The Future of Fighting Blog

Wednesday, October 07, 2009
by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com) (Photos by WEC.tv)

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The AT&T Center in San Antonio will play host to the snakebitten WEC 43 “Cerrone vs. Henderson” card on Saturday, and I know I’m not the only one surprised to see this show on the verge of coming together.

It seems as if every other day has brought news of an injury that sets off logistical nightmares as the WEC struggles to keep the card up to the high standards they’ve set as arguably the world’s premier home for talent south of the lightweight division.

The end result shows just how much work went into the production. Despite missing a headlining superstar, the main card features some of the promotion’s premier talent in matches that should keep everyone champing at the bit for more from Zuffa’s little brother. The main event pits top contenders Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone for the interim lightweight title, and backup bouts star jiu-jitsu demigod Raphael Assuncao, lightweight blue-chipper Dave Jansen and the intense fire that is Damacio Page.

So let’s get in line with the routine and dig in for some top-tier fight talk that will undoubtedly be torn asunder by the actual results come fight night. The upside is that it means more hate, and we all know that without more hate, my plans to build a 56-story luxury hate-scraper will have to be put on hold.

Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson

The Breakdown: With Jamie Varner’s laundry list of injuries joining the intensive care hall of fame, the WEC is matching top contenders Cerrone and Henderson to determine an interim lightweight champion and build a suitable storyline for Varner’s impending return. Beyond the peripheral concerns, the matchup pits two of the WEC’s most offensively versatile fighters who also happen to have all the defensive abilities of a soft-shell turtle. The problem for Henderson is that he can’t match Cerrone’s repertoire or the fluidity with which the lanky Colorado cowboy combines his spectrum of skills.

If Henderson tries to strike with Cerrone, he’ll struggle to establish his range against Cerrone’s reach. Cerrone also has the advantage of a true kickboxing pedigree while Henderson relies on pure power punching. Although Henderson doesn’t have to worry about getting wrestle-stomped by Cerrone, he probably doesn’t want any part of a grappling match with him, considering that Cerrone’s guard is more aggressive than a door-to-door salesman on PCP. One way or another, it looks like Henderson is walking into a fight where his only choice will be how he loses.

The X Factor: Varner wrote the book on how to beat the previously undefeated Cerrone. If Henderson is to have any shot in this fight, he needs to follow it to a T by using movement to get inside Cerrone’s reach and blast away at his chin. Varner proved you can starch Cerrone as long as he can’t get his own shots off, but Henderson will have to retool his game to incorporate more movement and tighter punching to make that happen. There is a world of difference between a slugfest and a strategic striking match, and as obvious as that may sound, many fighters fail to make the distinction. Henderson’s success will depend on his ability to walk that fine line, and he doesn’t have the track record to put anyone at ease.

The Bottom Line: If nothing else, Henderson will make it interesting by coming right at Cerrone with the kitchen sink in tow. Cerrone will respond by taking said kitchen sink and breaking it over Henderson’s head, metaphorically speaking. Unless of course the WEC decides to allow kitchen sinks in the cage for this fight, in which case we may witness the greatest fight ever committed to video. Either way, a wild striking battle eventually turns in the favor of Cerrone, who will finish a dazed Henderson on the mat late in the opening stanza.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

“Cleat” will have his hands full.

Rich Crunkilton vs. Dave Jansen

The Breakdown: Once the lightweight division’s prospect du jour, Crunkilton’s career has been marred by injuries and his limited fight IQ. Now starring as the WEC’s resident gatekeeper, Crunkilton gets to face off with Jansen, who finds himself in the same role his opponent did once upon a time. An undefeated and relatively untested prospect, Jansen’s success depends on his ability to take the top position while Crunkilton’s success depends on not doing something worthy of a Darwin Award. As much as Crunkilton’s experience and strong Greco-Roman wrestling make him the theoretical favorite, Jansen’s non-stop motor and no-nonsense approach makes him perfectly suited to exploit a guy whose past “strategery” has made him the jester of crunk.

The X Factor: For all of Crunkilton’s past in-cage mistakes, he’s still got an impressive record and the wrestling to smother most anyone like a lonely grandmother. If Jansen doesn’t respond well to the challenge of facing a strong wrestler, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a darling prospect falls to pieces at the first sign of adversity. Forcing Jansen into a difficult fight that doesn’t play to his strengths needs to be Crunkilton’s goal.

The Bottom Line: Like someone who keeps sending his money to e-mail-based Nigerian kings, there comes a time when you can’t keep banking on Crunkilton putting it all together. Jansen is just the kind of fighter who can force Crunkilton to rely on his guard and will not allow him to get away with any mistakes. It won’t be the most scintillating three rounds of the evening, but Jansen will take home a well-earned unanimous nod from the judges.

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Freddie DeFreitas/Sherdog.com

Expect violence from Page.

Damacio Page vs. Will Campuzano

The Breakdown: I’m not gonna lie: Page is pretty awesome, and Campuzano has produced minimal awesome in his short career. One of the ongoing influx of undefeated prospects reaching the WEC’s shores, Campuzano has yet to face anywhere near the level of resistance that Page will bring. He’s also a late-notice replacement for the previously announced Akitoshi Tamura. From what I’ve seen, Campuzano plays your standard-issue ground-and-pound game, which won’t be easy to manage against Page’s fist-first striking and brute physicality.

The X Factor: Plenty of prospects have made an unexpected splash in the WEC thus far, and Campuzano has dominated the middling competition he’s faced. No extra credit for that, but at least he has the wrestling to ground Page. Whether or not he has the wrestling to keep him in place for more than five seconds is what will decide his chances against the perpetually pressuring style of Page, a man with quite possibly the greatest nickname in the history of the universe. Whoever came up with “The Angel of Death” deserves a Nobel prize of some sort.

The Bottom Line: There isn’t a good reason why anyone with just six fights against no-name opponents should be fighting Page. Expect something along the lines of Page’s terrifying knockout of Marcos Galvao, as he shrugs off Campuzano’s takedown attempts and batters him in the clinch with overhands and digging body blows for a violent TKO win.

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Al Quintero/Sherdog.com

Jabouin is no match for Jabouin.

