Jensen and Kamal Shalorus and Mackens Semerzier against Deividas Taurosevicius.
Jamie Varner (16-2, 2 NC) vs. Benson Henderson (10-1) *WEC Lightweight Championship
Jamie Varner last fought in January where he won a split technical decision against Donald Cerrone after suffering an eye injury due to an accidental illegal knee. The win was his fifth in a row since losing to Hermes Franca at UFC 62 and his fourth WEC victory. The only other loss of Varner's career came in 2003 against Jesse Moreng.
After losing to Franca, Varner defeated Jason Gilliam at UFC 68 but was cut by the promotion. He then made his WEC debut against Sherron Leggett at WEC 29. Varner won by TKO due to punches and elbows inside the first round and was subsequently given a title shot against “Razor” Rob McCullough. Varner used superior boxing to pick McCullough apart and finished the bout with strikes in the third round. Varner then successfully defended his title against Marcus Hicks, handing the “Wrecking Ball” his first career loss by TKO on the first round.
Varner trains at Arizona Combat Sports alongside TUF veterans C.B. Dollaway, Jesse Forbes, and Gerald Harris, TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader, NCAA Division I wrestler Ben Askren, and experienced UFC veteran Joe Riggs.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: 4-0 (3 TKO) Strengths: Good boxing, collegiate wrestling experience, great conditioning Weaknesses: Ring rust Key Wins: Rob McCullough, Donald Cerrone, Marcus Hicks, Sherron Leggett, Jason Gilliam, Kyle Bradley Notable Losses: Hermes Franca, Jesse Moreng
Benson Henderson exploded into the public eye with his WEC debut against Anthony Njokuani at WEC 38 – the same event Varner faced Cerrone. Henderson finished Njokuani with a second round guillotine choke. Currently Henderson is riding a nine-fight win streak and has not lost since his second professional bout in 2006.
Henderson followed up his win over Njokuani with an impressive first round stoppage of Shane Roller at WEC 40. Most recently he battled Donald Cerrone in a fight of the year candidate at WEC 43 to earn a five round unanimous decision and the promotion's interim lightweight title. Prior to joining the WEC, Henderson earned a win over UFC veteran Diego Saraiva and competed twice under MFC.
Like Varner, Henderson also trains in Arizona. Fighting out of the MMA Lab, Henderson has trained alongside UFC veterans Joe Veres and Alvin Robinson. Henderson is a two-time NAIA collegiate wrestling All-American.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: 3-0 (1 TKO, 1 Sub) Strengths: Collegiate wrestling experience, Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, Taekwondo black belt Weaknesses: Finds himself in compromising positions Key Wins: Donald Cerrone, Anthony Njokuani, Shane Roller, Diego Saraiva Notable Loss: Chad Klingensmith Urijah Faber (22-3) vs. Raphael Assuncao (14-1) *Non-Title Featherweight Bout
Urijah Faber has been the most popular fighter for the WEC, and one of the most popular featherweights in the world. He has competed professionally since 2003 and has appeared in King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge, and TKO. Faber's last eight bouts have taken place inside the WEC, with his most recent performance ending as a decision loss in a rematch with Mike Brown for the promotion's featherweight title.
Faber won his first eight professional bouts before losing by TKO to UFC veteran Tyson Griffin in 2005. He rebounded with three wins, including a submission win over Charles Bennett and a disqualification win over Ivan Menjivar, before making his WEC debut. After two rounds Faber stopped Cole Escovedo by corner stoppage to earn the promotion's featherweight title. He won three more bouts, including a win over Brazilian jiu-jitsu stand-out Bibiano Fernandes, before making the WEC his permanent home.
Faber successfully defended his 145-pound championship five times, earning four submissions in the process – including one over top ten ranked Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jeff Curran. In addition to the finish against Curran, Faber stopped Dominick Cruz and decisioned Jens Pulver. After stringing together several successful defenses Faber was stopped in the first round by Mike Brown. Faber came back with a submission win in a rematch with Pulver, but lost his rematch with Brown at WEC 41, breaking both hands in the process.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: 7-2 (1 TKO, 5 Sub Strengths: NCAA Division I wrestling experience, good kickboxing, great cardio Weaknesses: Risk taker Key Wins: Jeff Curran, Bibiano Fernandes, Jens Pulver (2), Cole Escovedo, Charles Bennett, Dominick Cruz, Chance Farrar, Charlie Valencia Notable Losses: Mike Brown (2), Tyson Griffin
Raphael Assuncao has flown under the radar with casual fans, but is well known to the hardcore audience. Ranked in the top-ten of the featherweight division, Assuncao is on a six-fight win streak with only one loss on record – to Jeff Curran. In fourteen professional victories Assuncao has finished eight opponents by submission and two by TKO.
Assuncao made his WEC debut against Jameel Massouh at WEC 40 where he won a unanimous decision. In his most recent appearance he won a split decision against Yves Jabouin, teammate of UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Assuncao, who trains alongside his brother, UFC veteran Junior Assuncao, began his professional career in 2004 with eight-consecutive wins – including wins over UFC veteran Joe Lauzon and Bellator and Sengoku veteran Jorge Masvidal. Assuncao holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but has shown competency with striking.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: 2-0 Strengths: Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, good Muay Thai, physically strong Weaknesses: Struggles most with a fast pace Key Wins: Joe Lauzon, Jorge Masvidal, Joe Pearson, Yves Jabouin, Jameel Massouh, James Birdsley Notable Loss: Jeff Curran
Mike Brown (22-5) vs. Anthony Morrison (15-7) *Non-title Featherweight Bout
Mike Brown has competed professionally in mixed martial arts since 2001 and his experience takes him everywhere from the UFC to Bodog Fight to DEEP. Brown trains in Southern Florida with American Top Team alongside fighters such as Jeff Monson, Jorge Santiago, Thiago Alves, Denis Kang, Antonio Silva, and Cole Miller.
Brown made his WEC debut against formerly top-ten ranked Jeff Curran at WEC 34 where he won a unanimous decision. He then challenged Urijah Faber for the promotion's featherweight title and came out on top with a TKO victory only 2:23 into the bout. After a successful defense via first round submission over UFC veteran Leonard Garcia, Brown won a five-round decision in a rematch with Faber at WEC 41. Most recently Brown lost by TKO in the first round to Jose Aldo at WEC 44 in the second round.
In twenty-two professional victories Brown has finished twelve opponents by submission and four by TKO. He holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and was a high school state wrestling champion in 1992. Brown went on to wrestle collegiately.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: 4-1 (1 TKO, 1 Sub) Strengths: Great boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, size Weaknesses: Struggles most when pressured Key Wins: Urijah Faber (2), Jeff Curran, Yves Edwards, Leonard Garcia, Mark Hominick Notable Losses: Jose Aldo, Masakazu Imanari, Genki Sudo, Hermes Franca, Joe Lauzon
While fans undoubtedly would rather see Brown face fellow top-ten fighter Wagnney Fabiano on this weekend's card, Anthony Morrison makes for solid opposition for the former champion. Morrison enters this Saturday's bout riding two-consecutive wins, including a 1:06 stoppage over UFC veteran Alvin Robinson in his most recent performance.
Morrison's professional debut came in 2006, but he has built up a wealth of experience in that time. Along with facing Robinson, Morrison has also met up with IFL veteran Deividas Taurosevicius, UFC veteran Jim Miller, and WEC veteran Micah Miller.
In fifteen professional victories Morrison has finished nine opponents by way of TKO and two by submission. Saturday marks the biggest show of his career, with his most recent at Ring of Fire as a distant second.
Intangibles:
WEC Record: Debut Strengths: Heavy hands, quick finisher, good conditioning Weaknesses: Susceptible to submissions Key Wins: Alvin Robinson, Jeff Lentz Notable Losses: Micah Miller, Deividas Taurosevicius, Jim Miller, Frank Johnson, Fabio Mello, Eddie Fyvie, Ricardo Tirlone Additional Notes
*While we are disappointingly not getting Wagnney Fabiano versus Mike Brown, Fabiano is still facing a decent opponent in Clint Godfrey (11-1). Fabiano suffered one of the biggest upset losses in 2009 when he was submitted by Mackens Semerzier at WEC 43 in October. The Brazilian however holds wins over former Shooto champion Akitoshi Tamura, Fredson Paixao, L.C. Davis, and Bao Quach. Godfrey, who makes his WEC debut Saturday, is currently riding an eight-fight win streak.
*Notables Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2) and Charlie Valencia (11-5) are set to meet up on the preliminary portion of the card. Tamura is best known for his upset win over former number one ranked featherweight “Lion” Takeshi Inoue and submission win over legend Rumina Sato in Shooto. In the WEC he is 1-1, but won his most recent performance against Manny Tapia. Valencia is 4-3 in the WEC but has called the promotion home since 2007. Prior to joining the WEC he faced Urijah Faber and Cub Swanson in King of the Cage. He is on a two-fight win streak, most recently defeating Coty Wheeler.
*Kamal Shalorus (5-0-1) gets a worthwhile main card slot after destroying Will Kerr in his WEC debut. Shalorus is undefeated in his career and has only gone to a decision once – in his draw. Shalorus is set to fight Dave Jansen (14-0). Jansen won his WEC debut in his most recent performance by decision against Rich Crunkilton at WEC 43 in October. The M-1 Challenge veteran has won ten bouts by submission and one by TKO.
WEC 46 Fight Card Main Card Jamie Varner vs. Benson Henderson (WEC Lightweight Unification Bout) Urijah Faber vs. Raphael Assuncao Mike Brown vs. Anthony Morrison Dave Jensen vs. Kamal Shalorus Deividas Taurosevicius vs. Mackens Semerzier Preliminary Card Akitoshi Tamura vs. Charlie Valencia Wagnney Fabiano vs. Clint Godfrey Mark Hominick vs. Brian Caraway George Roop vs. Eddie Wineland Will Campuzano vs. Coty Wheeler
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