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WEC 45 Predictions: WEC 45 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 45 is fast approaching and you can find the WEC 45 fight card and preview below.

The next event for WEC will be WEC 45 on December 19, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the event will feature popular WEC Lightweight contender Donald "The Cowboy" Cerrone facing Ed Ratcliff. You can also view our review of the WEC 44 results which featured the WEC Featherweight Championship bout that saw Mike Brown lose his belt to Jose Aldo. Fans can now buy WEC tickets online through Pro Fighting Fans to all of these exciting WEC events.



Preliminary WEC 45 Fights:

 

Jameel Massouh vs. Erik Koch

Veteran mixed-martial artist Jameel “The Sergeant” Massouh (21-6) will try and secure his first win in the WEC when he takes on undefeated WEC rookie Erik Koch (7-0) in a preliminary card bout in the featherweight division.

Massouh won his first 11 bouts in his career that began in February 2005, fighting mostly in the Madtown Throwdown and Freestyle Combat Challenge organizations. The 25-year old finishing specialist won five in a row and seven of eight before signing with the WEC, including a crucial victory over Strikeforce and WEC vet, Ryan Healy. Since his arrival, Massouh has been on the losing end of two decisions, first in April 2009 at WEC 40 he lost to Rafeal Assuncao in unanimous fashion and then again to Leonard Garcia at WEC 42 (August 2009) by split decision.

Erik Koch has been banging out wins since his pro debut in January 2007, fighting in Mainstream MMA, XFO, and Midwest Cage Championships promotions. He has stopped six of his seven bouts early, including a submission victory over PRIDE and WEC vet Joe Pearson in April 2008. He has registered two wins in 2009 at a one-day Midwest Combat Challenge 20 tournament in Iowa, defeating Will Shutt and Tom Ahrens both via 2 nd round rear naked choke.

Prediction – Massouh over Koch via decision

 

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Brad Pickett vs. Kyle Dietz

Longtime British fighter, Brad “One Punch” Pickett (17-4) will make his debut for the WEC against Illinois native Kyle Dietz (5-1) in a bantamweight bout on the preliminary portion of WEC 45.

Pickett was victorious in 10 of his first 12 bouts, before losing back-to-back fights, the second of the two against Hideo Tokoro at a 2007 K-1 Hero’s event. He rebounded to earn his WEC debut by winning seven straight (6 stoppages). In 2009, Pickett used guillotine chokes to finish both Dino Gambaseti (March) and UFC vet David Lee (August) while participating on Ultimate Challenge cards.

Kyle Dietz began his professional MMA career in October 2006 with a unanimous decision victory over Justin Shipman while fighting for Extreme Challenge. After his debut, he put together four straight stoppage wins (bringing his streak to 5) on his way to his WEC debut this summer. In June, Dietz had his WEC 41 bout stopped in the 1 st round after Rafael Rebello locked in a rear naked choke submission, leaving Dietz out of the winners circle for the first time in his career.

Prediction – Pickett over Dietz via submission

 

 

Tyler Toner vs. Brandon Visher

In a battle between a pair of WEC newcomers, Tyler Toner (9-1), a veteran of the Ring of Fire promotion, will battle Brandon “The Viper” Visher (12-0), a Hawaii native that hasn’t fought out of his home state throughout his career in a featherweight bout on the preliminary card.

Toner began his pro career in mid-2005 and won his first five fights, all of which came inside the Colorado-based Ring of Fire organization. When he ran into WEC veteran Scott Jorgensen in April 2007, Toner lost via unanimous decision for the first time in his first two years. He has since posted a 4-0 record with 1 no contest, including a 3-0 record this year. His most recent bout came in August at ROF 35 where he defeated Fabio Serrao via unanimous decision.

Vasher, a Hawaiian who trains at the Wailuku Boxing Club, has spent all five years of his career fighting in a variety of Hawaiian promotions, most notably Rumble on the Rock, X-1, and Up N Up. He defeated all four of his opponents this year, including a TKO victory over Isaac De Jesus at UNU 3 this September. “The Viper” has nine stoppage victories out of his twelve career victories.

Prediction – Toner over Visher via decision

 

 

Mushin Corbbrey vs. Zach Micklewright

Undefeated Miletich Fighting Systems Zach Micklewright (6-0) will make his WEC debut as a lightweight on the preliminary card of WEC 45 against Mushin Corbbrey (7-4), a one-fight vet of the WEC.

Corbbrey, a Team Lloyd Irvin fighter, began his career with four consecutive victories before losing back-to-back bouts, including an August 2006 submission defeat by current UFC lightweight Jim Miller. He rebounded by winning three straight, two of which coming in the former Pro Elite’s Sho XC development circuit. Over the past year, however Corbbrey has dropped back-to-back bouts for the second time in his eight plus year career, losing to top competition which includes Nick Diaz and Anthony Njokuani. Njokuani defeated Corbbrey in October’s WEC 43 via 2 nd round TKO due to strikes.

Micklewright, an Iowa-based fighter who also has fought as a featherweight, debuted over three years ago in the Midwestern promotion, Extreme Challenge. He moved onto fighting in the Midwest King of the Ring (MKOTR) organization, where he won two more fights in 2008. His lasts three bouts have been in the Glory Fighting Championship league where he continues his victorious streak, winning three consecutive. He defeated Allen Hernandez via KO in May of 2008, Luke Drilling via KO in November 2008 and most recently, Jaxson Mayson by submission in April of this year.

Prediction – Corbbrey over Micklewright via decision



Anthony Pettis vs. Bart Palaszewski

Bart Palaszewski (32-13) returns to the WEC after one fight outside the organization, meeting undefeated lightweight Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (7-0) on the preliminary card at WEC 45.

“Showtime” debuted in December 2007 in the Gladiators Fighting Series, and then went on to win six consecutive (5 stoppages), including a split decision victory over another WEC veteran Sherron Leggett in the summer of 2008. His impressive streak helped to earn him a spot on the WEC 41 card where he submitted the tough Mike Campbell via 1 st round triangle choke. He was expected to fight Rob McCullough at WEC 44 in November; however an injury kept him from fulfilling the fight.

Poland-native, Palaszewski, 26, debuted seven years ago by losing his first four fights. Since then, he has put together a consistent track record of victories for a handful of different organizations; the most notable was the IFL. His IFL career lasted for two years (April ’06-April ’08), where he put together an 8-4 record, however lost his last three and watched as the company failed financially and was gobbled up by the UFC. He landed on his feet, winning in Adrenaline’s initial event and signing a contract with the WEC. He was victorious in his WEC debut, a TKO victory over Alex Karalexis, but dropped back-to-back contests and found himself fighting in a mid-level promotion once again. Fortunately for Bart, he won his XFO 22 bout (TKO of Tyler Combs) and again fielded the call for a WEC fight.

Prediction – Pettis over Palaszewski via submission



WEC 45 Main Bouts:

 

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Scott Jorgensen

Japanese slugger Takeya Mizugaki (12-3-2) is set to take on longtime WEC veteran Scott Jorgensen (7-3) in a main card bantamweight bout and potentially a “Fight of the Night” candidate.

Mizugaki, 25, began his professional career in the Shooto organization and transitioned into the GCM promotion where he won all five of his bouts. Earlier this year, the Japanese all-rounder proved his worth by taking former champ Miguel Torres all five rounds in the WEC 40 main event, but lost when the decision was announced. He returned at WEC 42 four months later and defeated Jeff Curran via tight split decision. He was supposed to fight Damacio Page for this event until Page dropped out from injury.

Scott Jorgensen, 27, won four of five bouts while fighting in west-coast based Alaska Fighting Championships, Sho XC, and Ring of Fire organizations, including defeating WEC 45 rookie Tyler Toner while fighting for ROF. His WEC career has been up and down, losing his debut against Damacio Page, winning back-to-back bouts, and then splitting his most recent pair of bouts. A loss at WEC 41 in June to Antonio Banuelos was followed by a TKO victory at WEC 43 this October against Noah Thomas.

Prediction – Mizugaki over Jorgensen via decision

 

> After the fights are complete, find the WEC 44 results & recap online at ProFighting-fans.com and look forward to the WEC 45 fight card & rumors for the next big World Extreme Cagefighting event!

 

Joseph Benavidez vs. Rani Yahya

Rickson Gracie JJ-trained bantamweight Rani Yahya (15-4) will try and regain number one contender status with a victory over Team Alpha Male and top-tier bantamweight Joseph Benavidez (10-1) in a main card bantamweight bout at WEC 45.

