Sacramento, CA- Ben Henderson unified the WEC lightweight title on Sunday night at the Arco Arena in Sacramento in the main event of WEC 46. The Arizona based fighter was given a golden opportunity and he ran with it to the bank, choking out his Jamie Varner by guillotine choke at 2:41 of the third round. A Varner running knee to the solar plexes was partially defended by Henderson, who then quickly worked his hips out to defend against a shot attempt. Varner’s head was completely open and Bendo quickly applied the choke. It was an instance of just getting caught as Varner could not defend and was forced to tap.
Varner showed no signs of cage rust after a year off. He pressed the action forward in the first, locking in a deep guillotine on the gumby like neck of Henderson and following up with a solid knee that took his opponent down. He kept working in combinations on a relaxed Henderson who was landing solid kicks to both the legs and head. Varner made note of this in his post fight interview, commenting that “All he was doing was throwing body kicks. I had the takedowns, I had the control. He didn't want to box. I came to fight, Ben came to grapple. Two different things," Said Varner. Henderson, kept his composure and admitted that he was a bit intimidated of Varner, naming him a “tough, scary looking dude.” With the win, Henderson sets up a possible rubber match with fellow lightweight Donald Cerrone.
Faber wins one for the home crowd
As the hometown crowd wildly cheered him on, Urijah Faber made a huge statement, submitting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Raphael Assuncao via rear naked choke in the third round. The Arco Arena was almost deafening, as Faber walked out, and their show of appreciation for the former champion would show through out the bout. For Assuncao’s part, he put up a great challenge but was a bit overwhelmed by the lighting speed and knockout power of the California Kid.
The first round played out like a chess match with both fighters feeling each other out. It could have gone either way but it would be Assuncao’s only competitive round in the bout. Faber turned it on in the second and third, hurting Assuncao with a variety of attacks. The first came by way of a front headlock that Assuncao barely worked himself out of. Faber would build upon that momentum landing a clean overhand right that allowed the fighter to establish Assuncao’s timing. Assuncao would have no answer for the apparent speed disparity between the two as Faber once again landed another perfectly timed overhand right; sending his opponent to the ground. With momentum building, the former champion was patient with his strikes, scoring with a takedowns and clinch work before landing a lighting quick straight right that set up his submission win.
After his victory current WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo stepped into the cage and issued an open challenge to Faber, saying that he would “not be able to take his belt.” Faber responded by saying, “He's a tough guy, but in my mind, that's my belt."
Former champion Brown submits Morrison in quick fashion
The man to beat the night’s hometown hero twice, former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown made quick work of debuting WEC featherweight Anthony Morrison. Brown ate some heavy leg kicks from the physically bigger Morrison before taking him to the ground by way of a trip from the clinch. Brown would use the position to his advantage trapping Morrison’s right arm to land shots from the top position. Morrison was forced to take a chance and gave his back up to an advancing Brown who immediately locked on a rear naked choke with a vice like grip. With the fight called in his favor at 1:54 of the first round, Brown was filled with emotion; leaping up and yelling “I’m Back, I’m Back.” Brown, whose only loss in the WEC comes by way of current champion Jose Aldo said, “I just wanted to win so badly. I hate to lose any fight, and it’s very important you don’t lose two in a row.”
Hominick submits Caraway; Taurosevicius outpoints Semerzier
Canadian born Mark Hominick made a successful WEC comeback in his undercard bout. The fighter had made one previous WEC appearance prior, dropping a submission loss to Josh Grispi before heading to the sinking ship that was Affliction. His second chance at redemption came through as he submitted Bryan Caraway at 1:12 of the first round via triangle armbar. Caraway made an impressive debut splash, as he was clearly winning the fight before being caught in the submission hold. He landed hook leads, displayed great footwork and scored on a single leg takedown that would of clearly given Homonick a difficult time if the bout went into the second and third rounds. Hominick ate shots from the bottom position before attempting a sweep that would set up his submission victory. Hominick was grateful in victory thanking the WEC “for giving him a second chance,” at fighting with the organization.
In the opening bout of the night, undefeated Mackens Semerzier lost his “0,” to the rising Deividas Taurosevicius by way of unanimous decision victory. Taurosevicius kept his opponent in check using his high level wrestling and pot shoting Semerzier in the stand up game. Semerzier was no push over, often attempting submissions such as a guillotine in the first. It was quickly negated and Semerzier would find himself dumped onto the mat. In the second Semerzier almost caught his opponent in a triangle choke, but the Lithuanian kept relaxed and finished the round on top, scoring with shots and elbows to the body of Semerzier. The third round would see Semerzier attempt to come from behind as he landed a powerful spinning back kick to his opponent followed by a guillotine choke in the final seconds of the round. Taurosevicius slipped out and stalled the remainder of the round to settle for the 29-28 score awarded to him.
With wins over Javier Vazquez and mma vets Dan Lauzon and Savant Young, Taurosevicius continues what will be a long and difficult road atop the stacked WEC lightweight division. His record now improves to 12-3.
In other bouts:
Kamal Shalorus def. Dave Jansen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Charlie Valencia def. Akitoshi Tamura via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Wagnney Fabiano def. Clint Godfrey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eddie Wineland def. George Roop via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Will Campuzano def. Coty "Ox" Wheeler via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 20-27)
