Join Inside Fights tonight for WEC 53 from Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz, marking the organization’s final card before the full merger with UFC. Tonight’s show features a championship doubleheader and airs live on Versus.
The WEC Lightweight title will be defended as Benson Henderson meets Anthony Pettis and WEC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz matches up with Scott Jorgensen. On the line: the Henderson-Pettis winner will receive an immediate UFC Lightweight title shot at winner of UFC 125’s Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard title fight. After tonight, the Cruz-Jorgensen winner will be crowned the UFC’s first-ever bantamweight champion.
Hang out and follow our round-by-round updates and results beginning at 9 PM ET for the live main card.
Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus
Referee: Neil Sarembock
Round 1
Kamal stalks Bart to start. Hooks fly from Shalorus but no damage. Bart misses a left hook and Shalorus hip tosses his way into Bart’s full guard. Hard hooks to the head and body by Kamal. Very strong ground and pound from “The Prince of Persia.” Kamal escapes from Bart’s attempt at an armbar and wails away with big hooks from the standing position on the seated Palaszewski. Kamal back into Bart’s open guard, but Bart finally jumps back to his feet and he eats a hook back on his way out. Bart with low kicks and jabs, utilizing his reach advantage. Two big leg kicks from Shalorus. Body kick, followed by inside leg kicks from Bart. Shalorus with alternating inside leg kicks to end the round.
Shalorus 10-9
Round 2
Shalorus gets a leg kick, but Bart responds with a body kick. Outside leg kick from Kamal lands flush. Bart has his kick caught by Kamal, but he fails to capitalize. Big right hand from Bart, followed by a right from Kamal. Inside left leg kick from Kamal. Bart lands a high kick, but the foot lands and it’s brushed off. Kamal shoots in and presses Bart against the cage, but Bart circles away. Kamal swings wildly, but Bart counters with a high kick that brushes past Kamal’s head. Straight punches from Shalorus land clean. Kamal shoots in and gets the takedown. Ground and pound in the full guard of Palaszewski. Kamal walks Bart to the cage, but Bart got back to his feet. Hooks and uppercuts from Kamal don’t do much damage. As Kamal resets, Bart signals him to “bring it” and lets a head kick fly. It’s blocked by Shalorus, who opens his arms up as if to say “what?” Good round.
Shalorus 10-9
Round 3
Four misses by Kamal lead to a big shot. Both fighters are exchanging big rights, but Bart’s lands. One-two combo from Bart connects. Shalorus shoots for the double leg and dumps him for the takedown, but Bart is right back to his feet and knees on the way out. Jabs landing for jab, leading to a head kick that lands, but more on the neck. Kamal is tired and a shoot goes no where. Body shot from Shalorus lands. Takedown by Kamal. Great action by both fights on the mat, Bart is firing elbows and Kamal is trying to get into side control. Short elbows from Kamal land on the side of Bart’s head. Bart fights back to his feet and lands a big knee as Shalorus comes it. Bart is connecting, but not with enough power to put Kamal down. Another flying knee attempt from Bart misses.
Palaszewski 10-9
Winner: Kamal Shalorus by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1
Jab from Cerrone to start. Horodecki with a high kick. Good exchange from both fights, but Chris steps into a groin kick on the way in on the next series. Good body kick from Cerrone. Sequence of punches from Horodecki leads to a takedown by Cerrone. Horodecki slips free immediately and we’re back to their feet. One-two combinations land from both fighters. Muay thai clinch from Cerrone and Chris eats a knee to the body. As Chris shoots in on the next sequence, “Cowboy” lands a knee. Leg kick from Chris. Big left body shot from Cerrone. Jab, right, outside leg kick all land for Cerrone. Horodecki shoots for a takedown. Cerrone pops to his feet and lets a head kick fly that Horodecki catches. Cerrone quickly tries for a gogoplata, which Horodecki slips free of. Back on their feet, Cerrone gets a takedown and takes Horodecki’s back when the round ends.
Cerrone 10-9
Round 2
Horodecki shoots for a takedown, misses the omoplata. Chris slips free and Cerrone slaps on a triangle. After about a minute, Cerrone makes a big adjustment, pushes the left elbow across the neck of Chris Horodecki for the submission victory.
Winner: Donald Cerrone by submission (R2, 2:43, triangle choke)
After the break, Cain Velasquez and Urijah Faber are interviewed cageside. Very cool to have the former WEC Featherweight champion and current UFC Heavyweight title in the building.
Nice video package chronicling the history of WEC. Main event of WEC 1 featured Dan Severn? Crazy.
WEC Bantamweight Title Bout
Dominick Cruz (c)vs. Scott Jorgensen
Referee: Neil Sarembock
Round 1
Early feeling out for both fighters. Combinations from Cruz land cleanly. Jorgensen seems to be watching his opponent to feel out his opponent. Cruz with two hooks and a head kick. Uppercut lands. Cruz comes with a punch and Jorgensen takes Cruz down to the mat. Back on their feet against the cage, Jorgensen pushes away and resets. Stiff jab from Cruz. Jorgensen comes forward and eats multiple punches from Scott. Uppercut lands from Cruz. Leg kick from Cruz lands flush, so Jorgensen shoots for the takedown. Scott shoots for the takedown and gets Cruz’ back. Cruz shrugs Jorgensen off and has side control to end the round.
Cruz 10-9
Round 2
Cruz is still moving, but now Jorgensen has come out early with more speed to start. Big right from Cruz lands. Low kick from Cruz lands clean. Good head movement from Dominick Cruz, avoiding three big shots from Jorgensen. Cruz switches levels and gets a takedown into Scott’s full guard. Ground and pound by Cruz. Jorgensen is working to get back to his feet, but Cruz grabs the single leg and pushes him back to his butt. Big elbows from the champion. Scott wall walks back to standing and we’re back in the middle of the ring. Dominick hits gloves with a flying knee and presses Scott against the cage. The horn sounds to end the round.
Cruz 10-9
Round 3
Right hand from Cruz lands right away. Another short right staggers Jorgensen. Cruz presses in now, but Scott has time to recover. Leg kick into Scott’s thigh. Head kick from Cruz lands and Jorgensen walks through it. Another outside leg kick from Cruz. Jab from Scott lands and as he presses in, Cruz slips away with amazing head movement. Big right from Scott, countered by a big right-left combo from Jorgensen. Two leg kicks are deflected by the challenger. Jab from Jorgensen lands. Takedown by Cruz into Jorgensen’s open guard. Dominick Cruz works the body in the ground and pound. Big hook sweep by Scott Jorgensen, but Cruz gets free and they are back to their feet. Both fighters take turns pressing one another against the cage before they separate and round ends.
Cruz 10-9
Round 4
Cruz gets a big takedown on Scott. Cruz just pounds with elbows on the challenger. Scott slips out the back door and back to his feet. Jorgensen has Cruz against the fence and the two alternate clinch control on the fence. Inside leg kick from Cruz. High kick from Jorgensen. Body kick from Cruz. Scott Jorgensen is taken down with another takedown, but Jorgensen grabs the single leg in a takedown, using it to get both men back to their feet. Punch, kick, punch from Cruz. Cruz fakes the superman and shoots the double leg and gets the takedown. He pounds out Jorgensen for 10 seconds to end the round.
Cruz 10-9
Round 5
Jorgensen has shown a ton of heart, but Cruz is a machine tonight. He’s just got to avoid a big shot to ensure to walk away with both the last WEC and first UFC Bantamweight championship.
More of the same striking from each fighter: Cruz moving in and out with jabs and body kicks, Jorgensen trying to use his jab to get into the pocket, but coming up short. Left body kicks from Cruz. Scott gets Cruz down with an inside trip, but Cruz gives up his back to get back to his feet. Strong double leg from Cruz, driving Jorgensen halfway across the cage. Cruz is working hard in the open guard, beating on Jorgensen. Jorgensen stands up and both fighters let a series of punches and kicks fly (most of which miss) before the final horn sounds.
Cruz 10-9
Winner: Dominick Cruz via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
WEC Lightweight Title Bout
Ben Henderson (c) vs. Anthony Pettis
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1
No touch of gloves to start. Front round house to start from barely misses. Leg kick from Pettis checked. Pettis answers with a front round house of his own. Outside leg kick from Henderson, he presses forward with two punches and puts Pettis to the cage. Henderson with knees to the thighs of Pettis against the fence. Pettis fakes yawning, but Henderson gets the inside trip takedown. Pettis has his back against the cage and drops for an armbar attempt, but Henderson gets free. Pettis pushes up and gets free. Body kick from Henderson, countered by a body kick from Pettis. Counter to the head from Pettis and Henderson gets the double leg takedown.
Henderson 10-9
Round 2
Outside body kick from Henderson lands. Head kick from Henderson misses and Pettis goes for the inside kick, buckling Henderson. Pettis hits with a big right, rocking the champion. Henderson gives up his back, but grabs a kimura. Henderson gets free and grabs for a kimura of his own. Both fighters end up back on their feet. Henderson eats two punches from Pettis. Henderson misses an initial takedown attempt, but recomposes himself and gets another shot and takes Pettis against the cage. Big right in the center of the cage barely misses from the champ. Body kick from Henderson countered by a flying knee by Pettis. Henderson catches the knee and spins Pettis to the cage. Henderson releases him and is caught with an inadvertent groin strike. He shakes off the ref’s stoppage and step back up with 45 seconds to go. Head kick from Henderson block. Counter leg kick by Pettis. Pettis stalks the champion around the cage. Both men get fire off jabs that miss to end the round.
Pettis 10-9
Round 3
Outside leg kick from Henderson. Body kick by Henderson followed by an inside leg kick from Pettis. Big right over the top doesn’t connect. Henderson is taken down by Anthony Pettis and gives up his back. Pettis jumps on top and tries to get the neck of Ben Henderson. Pettis cradles the leg so that he can’t be shook from Ben’s back. Body triangle holds him on tight as Ben gets back to his feet, using the cage to support the weight of both men (as Pettis is still on his back). Pettis wails away on the ribs of the champion. Anthony Pettis continues to ride the back of Henderson, who suddenly explodes with elbows to the thigh of Pettis. Pettis tries to grab the neck of Henderson, but finally lets go, just before the horn sounds.
Pettis 10-9
Round 4
Body kick from Henderson is deep. Pettis tries to get the guillotine on Henderson, who explodes away and dives into Pettis’ guard. Pettis gives up his back and Henderson gets his arm under the chin, but Pettis shoves it away. Henderson again gets the challenger’s neck. Pettis on top of Henderson and he flips into his guard. Henderson switches to give up his back and Pettis gets his back again. This time, Henderson calmly picks his hair from his mouth and walks away with his “155 lb. backpack”. Pettis with two punches and a big shot gets Henderson down and Pettis works for a guillotine. Henderson steps to the side to alleviate the pressure from the choke and is able to get several small punches in to end the round.
Henderson 10-9
Round 5
Both men striking early to start the final frame. Right from Henderson puts Pettis on his heels. Low shot to the cup from Pettis. The quick recovery from Henderson gets a glove touch from Pettis. Head kick from Ben blocked. Body kick from Henderson lands, but a big punch from Pettis for the counter. Henderson trips and falls to the mat, but Pettis doesn’t swarm and lets him up. Pettis went for a flying knee and Ben Henderson hangs on for a double leg takedown. Henderson is now in the guard of Pettis, but Pettis tries for a triangle that Henderson ends up with his back. Pettis gets out of trouble and rolls away with a minute and a half left on the clock. It’s coming down to the wire. Right from Pettis lands, Henderson backs up….Anthony Pettis runs at the cage and pushes off in the air, hitting a huge roundhouse that flattens the champion. Pettis swarms as Henderson dives for a double leg takedown to recover. He was out until his head hit the mat, he’s barely holding it together. That kick was UNBELIEVABLE. He almost got the win with it. Several shots to the ribs of Henderson by the challenger. That kick will be the highlight of this night. WOW.
Pettis 10-9
Winner and NEW WEC Lightweight champion: Anthony Pettis by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
That’s it on a great night of fights. We got an INSANE finish to the Pettis-Henderson fight and Dominick Cruz dominated Scott Jorgensen in two hotly contested title fights. Great way for WEC to roll into UFC. Can’t wait to see what Dana and Co. come up with to start with.
Thanks for tuning in!
Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised)
Danny Downes def. Tiequan Zhang by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Shane Roller def. Jamie Varner by submission (R1, 3:55, Rear Naked Choke)
Brad Pickett def. Ivan Menjivar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3
Eddie Wineland def. Ken Stone by KO (R1, 2:11)
Danny Castillo def. Will Kerr by KO at 1:25, R1
Yuri Alcantara def. Ricardo Lamas by TKO (R1, 3:26, strikes)
Renan Barao def. Chris Cariaso by submission (R1, 3:47, rear naked choke)