Benavidez, 25, a California native finished his first seven opponents while fighting in several mid-major organizations throughout the first couple years as a professional. In July 2008, Benavidez moved his career to Japan in order to take a bout with Jurya Kudo at DREAM 5. Benavidez caught the attention of American promoters with his 1 st round submission over Kudo and signed with the WEC upon his return in late-2008. He was successful in his first two WEC bouts, defeating Danny Martinez at WEC 37 (December 2008) and Jeff Curran at WEC 40 (April 2009). He lost his most recent bout in August at WEC 42 when Dominick Cruz was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Benavidez.

Brazilian-born Rani Yahya debuted over seven years ago in a small promotion within his home country. He fought mostly overseas in notable organizations such as, MARS, K-1 Hero’s and K-1 Brazil and then in mid-level American promotions like Palace Fighting Championships during his first 4 ½ years as a pro. After winning 11 of 13 fights, Yahya joined the WEC organization where he split the first two bouts, including losing a Bantamweight Title Bout at WEC 30. He left for one fight, losing a 2 nd round TKO against Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto while in K-1. Returning in late-2008, Yahya hasn’t disappointed, winning three consecutive fights, all “Submission of the Night” performances against Yoshihiro Maeda, Eddie Wineland, and John Hosman.

Prediction – Benavidez over Yahya via submission

 

 

Anthony Njokuani vs. Chris Horodecki

Canadian striker Chris Horodecki (13-1) is set to make his WEC debut against rising superstar Anthony Njokuani (11-2), a Texas native who has put out back-to-back “KO of the Night” performances in his past two bouts. The bout will be part of the main card activities and is scheduled for the lightweight division.

Njokuani lost only one time during his first eleven fights, most of which took place in mid-level Texas-based promotions. His 10-1 record earned him a position on the WEC 38 card against current lightweight champion Benson Henderson. He battled Henderson, but was defeated early in the 2 nd round with a perfectly-timed submission. The loss in his WEC debut helped produce better results in his next two bouts. He used strikes for a (technical) knockout at WEC 40 in April against Bart Palaszewski and then appeared at the recent WEC 43 event against Mushin Corbbrey where he earned a 2 nd round TKO.

Horodecki, 22, is a Team Tompkins fighter who hails from Ontario, Canada. He breezed through his first eleven career bouts, which included two victories against current WEC lightweight Bart Palaszewski. He spent the majority of his young career fighting for the IFL and fought for the promotions’ lightweight title, losing his only fight against Ryan Schultz. He has since posted back-to-back victories, most recently in June against William Sriyapai.

Prediction – Horodecki over Njokuani via TKO

 



WEC 45 Main Event:

Donald Cerrone vs. Ed Ratcliff

A pair of top-tier lightweights will go head-to-head as Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (10-2) will try and get back in the winning column after losing two of his last three against Ed “9MM” Ratcliff, a 26-year old Chicago-born knockout specialist. The lightweight bout will serve as WEC 45’s Main Event and as an indicator for who deserves consideration for a current 155-pound title shot.

Cerrone, a Jackson’s MMA fighter, was 7-0 prior to coming into the WEC, among his notable victories includes Anthony Njokuani at a 2007 Ring of Fire bout. The muay-thai specialist fought in a no contest at his debut but earned back-to-back victories in his next two. He was given his first chance at the 155-pound title this January at WEC 38, losing a technical decision against Jaime Varner. After submitting James Krause at WEC 41 in June, he got a second chance at the title, losing another decision at WEC 43 in October against the current interim champ, Benson Henderson.

Ratcliff has somewhat flown under the radar throughout his young career after debuting in the summer of 2005. The Illinois-born lightweight fought exclusively in the California stationed Total Combat promotion where he won all four of his bouts, the most notable was a December 2005 victory over Affliction/IFL veteran Brett Cooper. He moved into the WEC and won back-to-back fights over Johnny Sampaio and Alex Karalexis at WEC 27 and WEC 31 respectively. A loss to Marcus Hicks at March 2008’s WEC 33 set him back slightly, however a victory in August at WEC 42 over Phil Cardella put him right back in the hunt for the 155-pound belt.

Prediction – Cerrone over Ratcliff via TKO

 

 

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

 

Past WEC Previews, Predictions & Recaps: