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WEC 46 Predictions: WEC 46 Preview & Predictions

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Pro Fighting Fans is the home of WEC fans across the world and we now bring you the best place to find the latest WEC preview. WEC 46 is fast approaching and you can find the WEC 46 fight card and preview below.

The next event for WEC will be WEC 46 on January 10, 2010 in Sacramento, California. The card features a lightweight title fight between champion Jamie Varner and the challenger “Smooth” Benson Henderson. In the co-main event former featherweight champ Urijah Faber looks to get back towards a possible title shot. He faces the tough Brazilian Rapheal Assuncao. You can also view our review of the WEC 45 results which featured a WEC Lightweight bout that saw Donald Cerrone defeat Ed Ratcliff. Fans can now buy WEC tickets online through Pro Fighting Fans to all of these exciting WEC events.



Preliminary WEC 46 Fights:

 

Coty Wheeler vs. Will Campuzano

Coty “Ox” Wheeler and Will Campuzano each return after suffering losses in their last WEC fights. The solid New Mexican prospect Wheeler returns after a loss to veteran fighter Charlie Valencia, who is also on the card later in the night, by unanimous decision.  Campuzano was a victim of “The Angel of Death” in his WEC debut. He was flurried on and choked out by bantamweight contender Damacio Page early in that fight. These two men do enjoy a standup battle. Wheeler also does not mind going to the ground as he has finished eight of his fights by submission. Wheeler is the more experienced man, Campuzano having only seven professional fights. Wheeler also should enjoy an advantage in submission ability. Wheeler showed his toughness hanging around the entire fight with a veteran like Valencia in his last fight. If Wheeler can put the pressure on Campuzano in the striking game and get him to the ground he should win this fight.

Prediction - Wheeler by Submission

 

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Eddie Wineland vs. Rafeal Rebello

Former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland takes back to the WEC cage to square off with American Top Team’s Rafeal Rebello. Wineland is coming off a win over former bantamweight number one contender Manny Tapia by decision. In Rebello’s last fight he submitted Kyle Dietz in round one. Wineland is a more proficient striker while Rebello is a more proficient grappler. This is that cliché striker vs. grappler match up. Wineland is going to look to stay on his feet, defend takedowns and frustrate Rebello forcing him to stay in his realm. Rebello will attempt lots of takedowns, probably more so from the clinch. When he does he will quickly work for a better position and eventually a submission.

Prediction – Rebello by submission

 

 

Dave Jansen vs. Kamal Shalorus

On display here is a nice battle of undefeated lightweights on the card for WEC 46. Former member of Team USA’s M-1 challenge squad, Dave Jensen faces Kamal Shalorus. In Shalorus’ last fight against Will Kerr at WEC 44, he won by TKO in round one. He did so in a fight that he set an extremely high pace and basically overwhelmed Kerr. Jansen won a decision over Richard Crunkilton in his last fight, his WEC debut. Jansen is a very good wrestler and has submission ability, his chokes especially. Jansen should enjoy the ability to take Shalorus down. If Shalorus tries to overwhelm Jansen as he did to Kerr he could leave himself open to a submission. On the feet Shalorus has his greatest chance to win. The same thing here though, if Shalorus rushes Jansen or gets careless he will make it easier for Jansen to take him down. Jansen should stay undefeated winning this fight using his solid grappling skill.

Prediction - Jansen by submission

 

 

Wagnney Fabiano vs. Frank Gomez

Nova Uniao’s Wagnney Fabiano returns after suffering an upset loss by triangle at WEC 43 to Mackens Semerzier. His opponent will be Frank Gomez who is on a two fight win streak with victories over Seth Dikun and Ultimate Fighter alum Noah Thomas. Fabiano is going to be extra hungry for a win after being upset at his own game by Semerzier. Nova Uniao is one of the best camps in Brazil, if not the best. They have a multitude of different grappling monsters in that camp, the likes of Marlon Sandro, Jose Aldo, Eduardo Dantas, Juice Formiga and of course Wagnney just to name a few. Wagnney’s striking is decent as well; if he is standing up with Gomez he surely is not out of his element. Gomez is a decent striker and surely not out of it standing up; still this is Wagnney’s fight to lose. Wagnney wins this fight when he gets it to the ground, there he will out grapple and more than likely submit Gomez.

Prediction – Fabiano by submission

 

 

Charlie Valencia vs. Akitoshi Tamura

This match sees former King of the Cage veteran Charlie Valencia face off with former SHOOTO standout Akitoshi “Iron Man” Tamura. Valencia had a solid win over New Mexico up and comer Coty Wheeler in his last fight. Tamura looked great in his last fight against Manny Tapia, especially on the feet.  Tamura’s striking will be a key asset to him in this fight. If Tamura can stay competitive with Valencia standing up or possibly win the striking game the fight may find its way to the floor much easier. If Valencia gets uncomfortable and takes Tamura down he will have to deal with Tamura’s attacks from the rubber guard. If Tamura can get on top of Valencia he can work towards passing his guard and/ or locking up a submission. If the fight stays on the ground for too long, Tamura can submit him. Tamura is very crafty on the ground. Look for him to jump on any opportunities that present themselves such as a chance to take the back or a sweep.

Prediction – Tamura by submission


WEC 45 Main Bouts:

 

Mike Brown vs. Anthony Morrison

A late addition to the card features former WEC featherweight title holder Mike Brown jump back into action against WEC debutant Anthony “Mean Machine” Morrison. Brown was ousted by TKO in his last appearance by Jose Aldo in their WEC featherweight title fight. Brown hopes to start a new path to his old title by defeating Morrison. Morrison above all else is a fairly tough fighter. In his fight against Micah Miller recently at Shine Fights he showed grit and toughness for awhile before ultimately being submitted by Miller in the second round. Morrison’s last fight was impressive and most likely prompted his signing. He dispatched UFC veteran Alvin “Kid” Robinson by KO in just over a minute at a recent Ring of Fire event. Brown will have the upper edge in grappling and wrestling. Even though Morrison is extremely gritty, eventually Brown should be able to use his superior skill to end the fight on the ground.

Brown by submission



Mackens Semerzier vs. Deividas Taurosevicius

WEC 46 sees the return of Mackens Semerzier. Semerzier pulled off one of the greatest upsets this year in his last fight. He submitted IFL submission ace Wagnney Fabiano with a triangle off his back in round one. Semerzier meets another former IFL fighter this time in Deividas Taurosevicius. Taurosevicius met Javi “Showtime” Vasquez in his WEC Debut at WEC 43 earlier this October. That fight is a victim of the WEC prelim situation, as there is no real way to see WEC prelims besides a few odd fights on a Versus Wreckcage show. The fight was a close split decision that Taurosevicius took home. Semerzier is a talented grappler. Still, most people thought that he would not be able to submit Fabiano, myself included. I do not think anyone will doubt Semerzier anymore. I believe he can submit Taurosevicius. Taurosevicius is a solid grappler himself but Semerzier, with his four submissions in five fights, including the Fabiano fight, has the edge. All of Semerzier’s past four fights have ended in round one. This fight perhaps will not end that quick although Semerzier can finish it. I say “can” because Taurosevicius is hard to stop. If Semerzier can finish Taurosevicius it will only reinforce the idea that he will be a serious threat to the division. Semerzier may be able to win a decision if he does not finish. Either guy is not afraid to be on top or bottom so it could be a battle of position and activity.

Prediction – Semerzier by decision

 

> After the fights are complete, find the WEC 45 results & recap online at ProFighting-fans.com and look forward to the WEC 46 fight card & rumors for the next big World Extreme Cagefighting event!

 

Urijah Faber vs. Rapheal Assuncao

Former WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber tries to get back on the path to a potential Featherweight title match here. Faber has no easy task in front of him as he is paired up with the powerful Brazilian Rapheal Assuncao. Assuncao earned a hard fought split decision against the flashy Canadian Yves Jabouin in his last bout. Assuncao has a great record of 14-1, his only loss a questionable decision to Jeff Curran. Faber returns after losing once more to Mike Brown for the WEC featherweight strap. Faber is quick on the feet and maybe a little too fancy for his own good at times, but it seems Faber is comfortable in being fancy. Speed, trickery and fanciness seem to be tools Faber likes to use. Assuncao has good power in his hands. Assuncao moves slower than Faber and that should tell the tale of the standup battle. Faber is a good enough grappler and squirmy enough not to get submitted if he gets on top of Assuncao, but that threat is always there from Rapheal. If Faber stuffs all of Assuncao’s takedowns he will be on the way to success. Faber has the wrestling edge but Assuncao is a very psychically strong fighter. The best way for Assuncao to win would be to get on top of Faber; the question is if he can execute that.

Prediction – Faber by decision



WEC 46 Main Event:

Jamie Varner vs. Ben Henderson

The WEC Lightweight belt is up for grabs in this bout. The champion Jamie Varner comes back after a year off to put his title on the line against “Smooth” Ben Henderson. In his last fight in January 2009, Varner was hit by an illegal knee to the head on the ground in round five by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. They went to the cards and Varner took home a decision. Varner was then out with injury for a while causing an interim title to be made. Ben Henderson took on the aforementioned Donald Cerrone in that bout at WEC 43. Henderson defeated Cerrone in a closely contested decision. Above all Henderson showed an uncanny ability to wriggle his way out of submissions, remaining calm when put under pressure by a veteran fighter. Henderson displayed superb ability to ground and pound and set a nice tempo throughout the fight. Henderson’s wrestling is very good although Varner will be a harder man to take down than Cerrone, to say the least. The striking battle should be appealing. Varner is a solid boxer and has power to boot. Henderson is extremely quick, tricky and athletic. If Henderson mixes up his game he can win this fight. The athleticism of Henderson could play the difference. If he is able to throw Varner off with his speed and explosiveness to get a few takedowns he can succeed. On the other side, Varner’s power and own wrestling skill is always there, but ring rust could be a factor.

Prediction – Henderson by decision

 

 

By Curt Meyer
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer

 

Past WEC Previews, Predictions & Recaps: