This weekend MMA fans were treated to another live event of the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). Sunday’s event featured two title fights and was broadcast live on the Versus network. Fighting for the vacant middleweight title was Joe “El Dirte†Doerkson and undefeated Pride fighter/Brazilian Top Team powerhouse Paulo Filho. Also, Carlos Condit would be defending his welterweight title against Midwest contender Brock Larson. In the in between, the event featured some very exciting bouts and showed that under the new Zuffa management the WEC is on the rise.
Under card Fights
Jamie “The Worm†Varner (12 – 1 – 0) vs. Sherron “Rob Roy†Leggett (16 – 1 – 1)
During the weigh ins held Saturday, Jamie Varner, who is known for his bravado, got in the face of his future opponent talking trash. The stare down between the too got so tense that security had to separate both fighters before things got out of hand. Leggett expressed anger that he felt Varner did not respect him and was looking to punish him during their bout.
The Fight
Round 1: Both fighters feel each other out. Leggett land a straight right hand then follows with a takedown attempt. Varner comes in with punches then switches levels to get a thunderous takedown, slamming Leggett to the floor. Varner passes from side mount, mount , to side again to secure an arm triangle. Leggett defends and the fighters work back to a standing clinch. Leggett has underhooks and attempts a takedown but Varner counters and ends in the superior position. Leggett quickly maneuvers and is on top of Varner. Varners manages to pick Leggett up in a fireman’s type carry and slams Leggett on his head and neck. Leggett is clearly stunned and Varner looks to finish with strikes. However, Varner is overzealous and lands many shots to the back of the head causing referee Steve Mazzagatti to halt the action and deduct a point from Jamie Varner. Leggett is allowed time to recover after which the fight continues. Two minutes left, Varner throws a right hook then follows with a slapping leg kick to the face of Leggett. Varner attempts another kick but Leggett catches it driving Varner to the down the tries to secure a rear-naked choke on Varner. Varner escapes, and executes another slam on Leggett. Varner gains the mounted position then goes to work on Leggett. Leggett attempts to push Varner off of him but exposes his back and Varner takes it. Varner then proceeds to punish Leggett with strikes until the referee stops the fight making Varner the winner by TKO from strikes at 4:08 in round one.
Tiki Ghosn (9 – 6 – 0) vs. Blas Avena (4 – 1 – 0)
Blas Avena is a relative newcomer to the sport while Tiki Ghosn is a veteran from Team Punishment who has fought in the UFC. Both fighters in this bout were looking to rebound from a loss. Ghosn suffered a TKO from strikes at the hands of Dave Terrel and Avena lost in his WEC debut to Logan Clark.
The Fight
Round 1: Avena charges in for the takedown. Tiki puts a valiant effort but is still taken down then quickly mounted by Avena. From the mount, Avena waste no time in dishing out punches that cause Tiki to turn over to defend. Avena takes Tiki’s back and looks for the rear naked choke. Tiki is able to defend despite Avena having the choke in. Avena again switches to mount and rains down punches. Tiki once again rolls to defend and is open for the choke. This time Avena is able to sink it in tight, forcing Tiki to tap at 1:01 in round one.
Jeff “The Big Frog†Curran (30 – 8 – 1) vs. Stephen Ledbetter (6 – 0 – 0)
The Fight
Round 1: After a feeling out process, Curran lands a straight right that stuns Ledbetter. Ledbetter ties up with Curran then takes him down. Curran ties up Ledbetter on the ground preventing him from punching. After some inactivity the fight is stood up. Ledbetter shoots and gets another takedown but again Curran is able to neutralize Ledbetter. Curran manages to stand himself up from his back as round one comes to a close.
Round 2: Curran throws a flurry but is taken down by Ledbetter. Curran manages to stand up and the fighters exchange in the clinch. They separate and Curran scores with kicks to Ledbetter’s thighs and midsection. Ledbetter gets another takedown but is unable to effectively damage Curran from this position. With thirty seconds left in the round, Curran secures a triangle choke on Ledbetter. The choke is deep but Ledbetter manages to hang on until the end of the round.
Round 3: Curran comes out and begins to pick apart Ledbetter with punches. Ledbetter gets another takedown but is again neutralized by Curran. The fight is stood up then Ledbetter attempts another takedown but is caught in an inverted triangle by Curran. The two scramble with Curran looking to secure a kimura along with the triangle choke. The round ends with Curran on his back attempting another triangle on Ledbetter.
The judges award a unanimous decision to Jeff “The Big Frog†Curran.
Main Event Fights
WEC Middleweight Title Fight: Paulo Filho (14 – 0 – 0) vs. Joe “El Dirte†Doerksen (39 – 9 – 0)
Paulo Filho is a Brazilian jujitsu champion who made his name overpowering opponents in Pride FC under the Brazilian Top Team banner. Joe Doerksen is a tough UFC veteran fighter coming in on a seven fight win streak. In this fight both fighters are making their WEC debut and look to lay claim to the vacant 185lb WEC title.
The Fight
Round 1: Filho waist no time in trying to get the takedown but Doerksen will have none of it. Filho makes numerous attempts but comes up short. And the one takedown Filho was able to get, Doerkson was able to stand up out of it and bring the fight back to the feet. At 1:20, Filho begins throwing haymakers catching Doerksen with several. The stunned fighter does his best to defend, but Filho continues to punish “El Dirte†on the ground, then standing, and on the ground again until referee Big John McCarthy calls a halt to the action. At 4:07 of round one, Paulo Filho is the winner and newly crowned WEC Middleweight champion.
It is announced that on September 5th, the WEC will hold it’s next event and will again feature two title fights. “Razor†Rob McCullough will defend his WEC Lightweight title vs. Richard Crunkilton and WEC Bantamweight champion Chase Bebee will defend his title against undefeated Manny Tapia. Additionally, former UFC Lightweight champion Jens “Little Evil†Pulver will make his WEC debut fighting at 145lbs and taking on former WEC Bantamweight champion Cub Swanson.
WEC Welterweight Title Fight: Carlos Condit (20 – 4 – 0) vs. Brock Larson (21 – 1 – 0)
This fight was suppose to take place two months ago but due to a shoulder injury suffered by defending champ Carlos Condit the bout was postponed. Instead challenger Brock Larson made an example of Kevin Knabjan, overpowering and then destroying his opponent in a mere 27 seconds. Larson stated that he has ate, slept, and drank Condit and is eager to become the new WEC Welterweight champ.
The Fight
Round 1: Larson shoots for a takedown, Condit sprawls out and the fighters clinch standing. Larson hooks Condit’s leg and takes him down. Condit secures guard and Larson stands up to rain down punches. Condit defends and scrambles on his back with Larson is on top of him throwing punches. Condit raises his guard high to set up for an armbar. As Condit begins to secure it, Larson picks up Condit slamming him on his head against the cage. But Condit has the hold in place and works hard to extend Larson’s arm. Larson struggles to stand up and pull out of the hold but only causes his arm to hyperextend further. Larson finally has no choice but to tap at 2:21 in round one. Condit is the victor and retains his WEC title.
Unaired Fights
Steve Cantwell defeats Justin McElfresh via TKO (strikes) at 0:47 in round 1.
Eric Schambari defeats Logan Clark by Unanimous Decision
Antonio Banuelos defeats Justin Robbins by Unanimous Decision
Hiromitsu Miura defeats Fernando Gonzalez via Submission (strikes) at 3:35 in round 2
