Below you will find the note from Pro Fighting Fans’ live blog of WEC 42 on August 9, 2009. For the official WEC 42 results & recap of the shocking MMA event be sure to look to ProFighting-fans.com as well.
LC Davis vs. Javier Vasquez
Both Afflictions holdovers prove that they are tough and hard to finish fighters. LC Davis squeaks out a razor thin split decision.
LC Davis over Javier Vasquez via split decision (30-27,28-29, 29-28)
Rafael Dias vs. Diego Nunes
Dias waited too long to put up a fight. Nunes outworked him for the entire fight.
Diego Nunes over Rafael Dias via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rani Yahya vs. John Hosman
Yahya defended an early submission attempt, reversed position, and locked in a north-south choke submission for the win, knocking off the debuting Hosman.
Yahya over Hosman via submission – Round 1, 2:08
Ed Ratcliff vs. Phil Cardella
Ratcliff jumps on Cardella early, scoring points with solid striking.
Ratcliff over Cardella via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Shane Roller vs. Marcus Hicks
Roller dominated the first two rounds with takedowns and strikes to take the decision victory.
Roller over Hicks via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Fredson Paixao vs. Cole Province
Paixao attempted a couple submission attempts but was unable to finish Province. Province was the better of the two in the early stand up game. Paixao fights back in the second round and scores with leg kicks and knees, opening a wound on Province’s face, which is bleeding bad! The bleeding didnt fool the judges, who awarded the decision in Province’s favor.
Province over Paixao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Main Card LIVE on Versus is beginning-
Leonard Garcia (16-4) vs. Jamel Massouh (21-5) - Featherweight Bout
ROUND 1- After Mazzagatti “Hooks em up”, neither fighter is connecting early.Massouh lands low leg kick then takes a right hand by Garcia. They trade strikes in the middle of the cage, until Garcia drops him with a hard right hand. Garcia follows it up with bombs from the top. They get back to their feet. Massouh fights back to connect on a right hand of his own. They clinch with 1:40 remaining in the round. Massouh takes Garcia to the ground and jumps on top position. Massouh working for mount, lands a couple of elbows and hammer fists while on top. Garcia back in full guard. Massouh finishes the round with three unanswered strikes from the top. Tough round to score but Ill go with Massouh 10-9.
ROUND 2- They both take the center of the cage and Massouh lands first with a low leg kick. Garcia gets the takedown, tries for the guillotine but Massouh escapes. Massouh now inside the guard, is landing elbows from side control. Massouh continues to hold dominant position, trying to convert the darce choke. Garcia gets back up but still in the choke. Garcia goes limp but survives, barely, and retreats to give him more time to recover. Massouh lands leg kicks while Garcia is breathing heavy and not doing much on offense. Massouh pushes Garcia up against the cage, lands small body shots when the 2nd round bell sounds. Massouh breaks away in that round, Massouh 10-9.
ROUND 3-Garcia hits on a high kick, followed up with a right hook. Massouh lands a left body kick, followed up with a low leg kick. Garcia just missing with his hard right. Massouh misses a superman punch, clinches then breaks away. Garcia hits with a right, and just missed with a left hook. Garcia really throwing haymakers but hits with a leg kick to the body of Massouh. Massouh hits with a jab, countered with a left hook from Garcia. Garcia just missed again with a right hand. Massouh gets Garcia in a body lock, gets hit with a knee to the body from Garcia. Massouh seems to be passive in this round. Garcia hits with a couple lefts, followed with a nice combo. With 20 seconds, they both trade strikes. Massouh finishes with a jab and low leg kick. Garcia gets the last round from me 10-9.
Garcia over Massouh via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2) vs. Jeff Curran (29-11-1) - Bantamweight Bout
ROUND 1-They both connect on low kicks to start the bout. Curran catches a leg kick but has trouble converting the takedown. Curran still trying to get the takedown after almost a full minute. Curran still has a single leg attempt with both fighters on their knees. Mizugaki landing little punches to the body while defending on the takedown. They both get back to their feet until Mizugake throws Curran to the ground. Curran in full guard, while Mizugake lands several right hands. Curran misses on an armbar. They both get back to feet only for seconds, as they find themselves on the mat. The round ends with Mizugaki on top. Close round to score, Ill go with Curran 10-9.
ROUND 2-Curran hits on a right hand. Mizugaki answers with a low kick. Both continue to trade strikes on their feet. Mizugake hits on a hard right, but doesnt seem to hurt Curran. Mizugaki clinches with Curran and pushes him up against the cage. Curran, still in the clinch, hits with small knees. Mizugaki surprises Curran with a toss to the mat. Mizugaki in Curran’s full guard, drops elbows and shoulder strikes from top position. Curran trying to get out from bottom position. Mizugaki continues to stay active, hitting elbows and punches. Curran has a guillotine with about 40 seconds remaining. Mizugaki hanging on by tying to hold Curran’s hands. Mizugaki survives the round with help from the bell. Ill give this round to Curran, 10-9.
ROUND 3- Both try to end it with a heavy punch. Curran misses on a takedown attempt, only to fall into a clinch with Mizugaki. They go to the ground with Mizugaki on top. Curran continues to attempt submissions, while Mizugaki stays busy with strikes. Mizugaki, in Curran’s full guard, hanging on while Curran lands elbows from his back. Mizugaki hits on some elbows to Curran’s face. Mizugaki is now smothering Curran, lasts momentarily as Curran gets out and continues to stay busy from bottom. Mizugaki is in Curran’s half guard, hits with hammer fist. Curran reverses with a kimura sweep into a triangle choke. Curran trying desperatly to finish, Mizugaki survives but Curran dominates the remaining minute. No doubt for me, Curran 10-9. My scoring gives a unanimous decision 30-27 for Curran.
Mizugaki over Curran via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ricardo Lamas (6-0) vs. Danny Castillo (7-1) - Lightweight Bout
ROUND 1- Herb Dean gets them going. Castillo looks good with his stand up, connecting on some nice combinations. After Castillo rushes, they clinch then break again. Nice exchanges between both fighters. Castillo lands heavy rights, Lamas tries to clinch, but gets thrown off. Lamas tries a head kick, misses and backs up again. Castillo leads with a left jab, then follows up with a nice low leg kick. Lamas connects with a body kick. Castillo lands a heavy combination that put Lamas on is heels. Lamas comes back with a nice left of his own, before they both fall into a clinch. Castillo is “bullying” The Bully on the cage. Lamas continues to hit on the low leg kicks. Castillo fakes a right hand and gets hit with a left jab from Lamas. Another close round but Ill go with Lamas, who seemed to land more. Lamas 10-9
ROUND 2-Castillo misses on a combination. Lamas misses on a front kick but hits Castillo with a combo as he rushes in. Lamas hits on a head kick, but gets answered with a right hand to the body from Castillo. Lamas continues to hit the low kick. Castillo misses on a takedown. Lamas hits a nice combination, finishing it with another head kick. Lamas picking Castillo apart with leg kicks. Castillo connects with a body shot, but doesnt seem to hurt Lamas. Lamas sticks his jab in Castillo’s face again. Castillo hits on a right hand, but answered with a body kick from Lamas. Castillo hurts Lamas with a straight right hand, jumps on top of him and drops several unanswered punches from top. Lamas couldnt recover in time, as referee Herb Dean rushes in and saves him.
Castillo over Lamas via TKO (strikes) Round 2, 4:15
Joseph Benavidez vs. Dominick Cruz – Bantamweight Bout
ROUND 1-The action gets going with both fighters hitting with kicks and punches. Banavidez misses with his right hand, hits seconds later with a combo. Cruz drops Benavidez but doesnt jump on him, instead stays calm and allows him to rise back up. Cruz takes Benavidez down to the mat, where he is in top position. Benavidez fails on a guiilotine as they rise to their feet. Cruz attempts to set up a combination but fakes instead. Benavidez hits on a low leg kick. Cruz working his jabs. Cruz uses his strength to take Benavidez down, only for seconds as they get back up. Cruz pins him to the cage, drops him to the mat but cant finish. They both get back to their feet, and Benavidez reverses into an offensive position, clinching Cruz against the cage. A furious pace to the 1st round, Im giving it to Cruz 10-9.
ROUND 2-Benavidez counters a right hand by Cruz with a head kick. Cruz misses on a wild combination. Benavidez is more accurate with leg kicks. Cruz is dominating with punches, connecting on three to the face of Benavidez. Benavidez looked to be stunned for a second but recovers and takes the center of the cage. Benavidez fakes a takedown and gets hit with a head kick. Cruz stuns Benavidez while backing up, clipping with a right hand. Cruz takes Benavidez down again but allows him to get back to his feet only seconds later. Benavidez got caught with a right hook, then grabs onto a single leg to recover. Cruz pushes Benavidez away and misses on a wild right hand. Cruz hitting more frequently with his strikes. Benavidez misses on an uppercut and front kick. Cruz pushing the pace, as Benavidez misses on a spinning back elbow. Cruz takes Benavidez down with 15 seconds remaining to complete another dominating round, 10-9 Cruz.
ROUND 3-Benavidez misses on a head kick and front kick attempt. Cruz puts a jab in Benavidez face. Benavidez telegraphing his punches, missing wildly twice. Cruz catches with a right hook. Cruz kicks leg out of under Benavidez and converts another takedown. Cruz in side mount, only for seconds, as Benavidez powers his way back up. Cruz stalking Benavidez, and missing with a heavy combination. They both are missing with strikes until Benavidez hits a heac kick. Cruz takes down Benavidez for the second time in the round, but cant hold him there and they get back up. Cruz drops Benavidez again, takes his back and dropping several punches to the side of Benavidez head. Cruz wins on my score card with a dominate 30-27 score.
Cruz over Benavidez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Miguel Torres (36-1) vs. Brian Bowles (7-0) – Bantamweight Championship Bout
ROUND 1-The Bantamweight World Title is underway as the feeling out process takes longer than usual for a Torres bout. Torres hits on back to back low kicks. Bowles rocks Torres, but he fights back and connects with a right of his own. They clinch and Bowles falls on top of Torres on the mat. Torres using punches and heel strikes from the bottom to stay busy. Torres hits on upkicks to Bowles’ face. Bowles jumps back into Torres guard, only to get back up to his feet. Torres jumps back to his feet. Bowles connects on a right left combo. Torres just misses on a head kicks, and hits Bowles with three hooks. Bowles hangs tough and drops Torres with right hook, followed with a left hand while Torres was on his back, knocking him out cold. Referee Josh Rosenthal saves Torres from anymore damage. Bowles shocks the WEC with a devastating stoppage win.
Bowles over Torres via KO (strikes) Round 1, 3:57