WEC 48 Fight Results - WEC 48 Results & Fight Recaps
WEC 48 took place on April 24, 2010 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California as the first Pay Per View event put on by the WEC. The WEC 48 Aldo vs Faber fight card is listed below as we list the WEC 48 results now that the fights are complete.
WEC 48: Faber vs. Aldo took place this past Saturday night at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. In WEC’s fist venture on PPV, they stacked the card with the best prospects in the lower weight classes, a #1 contender’s match, and two championship bouts, one of which featuring Sacramento’s golden boy, Urijah Faber. In the span of three and a half hours, we saw the sure candidate for fight of the year as the “Korean Zombie” slugged it out with Leonard Garcia, watched Mike Brown fall from the top of the 145-pound division after a Manny Gamburyan demolishing right hand, and witnessed the passing of the WEC crown from Sacramento’s King, Urijah Faber, to Jose Aldo as Aldo demonstrated yet again why he belongs amongst the top 4 pound for pound.
The MMA universe was changed forever as 14 fighters entered the cage hoping to fulfill their dreams and propel themselves to the top of the WEC. Some succeeded, some failed. Here is where the 14 mixed martial artists stand now in their respective divisions, the WEC, and MMA following the event.
WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber Spike TV Preliminaries
Alex Karalexis vs. Anthony Pettis
Loser: Alex Karalexis – Karalexis fought a tough fight, but it was clear he had only a puncher’s chance at winning. He has now dropped 3 of his last 4 and is in serious jeopardy of being cut from the WEC. I don’t see him improving much and learning from his losses, but his style does provide for exciting fights and maybe that will be enough for the WEC to keep him around.
Winner: Anthony Pettis – Pettis is now 10-1, with his only loss coming via split decision to top fighter Bart Palaszewski. Anthony is easily one of the best prospects at 155, and at only 23 years old, has shown a great ability to finish fights against solid competition. After winning 3 fights in a row, a rematch with Palaszewski should be what’s next for this up and coming contender. As he continues to improve each and every fight, don’t be surprised if in a year or two, Pettis is fighting for the lightweight strap.
Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung
Loser: Chang Sung Jung – It saddens me that I have to put Jung’s name in the loser category because he fought his heart out and was robbed in his American debut; Jung clearly deserved to have his hand raised after what is sure to be the fight of 2010. The Korean Zombie showed no technical brilliance in the fight, but his determination, conditioning, and zombie like brawling was a joy to watch. Jung and Garcia’s scarp, which played out its epic rounds on Spike TV, is already drawing comparisons to the Griffin/Bonnar slugfest that many deem responsible for the UFC’s mainstream success. No one knows yet how many PPVs Jung and Garcia sold, but they clearly left their mark on the MMA universe with this classic fight. After the controversial decision to the Fight of the Night, a rematch is destined to be sometime before the year is up.
Winner: Leonard Garcia – Garcia helped to put on one of the greatest fights in MMA history, but judging by his lack of technique and improvement, he’ll never be known as one of the greatest. It was only a year ago that he was fighting for the featherweight title and on top of the 145-pound division, but he has become a fighter more concerned with putting on a show than winning a fight. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, whatever makes Garcia happy, but it’s a shame to see such talent go to waste. Garcia is a born fighter, and I hope that he can find the passion to improve so he can realize his potential.
WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber Main Card
Scott Jorgensen vs. Antonio Banuelos
Loser: Antonio Banuelos – Banuelos had previously beaten Jorgensen at WEC 41 almost a year ago, in what many considered to be a fight of the year candidate, but since that night in June Jorgensen had rattled off 3 consecutive victories and established himself as a legitimate contender at 135, while Banuelos had only 1 fight in which he won but did little to improve his stock. Banuelos looked ready to shake up the 135-pound division when he dropped Jorgensen with a beautiful left hand in the first round, but he was unable to put away the game Jorgensen, and instead got out-boxed for the remainder of the fight.
Unable to adapt as the fight went on, Banuelos kept relying on the left hook that was landing consistently for him in the first round and it proved to be his own undoing as he kept looking for the shot to land and couldn’t find the target. A year out from their first fight, Banuelos has remained the same fighter and for that reason, while he was able to eek out a split decision in their first encounter, Saturday night he found himself on the losing end of a unanimous decision. Banuelos and Jorgensen have provided two exciting fights and a rubber match is sure to ensue at some point in the future. If Banuelos wishes to by anything more than a gatekeeper, he’ll need to stop relying on one punch and improve his boxing technique; he certainly has the speed and power to be a threat to at 135.
Winner: Scott Jorgensen – Over the course of the last year and a half, Jorgensen has reinvented himself and become a more complete and well-rounded mixed martial artist. However, If Jorgensen wished to prove that he was a potential title contender at 135, he’d need to avenge his only loss in his last 6 fights. Things looked bad for Jorgensen in the first, he seemed inept defensively, getting pounded by the same left hook over and over from Banuelos. Then, the mark of any great fighter, he adapted and started to utilize a sweet jab that stung Banuelos and busted up the Mexican fighter’s nose. Jorgensen was able to win the fight soundly, demonstrating solid boxing and grappling in process. While Jorgensen may not be ready for a title shot just yet, he is showing the steady improvements of a future contender; a possible matchup with Miguel Torress might be just the fight to motivate Jorgensen to reach his full potential.
Anthony Njokuani vs. Shane Roller
Loser: Anthony Njokuani – Since his loss to current WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson over a year ago, Njokuani has fought 3 times and won all 3 with Knockout of the Night honors. Njokuani was clearly entering this fight with a fourth Knockout of the Night (worth $65,000 Saturday night) on his mind, but Roller had other plans. Njokuani got taken down minutes into the first round and then completely outclassed on the ground. It’s clear that Njokuani has terrific striking, but his wrestling is sub-par and his jiu-jitsu is low-level. With such great striking, these glaring flaws can be overlooked against weak competition, but as showcased by Roller, if Njokuani wants to be a great fighter he’ll need to improve his wrestling game and drastically work on his jiu-jitsu.
Winner: Shane Roller – Coming into this fight Saturday night, Roller had won 7 of his last 8 fights, only losing to champ Ben Henderson exactly a year ago. Njokuani is a dangerous opponent, but Roller fought smart, taking the Nigerian-American to the ground with his solid wrestling and utilizing his top level jiu-jitsu to secure the rear naked choke finish early in the first round. Roller made a statement with this victory on pay-per-view against a rising star, and such a victory will likely lead to a high-level opponent. Against the best of the best, Roller can’t expect the get the takedown so easily and will be forced to engage in the stand-up. If Roller wishes to be a top contender at 155 in the WEC, he will need to add a third dimension to his game, otherwise he will continue to struggle against fighters like Ben Henderson whose wrestling prevents the fight from hitting the ground.
Mike Brown vs. Manvel Gamburyan
Loser: Mike Brown – Coming off his first loss in four years and ten fights against Jose Aldo in November at WEC 44, Brown quickly got back into the cage and ran threw a game Anthony Morrison. Saturday night was supposed to be Brown’s opportunity to win and get a crack at his lost title, but it ended tragically for the former champion. A devastating right hand floored the seemingly cold Mike Brown, and with it, his hopes and dreams of regaining his featherweight crown. Brown looked flat in the cage, unable to find the range on his punches and too stiff to defend them. It truly was a sad sight to see, Brown crashing to the mat and then being pounded momentarily unconscious; and it makes it all the more heartbreaking to hear that the former crème de la crème of the featherweight division was battling problems outside the cage as well leading up to the fight (Dana White said Brown’s girlfriend had left him leading up to the fight, and that Brown had taken 14 days off from his training camp). Hopefully Brown can rekindle the flame that made him the best featherweight in the MMA world only a six months ago, and get back on the championship track.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan – Since dropping down to 145 and entering the WEC last June, Gamburyan has turned his career around, beating John Franchi and title contender Leonard Garcia. Saturday night marked a big moment in the TUF 5 alumn’s career, as he defeated former champion Mike Brown and propelled himself to a title shot against WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. In a night filled with spectacular victories, Gamburyan’s was arguably the most impressive as he took down a former champ in under two minutes and did so in Knockout of the Night fashion. Gamburyan’s striking looked smooth and crisp, albeit still uncomfortable. Needless to say, the Armenian Pitbull looks much improved from his run in the UFC, and if anybody has a chance against Aldo, it’s Gamburyan and his tank like build. Gamburyan still leaves himself too open for shots down the pipe, something Aldo specializes in, if he wants the best chance to defeat the seemingly unbeatable Aldo, he will need to improve his boxing technique and sure up his striking defense.
WEC 48 Co-Main Event: Ben Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone
Loser: Donald Cerrone – After losing to Henderson in a razor close fight for the Interim Title, a fight that won fight of the year honors, Cerrone looked for redemption Saturday night. But the Cowboy got anything but redemption as he was choked out in all of 2 minutes. It was an embarrassing defeat on a big stage, a defeat that can break a fighter’s spirit and change them forever; not because of physical damage, but the mental. It’s losses like this one that cause a fighter to question their worth, and wonder if they really are cut out to be a fighting champion. Cerrone is a great fighter whose crowd-pleasing style has one him many fans, hopefully the Cowboy doesn’t let this tough loss crush his spirit, and instead, uses this experience to revitalize his career and realize his potential. A long awaited rematch with Jamie Varner could be just what the doctor ordered.
Winner: Ben Henderson – Coming into this fight Saturday night, Henderson was 11-1, his lone loss coming in only his second fight, and with another victory over top contender Donald Cerrone, Henderson would be making the case for being a top 5 lightweight. With his Submission of the Night victory Saturday night, Henderson not only made the case for being a top 5 fighter, but also for a shot at the UFC’s Lightweight Championship. Henderson, with his tree trunk legs, delivered beautiful knees from the clinch to all parts of Cerrone’s body, and after securing the takedown only a minute into the fight, wasted no time locking on a fierce guillotine choke. While Henderson’s striking is not on the level of the elite, his grappling surely is. A week ago, Gilbert Melendez took apart the one-dimensional Shinya Aoki and propelled himself into the top 5, making himself the only non-UFC lightweight worthy of the distinction. But Henderson’s two-minute victory over Cerrone is far more impressive. Not just because Cerrone posed a threat both on the feet and the ground, but also because Henderson was able to finish his opponent, and only need a round to do so. A rematch with Jamie Varner is the only interesting fight that remains for Henderson in the WEC, and if he wins that in convincing fashion yet again, a promotion to the UFC could be, and should be, in his future.
WEC 48 Main Event: Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber
Loser: Urijah Faber– It wasn’t too long ago that Urijah Faber was the king of the WEC and the 145-pound division, but MMA is a fast evolving sport; a fighter who was the champion one day can become a gatekeeper the next. Such a fate has not befallen The California Kid, nor does it appear to be in his immediate future, but after suffering a complete dismantling at the hands, and more specifically, legs of Jose Aldo, Faber’s future as a featherweight may be coming to a close. It is losses like the one suffered by Faber Saturday night, against a seemingly unbeatable champion, that can convince a fighter to drop weight and seek greener pastures it another division where the champion isn’t so inhuman. Faber showed courage and strength where many fighters would have looked for an easy way out. He took the beating to his lead leg and kept plodding on, he defended a slick rear naked choke, and he survived the crucifix position as if he was inspired by Jesus himself.
I give Faber credit for being able to last five rounds with Aldo, something no opponent has done in over three years, but the truth is, Faber was outclassed by the Brazilian fighter. Faber came into the fight with a game-plan that was never going to win the fight, instead of coming at the champ and trying to land something flush inside, Faber decided to stand outside the pocket and tried to land a lunging shot. In the process his lead leg was destroyed, and afterwards looked as though it’d been bit by a mosquito the size of a hawk (http://img263.yfrog.com/img263/5923/iqn.jpg). Whether Faber decides to drop down to 135 and try his luck in a division in which he already holds a victory against the champion, Dominic Cruz, or stick it out and try to avenge his losses to Brown and Aldo, he must develop his kickboxing and/or Muay Thai.
Winner: Jose Aldo – Coming off a dismantling of former champion, Mike Brown, in which Aldo won the WEC Featherweight Title, he was posed to show Saturday night that he was truly worthy of being the featherweight champion of the world by defeating the former king of the division. Not only did he defeat the former king, but he made him look like a peasant in-front of all of his people in Sacramento. It was a sight to see as Aldo battered the legs of the former champ and forced him to “bow” down before him.
The young fighter, only 23, showed such calm and poise in the cage that one could easily believe he’d been fighting professionally for fifteen years. His game-plan was perfect, taking out the lead leg of Faber and removing all explosiveness from one of the most athletic fighters in MMA. I strongly believe that Aldo could have finished Faber in the fifth if he wanted too, but like an honorable champion who respects those who paved the way before him, he showed mercy and allowed Faber to end the fight on his two feet. Although Aldo claimed post-fight that he went into Faber’s guard because he didn’t think he could finish the fight standing, that was just the humility and respect of the new face of the featherweight division and the WEC. Faber has long held that distinction, and justifiably so, but judging by Aldo’s actions during the fight and following it, there is no better man to succeed Faber as the king of the featherweight division and the WEC than Jose Aldo.
Rising Prelim Fighter: Anthony Pettis
Biggest Loser of the Night: Mike Brown
Biggest Winner of the Night: Jose Aldo
By Jeffrey Concerto
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer
Fight Card Results for Main WEC 48 Fights:
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PPV Televised WEC 48 Fight Results:
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Jose Aldo (c) defeats Urijah Faber by Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 50-45) - Aldo retains WEC Featherweight Championship belt
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Benson Henderson (c) defeats Donald "The Cowboy" Cerrone via Submission (Guillotine Choke) - Round 1 @ 1:57 - Henderson retains WEC Lightweight Championship belt
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Manny Gamburyan defeats Mike Brown by KO (Punches) - Round 1 @ 2:22
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Shane Roller defeats Anthony Njokuani via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 1 @ 3:07
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Scott Jorgensen defeats Antonio Banuelos by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Spike TV Televised WEC 48 Fight Card Results:
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Leonard Garcia defeats Chan Sung Jung by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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Anthony Pettis defeats Alex Karalexis via Submission (triangle choke) - Round 2 @ 1:35
Preliminary WEC 48 Fight Card Results:
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Brad Pickett defeats Demetrious Johnson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Chad Mendes defeats Anthony Morrison via Submission (guillotine choke) - Round 1 @ 2:13
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Takeya Mizugaki defeats Rani Yahya via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
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Tyler Toner defeats Brandon Visher by TKO (Elbows) - Round 1 @ 2:36