Raphael Assuncao vs. Yves Jabouin

The Breakdown: One of the world’s best featherweights takes on a guy who will soon have the honor of tapping out to one of the world’s best featherweights. Anti-climactic doesn’t even begin to describe the idea of Assuncao fighting Jabouin, who is simply not built to do anything that Assuncao should be worried about. Some may point to Jabouin’s excellent striking, but Assuncao isn’t the type to waste time on the feet. He will get right in Jabouin’s grill and force him to stuff takedown after takedown if he wants to spend more than a few seconds upright.

The X Factor: Credit where credit is due: Jabouin has a nasty striking arsenal. If Assuncao decides it’s time to test his stand-up, he might end up looking like someone in severe need of facial reconstruction. There’s no reason to believe Assuncao will take that route considering his by-the-book jiu-jitsu game, but if Jabouin can get to his chin before he hits the mat, this fight won’t be the soft touch that many are predicting. It all comes down to Jabouin and his ability, or lack thereof, to force Assuncao out of his usual takedown-tapout routine.

The Bottom Line: While the visual of Jabouin crunching Assuncao’s dome with an axe kick is second only to the prospect of Karimula Barkalaev returning from hiding, neither is going to happen in our lifetimes. An early takedown by Assuncao will lead to where it normally leads: his opponent realizing the only way out is the lonely solace of a tapout. Hopefully, the future holds something a bit more challenging for Assuncao, who should be taking on the division’s leading lights instead of fighters straddling the line between the B and C list.

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Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Vazquez gets a shot at vindication.

Anthony Njokuani vs. Muhsin Corbbrey

The Bottom Line: A battle of lightweights who seem forever on the periphery of the division, both Njokuani and Corbbrey have a chance to break through in the wide-open WEC 155-pound division. The breakthrough will materialize for Njokuani, who is the more well-rounded and disciplined fighter. Corbbrey’s relentless aggression leaves huge holes in his defense, and his cardio doesn’t stick around past the first round. A lopsided decision goes to Njokuani, who has nothing but opportunity awaiting him in the friendly confines of the cage.

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. Javier Vazquez

The Bottom Line: After taking a controversial split decision loss in his WEC debut to L.C. Davis, Vazquez gets a shot at vindication against IFL castaway Taurosevicius, who is looking to find his own footing in a new home. Despite a tough road back to MMA, Vazquez proved his game is still plenty sharp. He should be able to grapple his way to a decision against the equally mat-minded Taurosevicius, who lacks the depth of skill Vazquez has displayed. Expect a technical bout that ultimately favors Vazquez’s superior positioning and submission savvy.

Eddie Wineland vs. Manny Tapia

The Bottom Line: Every undercard needs to have a guaranteed slugfest. This is it. Wineland only knows how to fight upright, and Tapia will be all too happy to oblige. And with good reason, as Wineland lacks KO power and relies primarily on piling on damage while Tapia can step right in the pocket and grind out most anyone looking to keep his game under wraps. A two-fight losing streak ends for Tapia, as he pounds out a TKO win fueled by body blows and a bit of that old-school Mexican fighting spirit.

Charlie Valencia vs. Coty Wheeler

The Bottom Line: Two speed-freak bantamweights square off as Valencia and Wheeler try to carve out a permanent WEC spot at the expense of the other. While Wheeler’s record is prettier, he hasn’t faced the same competition as Valencia, who has stayed competitive against some of the division’s best. Besides that, Valencia has the more fundamentally sound approach and doesn’t make the rookie mistakes that Wheeler can’t seem to stop himself from making. It’s a fatal flaw that Valencia will mercilessly exploit.

Wagnney Fabiano vs. Mackens Semerzier

The Bottom Line: The fighting pride of Virginia, Semerzier is lined up for a tough big-time debut against top-tier contender Fabiano in a fight that is akin to sending the world’s best 13-year-old basketball player to the Memphis Grizzlies and expecting a NBA title in short order. Fabiano is simply one of the most suffocating ground specialists in the game. Semerzier lacks both the experience and skill at this point in his career to keep him from turning this fight into a jiu-jitsu competition. For the uninitiated, there aren’t many human beings alive whom Fabiano can’t hit with the Mario Sperry special, and Semerzier is about to become another in a long line.

Scott Jorgensen vs. Noah Thomas

The Bottom Line: Best known for a brief run on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Thomas is looking for vindication as a bantamweight — a search that got off to a bad start when he lost to Frank Gomez in his WEC debut. That trend is set to continue against Jorgensen, who is too good a wrestler for Thomas to do much of anything against except flail wildly and make puppy dog eyes at the referee in search of a stand-up. Jorgensen won’t turn heads with this fight, but he will go home unscathed and with a cut-and-dry unanimous nod in tow.

Friday, August 07, 2009
by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com)

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While the average fan basks in the UFC 101 afterglow, the hardcores will be chomping at the bit for WEC 42 “Torres vs. Bowles” this Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The a main event features World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight juggernaut Miguel Torres defending his strap against top contender Brian Bowles, which means every last one of you should have your eyeballs glued to a television come fight time.

Need some more motivation? Look no further than premier bantamweight prospect Joseph Benavidez trying to secure a title shot, Takeya Mizugaki and Jeff Curran squaring off in a “Fight of the Night” contender and lightweight up-and-comer Ricardo Lamas battling gatekeeper extraordinaire Danny Castillo.

WEC Bantamweight Championship
Miguel Torres (37-1) vs. Brian Bowles (7-0)

The Breakdown: Torres, the WEC bantamweight champion and certified pound-for-pound luminary, will put both those accolades on the line yet again, with Bowles, the number one contender, looking to play spoiler this time around. What separates Bowles from past victims of the Wolfcut connoisseur is not just his strong wrestling background but an overall versatility that leaves no glaring weaknesses for Torres to readily exploit. Still, Torres figures to look to find some, as he has proven adept at adapting his game on the fly to fit whatever opponent stares at him from across the cage.

Bowles’ best bet against someone like Torres would be to show him something he has not seen before, and his unique combination of dominant top control and submission savvy is something with which Torres has yet to deal. By the same token, Bowles has yet to take on someone with the hyperactive mat game Torres so brutally employs against anyone foolish enough to enter his domain. Unfortunately for Bowles, his boxing is not developed enough to handle Torres’ multi-faceted muay Thai style, which will leave him hoping he can corral one of the sport’s preeminent grapplers for however long it takes to find a strategy that works. On paper, Bowles is certainly Torres’ toughest test to date, but that only means Torres will look to make him his biggest skin to date.

The X Factor: With just seven fights to his name, Bowles will give up a world of experience to Torres. How that plays out over the course of the fight looms large. If the prospect of challenging for a title with only seven professional fights under his belt proves overwhelming for Bowles, he could get dispatched in short order, but if he takes this opportunity at face value and stays composed, you may see Torres’ run short-circuited.

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The Bottom Line: If not for Torres, Bowles would probably be the man leading the bantamweight division’s charge into the hearts and minds of casual fans. That fact will become painfully clear, however, when Torres picks apart Bowles from afar before forcing him to make his biggest mistake yet — taking the fight to the mat. A dazed Bowles will have tapped out long before he realizes his folly, while Torres celebrates with what’s sure to be a killer post-fight promo. Keep your fingers crossed that he continues his one-man public relations war with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s ego.

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Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Watch for Joseph Benavidez
to keep his record perfect.

Dominick Cruz (13-1) vs. Joseph Benavidez (10-0)

The Breakdown: Whoever leaves Las Vegas with the WEC bantamweight strap will soon have to turn his attention to the winner of this fight, as both Cruz and Benavidez find themselves in the midst of blistering bantamweight runs that have seen them succeed with dominating wrestling and surprising striking to back it up.

More than likely, the man who can score the bulk of the takedowns will emerge victorious here, as neither fighter is known for a dynamic guard game. While Cruz has certainly proven himself as a wrestler, he has a bad habit of losing his base and giving up unnecessary takedowns. In an evenly matched fight, those are the kind of tiny holes Benavidez will look to dynamite wide open.

The X Factor: Most of Benavidez’s game on the feet is built around speed and power, whereas Cruz has the kind of movement and fundamental skill that separates him from your typical wrestler/striker. Anytime two top-tier wrestlers lock horns, stalemates happen more often than not, and if these two do wrestle to a standstill, Cruz will have the edge. Unless Benavidez can bust out some of his mentor Urijah Faber’s “Matrix”-style striking, he better hope his Silverback breed of wrestling will be enough once the cage door closes.

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The Bottom Line: This fight should resemble something out of “Transformers,” and Benavidez will play Optimus Prime, as he bulldozes Cruz with takedowns for the bulk of the three rounds. Bank on Cruz giving Benavidez some issues on the feet, but he will not keep matters upright long enough to make up the difference.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Castillo will have issues
with Lamas’ one-note approach.

Ricardo Lamas (6-0) vs. Danny Castillo (7-1)

The Breakdown: With the WEC’s lightweight division in turmoil thanks to champion Jamie Varner’s laundry list of injuries, Lamas, a top prospect, will get a chance to announce his presence at the expense of Castillo, who will look to redeem himself after taking a controversial split decision from Phil Cardella at WEC 39.

Vindication will prove a tall order, as Lamas’ relentless top control style is something Castillo is ill-prepared to stymie. Despite his solid submission and striking skills, Castillo will need to defend the takedown first and foremost or end up getting the business end of a top control special.

The X Factor: Though Lamas wields an effective style, his offense mostly consists of takedowns and mediocre ground striking. Granted, Lamas makes up for it with relentlessness, but if he cannot keep Castillo on lockdown, he will find himself outgunned and short on options. This all comes down to Castillo stuffing enough takedowns to give himself a chance to do something other than get slammed like a World Wrestling Entertainment jobber.

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The Bottom Line: It seems easy to knock Lamas’ one-note approach, but it has proven undeniably effective. Do not expect much in the way of excitement, as Lamas grinds out a one-sided decision win fueled by meat grinder ground-and-pound.

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File Photo

Jeff Curran may get shutout.

Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2) vs. Jeff Curran (29-11-1)

The Breakdown: After coming up just short against bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres, Mizugaki will look to put his name right back in the title mix by keeping Curran’s name out of the running. With both men coming off losses, neither can afford to go on a skid, and it’s Curran who’s at a disadvantage against Mizugaki’s stout wrestling and submission defense.

While Curran has proven game on the feet before, considering Mizugaki held his own with Torres, going for a striker’s showdown may be no better an idea than trying to work his way out from underneath Mizugaki’s paralyzing wrestling.

The X Factor: After his bantamweight debut was spoiled by Joseph Benavidez, the whispers started regarding how long Curran has left as a top-flight mixed martial artist. With his back against the wall, Curran will come out looking to go for broke in search of the respect he has lost. Everyone knows Mizugaki loves a good scrap, but if Curran starts throwing a million submissions a second at him, he might lose his taste for this fight.

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The Bottom Line: Expect Curran to unload a full clip of submissions on Mizugaki, but do not expect any of them to find their mark, as Mizugaki answers back with disciplined ground-and-pound en route to a shutout decision win.

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Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Vazquez is likely to end up
on the wrong end of a decision.

Leonard Garcia (12-4) vs. Jameel Massouh (21-5)

The Bottom Line: After dropping his WEC debut to Raphael Assuncao, there will be no rest for Massouh, as he has to take on a top contender in Garcia. While Massouh’s versatile style earned him a spot in the WEC, he does not have one skill he can use to overwhelm opponents.

Meanwhile, Garcia has transformed into the kind of pure power puncher that Massouh cannot handle. The ground game remains an option, but Garcia is more than game on the mat, and odds are Massouh will not have much luck getting this fight on the ground anyway. Expect a return to form for Garcia, who rebounds from his loss to featherweight king Mike Thomas Brown.

Fredson Paixao (8-3) vs. Cole Province (5-1)

The Bottom Line: Wrestler meets grappler, as the bulldog ground-and-pound game Province plays runs headfirst into Paixao’s world-class jiu-jitsu skills. While Paixao certainly will not mind getting hit with a few double legs, Province may find fending off Paixao’s arsenal of mat machinations beyond his means. Usually, wrestlers have the option of keeping the fight upright, but Province’s mediocre striking makes him less than the ideal candidate to crumple Paixao.

Do not be surprised if Province tries that route anyway and ends up with Paixao pulling guard before a string of submission attempts eventually leaves Province looking for the nearest exit.

Marcus Hicks (8-2) vs. Shane Roller (5-2)

The Bottom Line: Roller, a collegiate wrestling convert, was supposed to be a star in the making, but after a disappointing bout with Benson Henderson, he will have to carve out a spot for himself against Hicks’ wrecking ball style. Despite the advertisements, Roller’s wrestling game has yet to translate fully to MMA, while Hicks’ combination of bullying strikes and rabid grappling makes him the kind of offensive force with which a developing prospect like Roller tends to struggle.

Unless Roller has managed to find a way to make his wrestling game work, he will find himself severely outgunned against a foe known for pressuring opponents into mistakes. Given Roller’s lack of experience, he will eventually make the mistake for which Hicks looks and end up trapped in a trachea-tightening guillotine choke.

Ed Ratcliff (6-1) vs. Phil Cardella (8-3)

The Bottom Line: The urban karateka meets the versatile quicksilver, as Ratcliff’s wildly unorthodox striking makes for an interesting matchup with Cardella’s slick grappling game. The real key here is whether or not Cardella has the wrestling to get Ratcliff horizontal before one of Ratcliff’s kicks beats him to it. Luckily for Cardella, his takedowns are serviceable, while Ratcliff’s submission defense makes surviving a mat battle as likely as a tasteful episode of “The Bachelorette.”

Some hairy early moments for Cardella will give way to a timely takedown and speedy submission win for the Illinois native. Unfortunate since it would be wonderful to see urban karate take its rightful place in MMA.

Rani Yahya (14-4) vs. John Hosman (13-4-1)

The Bottom Line: Consider this a style mismatch for Hosman, who relies on his wrestling to bully opponents, while Yahya’s jiu-jitsu waits for an opponent crazy enough to take him down. With his main weapon all but useless, Hosman needs to rely on his striking. It may not be fundamentally sound, but he makes up the difference with power.

That line of thought has been used by many of Yahya’s past opponents, and the results have been mixed. Do not bank on Hosman finding any luck, as Yahya storms him from the opening bell by pulling guard and firing off about 3,568 submission attempts in the opening minute. Hosman does not have the defensive skills to handle that sort of workload.

Diego Nunes (12-0) vs. Rafael Dias (12-5-1)

The Bottom Line: Brazilian striking ace Nunes will look to fuel his run up the featherweight ranks by turning the division’s gatekeeper, Dias, into a canvas for his breed of precision kickboxing. While Dias’ ground game serves as a threat for most, Nunes has the mat game to match him. In other words, Dias looks to be short on options and long on disadvantages.

That will become apparent from the opening bell, as Nunes dissects Dias on the feet before putting him away with a head kick late in the first round. Expect much shouting and yelling upon impact, more from the cage-side commentators than anyone else.

L.C. Davis (13-2) vs. Javier Vazquez (13-2)

The Bottom Line: Once upon a time, Vazquez was a premier prospect destined to graduate to full-fledged star status, but a series of knee injuries forced him to walk away from the sport. Now fully healed and set for a comeback, Vazquez will have to tangle with Davis, a man cut from the same submission wrestler cloth. While the submission aspect appears equal, the wrestling will prove key, as both men prefer top control to guard work.

Considering Vazquez’s history of injuries, it’s hard to image him getting the better of Davis in that regard. While Vazquez’s guard is more than serviceable, it will not be enough to keep Davis from taking a nip-and-tuck decision.

Thursday, June 04, 2009
by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com)

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While the rest of the sports world cries into its Cheerios after watching the prospect of a Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James NBA Finals flame out like Eminem, the mixed martial arts fan has yet another meaty World Extreme Cagefighting card to keep his or her bowl tear-free. Slated for this Sunday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., it features the fight that’s on the mind of every fan.

A rematch between WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown and the man he built his name upon, Urijah Faber, will help define the future of the promotion’s burgeoning featherweight class. The return of featherweight super-prospect Jose Aldo backs up the main event, along with the latest appearance of lightweight sadomasochist Donald Cerrone and perhaps the last stand of one-time UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver.

Get your situation lined up for this weekend and settle in for the latest round of semi-reliable unprofessional prognostication. Remember, I get 10 percent of your winnings and take no responsibility for the losses. Not my fault that probability has a grudge against me.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

It will be 0-2 for Faber.

WEC Featherweight Championship
Mike Thomas Brown vs. Urijah Faber

The Breakdown: The long-awaited rematch between Brown (21-4), the incumbent featherweight champion, and Faber, the man he replaced, comes with a distinct set of expectations this time around. Brown took Faber’s title but remains a relative unknown in comparison to his media darling counterpart. The marked size advantage Brown holds over “The California Kid,” which was a major factor in Brown’s first-round knockout win against him in November, has not changed. Whether or not Faber (22-2) will overcome that gap and find a way for his hyperactive offense to work against Brown stands as the defining question surrounding this bout.

Fast and talented as Faber may be, Brown’s strength and fundamental acuity make him a unique presence in the division; he’s a physically dominant fighter who still relies on technique to get the job done. Brown’s balance of finesse and Incredible Hulk power has Faber pegged as an underdog — and for good reason. He may be beloved for his Jeff Spicoli “surfer dude” demeanor, but Faber needs to come out from the opening bell and swarm Brown without making any obvious mistakes. If not, he risks seeing his years of divisional dominance go for naught.

The X Factor: Faber can always rely on his fighting instincts. For whatever reason, he seems to know exactly what to do when the action gets most hectic. If he can force Brown to get into scrambles and generally disrupt the flow of his offense, Faber will give himself the best chance of not only winning but taking out Brown in a manner that would announce his return as the division’s top dog. Whatever plays out after the fight, Faber needs to go into it knowing his spot in the division will be won or lost in the scramble.

* * *

The Bottom Line: Faber may deserve the right to bask in the glow of the featherweight division’s renaissance, but his frame does not belong at 145 pounds. The difference in size alone presents enough problems for Faber in this rematch. Throw in Brown’s underrated versatility and junkyard dog determination, and this just is not the fight Faber hopes it to be. Expect another dominating performance from Brown, who moves that much closer to building himself as the featherweight fighter of our time.

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File Photo/Sherdog.com

Jose Aldo will smash up
Cub Swanson at WEC 41.

Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson

The Breakdown: The current featherweight prospect du jour takes on his predecessor, as Brazilian bomber Aldo (14-1) takes on California’s own Swanson. Like any fighter taking on Aldo, Swanson (13-2) has to keep clear of the striking game at all costs. Simply put, Aldo is too dangerous on the feet, so Swanson’s only hope is getting the lanky knockout artist down and out of his comfort zone. It seems like a simple enough plan, but Aldo’s long reach and strong grappling pedigree makes doing just about anything against him easier said than done.

The X Factor: Assuming Swanson can get Aldo down before losing his grip on consciousness, one has to wonder exactly what he will do to a guy who comes from the grappling-centric Nova Uniao camp. Black belts do not come for free from that team, and Swanson is hardly an irresistible force on the mat. It will take a lot more than a takedown and some luck for Swanson to keep himself from becoming the next in a long line of scalps for Aldo.

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The Bottom Line: There’s a reason why Aldo’s career has taken off and Swanson has been left to toil in the mid-level of the WEC lightweight division. Simply put, Aldo is a far superior fighter. That truth will shine through, as Swanson ends up in the worst spot of all — on the end of Aldo’s piston-like punches. Sooner or later, one of those blows will put Swanson out like a bottle of Ambien and a DVD of “Meet the Spartans.”

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Expect a three-tap symphony.

Donald Cerrone vs. James Krause

The Breakdown: A battle of impossibly tall lightweight strikers adds intrigue to the 155-pound division, as Cerrone (9-1, 1 NC) attempts to rebuild his credentials after a failed title run. Krause (10-0) may be one of the few lightweights around taller than Cerrone, but he’s not the same caliber striker and lacks the ground game to add a different dimension to this fight. This feels like a concerted WEC attempt at rebuilding a popular fighter at the expense of a newcomer. Don’t be surprised if it plays out that way.

The X Factor: Cerrone is willing to scrap, even at the expense of his seemingly suicidal brain cells. That mentality often draws him into unnecessary firefights, especially when one considers Cerrone’s surprising mat savvy. If Krause can draw him into a shootout, the difference in skill may not matter as much as Cerrone’s own inability to control his kamikaze instincts.

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The Bottom Line: Expect the early going to be reminiscent of Custer’s Last Stand, as both fighters go for broke on the feet before Cerrone settles into his usual game plan of switching gears and hunting the submission. Krause may have the game to survive on the feet with Cerrone, but he will not have an answer for Cerrone’s rapid-fire submission onslaught. Sooner or later, Krause will find himself in a spot from which he cannot escape; that’s when the would-be contender will play the three-tap symphony.

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Peter Lockley/Sherdog.com

The end is near for Pulver.

Josh Grispi vs. Jens Pulver

The Breakdown: The rising prospect takes on the aging veteran, as Grispi continues his climb up the ranks against Pulver, the former UFC lightweight champion turned fading featherweight. While Pulver (22-11-1) can still chin check anyone, his overall game has suffered as he has aged, and it’s obvious he cannot keep up with the current crop of competitors. Thankfully, Grispi (12-1) is not the kind of striker that has been troubling Pulver of late. However, he does have a strong ground game, and Pulver’s takedown defense is not what it used to be. This is probably the last litmus test for Pulver’s career, and, lately, the results have not been too encouraging.

The X Factor: Age, an iffy chin and some bad luck have left Pulver’s once promising featherweight tenure feeling like an “Alien vs. Predator” movie — nothing more than wasted potential. However, if Pulver can force Grispi to fight him standing, he definitely has an edge on the grappling-centric style of his youthful counterpart. Pulver has put together miraculous career comebacks before; whether or not he has another one in him is anyone’s guess.

* * *

The Bottom Line: Pulver has endured nothing but disappointment of late, and it does not figure to get any better against Grispi. He has the gusto and game to chase after a submission and avoid Pulver’s parries on the feet. Expect an entertaining fight, but Pulver’s declining skills will eventually cost him the fight, as Grispi snatches hold of a late submission in an evenly matched fight. No more of the Phoenix routine for Pulver, who looks to have squeezed every last drop of greatness he could from his long and storied career.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Gamburyan is a lock.

Manny Gamburyan vs. John Franchi

At long last, Gamburyan (8-4) wised up and made his move to the featherweight class. He will debut against the undefeated Franchi. Both fighters prefer the mat, but Gamburyan holds the edge there, as his bull rush takedowns and nose for the submission make him a dangerous addition to the division. Like most, Franchi (5-0) will not be ready for Gamburyan’s savage submission game, and he’ll eventually get caught in one of the Armenian’s cringe-inducing leg locks.

Rafael Rebello vs. Kyle Dietz

This bantamweight duel features the undefeated and highly touted Dietz (5-0) taking on a journeyman. If it has not become apparent by now, Rebello is the sacrificial lamb pegged to launch Dietz’s run in the WEC. Granted, Rebello (5-3) is a solid grappler, but he struggles against more well-rounded opponents, and Dietz will have no qualms about bullying around his foe and turning this into a mauling. Expect Rebello to buckle under the pressure of Dietz’s offense and end up taking a one-sided TKO loss.

Mike Campbell vs. Anthony Pettis

The power lifter meets the kickboxer when Campbell (4-1) tests himself against Pettis’ flashy strikes. Campbell’s strength has translated well to MMA, but he does not seem to have a skill on which he can rely. Meanwhile, Pettis’ striking makes him a threat against anyone who cannot at least force him off his game. This fight will quickly turn into a showcase for Pettis (6-0), as he evades Campbell and picks him apart with strikes before putting him down for good.

Scott Jorgensen vs. Antonio Banuelos

Another bantamweight scrap rests on the undercard, as Banuelos looks to re-establish his footing in the hyper-competitive division by taking out the rapidly improving Jorgensen (6-2). The problem? Banuelos’ striking game depends on stopping his opponent’s takedowns, and that’s something he will fail to do against Jorgensen. Three rounds worth of ground-and-pound will leave Banuelos (15-5) battered and Jorgensen with another win on his ledger.

Frank Gomez vs. Noah Thomas

After getting blackballed by the UFC for his Darwin award-worthy run on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Thomas has to settle for the WEC bantamweight division, where he finds himself pitifully outmatched by Gomez (6-1). Expect the wash, rinse, repeat treatment from Gomez, as he dominates the wrestling and segues right into the ground-and-pound portion of the match. Thomas (13-4) will have no answers, as he takes the beat down no one got to see during his time as a reality show lightning rod.

Rolando Perez vs. Seth Dikun

A Thomas Denny disciple, Dikun (6-3) looks to carve out a spot in the WEC against Perez, who wants redemption after he became Jose Aldo’s most recent heavy bag. With that said, Perez (4-2-1) showed some talent in that bout, and he should have no problem lighting up Dikun on the feet and keeping away from the mat. Denny will not have much to celebrate, as Perez picks apart Dikun en route to a thorough decision win.

Friday, April 03, 2009
by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com)

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Anytime you can watch one of the world’s pound-for-pound luminaries pro bono, it’s looking like a good weekend. That’s what we’ll get this Sunday from WEC “Torres vs. Mizugaki,” which is coming live from the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

With hometown hero and bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres set to defend his title against Shooto standard-bearer Takeya Mizugaki, the headliner alone is enough to entice fight fans the world over. Throw in a main card that features top prospects like Rafael Assuncao and Joseph Benavidez as well as the veteran stylings of Jeff Curran, and it’s like the WEC is trying to bribe us into watching.

In other words, make sure the cable bill is paid and lock any non-MMA fans you may live with in a soundproof room. In the meantime, get your knowledge right courtesy of the same guy who said that Y2K would be the end of us all.

Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki

Miguel Torres Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’9/135 lbs.
Age: 28
Hometown: East Chicago, Ind.
Fighting out of: East Chicago, Ind.
Team: Torres Martial Arts
Record: 36-1

The Breakdown: When you’re talking about a pound-for-pound standard bearer, it’s easy to forget their flaws and focus on the awe-inspiring aesthetics of their game. One of Miguel Torres’ forgotten flaws is his substandard wrestling — a flaw that Mizugaki is custom-made to exploit. Recognizing that Mizugaki is the superior wrestler needs to inform Torres’ game plan for solving one of Shooto’s premier exports.

To that end, Torres’ reach is his friend. He showed off a jab against Manny Tapia that had the ghost of Sonny Liston smiling. It’s no secret that Mizugaki likes to brawl a bit, and that habit has cost him before. Torres can use that weakness to keep this from fight from turning into a wrestling meet. While Torres has the grappling to turn Mizugaki into a Twizzler, he needs to keep Mizugaki from going Karl Gotch on him from the opening bell.

The X Factor: Torres is absolutely fearless about testing himself against his opponent’s strengths, and while that mentality has yet to cost him, it could if he ends up struggling to solve Mizugaki’s stultifying top-control game. Pride comes before the fall, and unless Torres has something beyond his usual fistic fireworks, he may not get a chance to light the fuse.

Takeya Mizugaki Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’7/135 lbs.
Age: 25
Hometown: Kanagawa, Japan
Fighting out of: Kanagawa, Japan
Team: Shooting Gym Hakkei
Record: 11-2-2

The Breakdown: First things first, Mizugaki needs to make peace with the fact that Torres is the better striker and grappler. Reality check in hand, Mizugaki is still one of the division’s best wrestlers, and his ground-and-pound makes him a real threat to Torres’ divisional dominance. The first step is obvious: Get inside on Torres before he finds his range and get him on the mat.

Things get complicated from there, though, as the solution to Torres’ guard remains one of the unsolved mysteries of “Unsolved Mysteries.” One thing is certain: Mizugaki needs to pass guard or get tapped. Any high-level jiu-jitsu player in MMA relies on controlling his opponents inside the guard. If Mizugaki can consistently get past Torres’ legs, he has as good a chance as anyone in the division of giving Torres the Buster Douglas treatment.

The X Factor: No matter what, Mizugaki needs to stick to his guns and win or lose on the strength of his top control. Standing with Torres leaves Mizugaki’s short reach and iffy chin out there to be exploited, and there may not be a bantamweight alive who can roll with Torres on the mat. Discipline has been a problem for Mizugaki in the past. Torres only needs the smallest of openings to add another clip to the highlight reel.

* * *

The Bottom Line: Sure, Mizugaki can out-wrestle Torres, but that won’t mean much when Torres is picking him apart on the feet and mat. Pulling a 25-minute top-control special on Torres is about as likely as me sitting through an episode of “The Gilmore Girls.” Watch for another sterling performance from Torres as he picks apart Mizugaki on the feet before he turns a desperate takedown by his would-be conqueror into a fight-ending triangle choke.

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Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Watch for Curran to
keep it close.

Jeff Curran vs. Joseph Benavidez

Jeff “The Big Frog” Curran Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’6/145 lbs.
Age: 31
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Ill.
Fighting out of: Crystal Lake, Ill.
Team: Team Curran
Record: 29-10-1

The Breakdown: A veteran of both the lightweight and featherweight division, Curran’s bantamweight debut comes against Urijah Faber’s protégé Joseph Benavidez. Knocking the blue-chipper off course means Curran will have to rely on his slick jiu-jitsu game against the explosive wrestling of Benavidez. How Curran gets his own offense going against the ground-and-pound of Benavidez will have a lot to do with how “The Big Frog” fits into the food chain of the bantamweight class.

The X Factor: Coming off two straight losses in the featherweight division and with 40 bouts over 11 years already under his belt, the whispers have already started over whether Curran is on his last legs in the fight biz. Going against a premier prospect in a showcase bout, Curran needs to prove the horizon is still off in the distance.

Joseph Benavidez Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’4/155 lbs.
Age: 24
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Fighting out of: Sacramento, Calif.
Team: Team Alpha Male
Record: 9-0

The Breakdown: The supposed heir apparent of the bantamweight division, Benavidez is very much a carbon copy of his mentor, Urijah Faber. Using that unique blend of athleticism and technique will be key against Curran, who can’t match the youngster’s athletic prowess but makes up the difference in technical acumen. There is no doubt that Benavidez will be able to ground Curran, but you have to wonder how an unproven prospect will handle one of the game’s resident jiu-jitsu aces.

The X Factor: Billed as a clash of savvy grappler vs. genetic freakazoid wrestler, striking remains the ignored variable in this bout. While Curran has a fundamentally sound game, Benavidez has speed and power that simply can’t be taught. If Benavidez can force Curran on the defensive standing, he’d cut off Curran at the pass and eliminate his quarry’s best hope of victory.

* * *

The Bottom Line: One of the most evenly matched bouts of the evening, it will be Benavidez’s raw physicality that tilts the bout in his favor. Watch for Curran to keep it close but, Benavidez’s relentless pace and dominant wrestling will be the difference as he takes home a decision win. With that win under his belt, you can bank on Faber and Benavidez making that long anticipated run at the WWE tag team title.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

The WEC is hoping that
they’ve struck gold.

Shane Roller vs. Benson Henderson

Shane Roller Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’10/155 lbs.
Age: 29
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.
Fighting out of: Las Vegas, Nev.
Team: Xtreme Couture
Record: 5-1

The Breakdown: Another one of the highly touted prospects populating Team Takedown, Roller’s wrestling pedigree and surprising offensive dynamism makes him one of the WEC’s most compelling prospects. While Henderson lacks the same talent for takedowns, his versatile offense makes him a stiff test for Roller. Staying focused on controlling Henderson with his wrestling while avoiding any youthful mistakes is crucial.

The X Factor: Talented as he may be, Roller has the bad habit of making mental errors inside the cage. Thus far, his excess of athleticism has been his saving grace, but one mental malfunction too many against Henderson will leave Roller joining Jake Rosholt on Team Takedown’s bust list.

Benson “Smooth” Henderson Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’9/155 lbs.
Age: 25
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Fighting out of: Glendale, Ariz.
Team: The MMA Lab
Record: 8-1

The Breakdown: Rangy and unorthodox, Henderson needs to keep Roller off-balance as Roller’s suffocating top control makes him nearly impossible to corral. What Henderson should look to take advantage of is Roller’s recklessness in the cage, ideally by drawing him into standing exchanges that would get Roller away from relying on his wrestling.

The X Factor: Henderson’s long frame gives him a serpentine reach, but he isn’t terribly strong from up close and that is where Roller excels. If nothing else, Henderson has to keep Roller at bay or end up fighting on Roller’s terms — a losing proposition for most of the lightweight division.

* * *

The Bottom Line: After watching Team Takedown’s Jake Rosholt move on to the UFC and get knocked off, the WEC is hoping that they’ve struck gold with Roller. That remains to be seen, but he should be able to overpower Henderson en route to a ground-and-pound stoppage.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Massouh is going down.

Rafael Assuncao vs. Jameel Massouh

Rafael Assuncao Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’5/145 lbs.
Age: 26
Hometown: Recife, Brazil
Fighting out of: Atlanta
Team: American Top Team
Record: 12-1

The Breakdown: At long last, Rafael Assuncao gets his shot at the big leagues and he’ll do it against the well-rounded yet lightly regarded Jameel Massouh. While Massouh’s cheering section may not be as vocal as Assuncao’s, he is an underrated fighter in a talent-rich division. As always, Assuncao’s best bet is to stick to his strengths and turn this into a mat battle, as Massouh is not amongst the handful that can survive on the ground with the Brazilian.

The X Factor: Slowly but surely, Assuncao has shown improved striking, but now is not the time for Assuncao to start experimenting on the feet. While Massouh is hardly the kickboxing Baryshnikov, Assuncao better not come out looking to impress the world with his newfound striking and risk spoiling his own coming out party.

Jameel Massouh Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’10/145 lbs.
Age: 24
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisc.
Fighting out of: Kenosha, Wisc.
Team: Freestyle Academy
Record: 21-4

The Breakdown: A relative unknown in the featherweight ranks, Massouh is supposedly being thrown to the wolves in the form of Raphael Assuncao. Keeping himself from becoming Assuncao’s latest meal ticket means keeping this from turning into a jiu-jitsu clinic. The only sure way Massouh has of doing that is drawing Assuncao into a striking battle, as he lacks the wrestling to bully Assuncao around. It will take a perfect fight from Massouh — as long as he keeps himself from becoming Assuncao’s grappling dummy.

The X Factor: Massouh’s versatility often leads to him going with the flow in his bouts instead of imposing his will on opponents. Going along with Assuncao’s plans will get Massouh a few inverted limbs and a nice medical bill. Seizing the initiative and forcing Assuncao into a battle is Massouh’s only hope of keeping himself in the WEC.

The Bottom Line: Everyone loves an upset but they’ll have to look elsewhere, as Assuncao has long been one of the division’s best fighters. Finally given a chance to shine, he’ll pick apart Massouh on the mat in short order.

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File Photo/Sherdog.com

Bart Palaszewski will
be upset at WEC 40.

Bart Palaszewski vs. Anthony Njokuani

The Breakdown: The battle of difficult to pronounce last names should make for some of the night’s best action as Njokuani and Palaszewski love to keep head trauma centers on their heels. While Palaszewski has the edge in experience, Njokuani’s muay Thai style is slick and explosive. It’s anyone’s guess how the mat work will go, but Njokuani’s striking makes him a live underdog.

The X Factor: Anytime you have a striker’s showdown, it’s always the grappling that ends up rearing its head. Neither man has much takedown defense so if someone is getting the worst of the striking, the grappling — or lack thereof — could become the lynchpin of the winner’s strategy.

The Bottom Line: Palaszewski is coming into this fight on short notice after he took a lopsided three-round decision loss just a month ago. It’s not a recipe for success against an opponent who has you beat at your specialty. Njokuani pulls off the upset special and the world is left to wonder how you pronounce his name.

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Mike Fridley/Sherdog.com

It’s always fun to
watch Paixao operate.

Wagnney Fabiano vs. Fredson Paixao

The Bottom Line: Don’t kid yourself, this fight is all about the jiu-jitsu. Both Fabiano and Paixao are world-class grapplers and nether man is much for striking, so this boils down to who can out-jiu-jitsu who. While either man could cinch a submission at a moment’s notice, Fabiano has far superior wrestling and his style is not dependant on scoring the submission. That will likely be the difference, as you can expect the offensive brilliance to be in short supply.

The X Factor: Fabiano thrives on shutting down his opponent’s offense, while Paixao keeps a hectic pace on the mat. While Fabiano has the edge thanks to his suffocating top control, it’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to Paixao’s relentless guard work.

The Bottom Line: It’s always fun to watch Paixao operate, but Fabiano is simply too technically sound and efficient on the mat to allow Paixao to get his offense going. It won’t be fun to watch unless you’re writing a thesis on top control, but it will be enough to get Fabiano a decision win.

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Denis Martins/Sherdog.com

If Yahya has trouble
getting a takedown, he’s
in for a world of hurt.

Eddie Wineland vs. Rani Yahya

The Breakdown: It’s a true clash of styles as Wineland’s one-dimensional striking meets Yahya’s submission-or-bust style. While Yahya’s virtually non-existent wrestling is an issue, Wineland has never had much in the way of takedown defense. Combine that with Yahya’s kamikaze approach to takedowns and Wineland’s less than world-class grappling and you have what looks like the prelude to a three-tap symphony.

The X Factor: If Yahya has trouble getting a takedown, he’s in for a world of hurt, as the difference in striking is as vast as the difference in grappling ability. As long as Wineland finds his range early, he’ll have Yahya on the defensive, which is where he needs to keep him to win.

The Bottom Line: Normally, the wrestling-deprived grappler loses to the striker, but Wineland’s striking is more methodical than it is powerful. Unless he can score an early knockout, he’ll be stuck fending off Yahya’s never-ending arsenal of submissions. Bank on Yahya’s arsenal winning the day.

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Stephen Martinez/Sherdog.com

Tamura will come up big.

Manny Tapia vs. Akitoshi Tamura

The Breakdown: This is going to come down to who survives the close quarters combat, as Manny Tapia loves to dig in body shots while Tamura favors the Thai clinch. The difference is Tapia’s lacking defense and Tamura’s overall technical acumen. Tapia may look great against your standard-issue brawler, but Tamura’s shoddy record belies a wealth of fistic knowledge.

The X Factor: The other clash to look out for is how Tapia works his ground-and-pound against Tamura’s surprisingly fluid guard game. If Tapia starts getting the worst of the striking, he will transition to ground-and-pound in a hurry. Whether that sounds Tapia’s death knell or signals his comeback will play heavily into Tapia’s fighting fate.

The Bottom Line: After a disappointing debut in the WEC, Tamura has been written off by many as just another failed Shooto acquisition. However, Tapia is the perfect canvas for him to display his vastly underrated skills. After some memorable disasters, a Shooto convert finally comes up big as Tamura wins a one-sided decision.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Dias will showcase his
slick ground skills.

Rafael Dias vs. Mike Budnik

The Breakdown: A grappler’s special awaits as both Dias and Budnik live or die on their grappling. Unfortunately for Budnik, Dias happens to be one of the best grapplers out of the vaunted American Top Team. Unless Budnik plans on “Hulk”-ing out just as the fight starts, he’ll be stuck fending off the submission onslaught of a superior grappler.

The X Factor: The one troubling part of Dias’ grappling is that he struggles against aggressive ground-and-pound. If Budnik can out-wrestle Dias and stay aggressive without getting careless, he could easily pick apart Dias on the mat.

The Bottom Line: I’ve never seen Budnik show much in the way of ground-and-pound and it’s unlikely he’ll even out-wrestle Dias thoroughly enough to stay out of harm’s way in the first place. This turns into a showcase for Dias and Budnik’s tapping skills.

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Photo by Sherdog.com

Cruz will fail late
in the contest.

Dominick Cruz vs. Ivan Lopez

The Breakdown: It’s a shame this fight is relegated to undercard duty, as both Cruz and Lopez are amongst the WEC’s best bantamweight prospects and they both love the striking game. While Lopez comes into the WEC with a flawless record, Cruz has taken on some of the division’s best and more than held his own. If this fight turns into a battle, it may be Cruz’s experience that makes all the difference.

The X Factor: While you can’t argue with Cruz’s technical ability, his power is somewhat lacking. Accuracy and movement are good to have but when you don’t have the power to back it up, it’s just a matter of time before you get caught. Lopez won’t need much of an opening to make Cruz into the night’s top KO victim.

The Bottom Line: Call it a hunch, but I like Lopez’s chances against Cruz. He may not be a proven commodity, but Lopez’s talent is obvious and Cruz doesn’t have the power to go toe-to-toe with Lopez. A come-from-behind win is in the cards for Lopez as he scores a spectacular KO in the third round.

Light heavyweight Justin Levens and his wife Sara McLean-Levens were found dead Wednesday from gunshot wounds in their home in Laguna Niguel, Calif., the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed to Sherdog.com. Levens was 28 years old.

“Preliminarily, until they finish the investigation, it is being looked at as a murder-suicide,” said Lt. V. Wilson.

Initial evidence suggests Justin Levens was the shooter, said O.C. Sheriff Coroner’s Office spokesman Jim Amormino, though ballistics and residue testing is still pending. No suicide note was found at the scene.

The bodies were discovered by Sara McLean-Levens’ mother, who notified authorities. Deputies and investigators arrived at the home on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. PST.

“Sara’s mother hadn’t heard from her for five days, so she entered the residence and found them both dead in bed,” said Amormino.

Amormino said it appeared that the bodies had been there a couple of days. Authorities also took into custody what appeared to be prescribed painkillers and anti-depressant medication, though they were not found in the standard-marked pharmaceutical containers denoting whom they belonged to.

Levens had tested positive for the painkiller oxymorphone in pre-fight testing for a bout against Ray Lazama at Affliction “Banned” on July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., according to the California State Athletic Commission. The bout had been cancelled that night due to time constraints.

Autopsies were to be conducted on both bodies Thursday, as part of an “open, ongoing” investigation, said Amormino.

A standout on the central California circuit, Levens found early success in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion and went undefeated in his first seven fights.

Levens made his Octagon debut against Evan Tanner at UFC 59 in September 2006, but lost to the seasoned veteran via a first-round triangle choke submission.

A stint with the IFL followed, where Levens fought for his mentor Marco Ruas’ Southern California Condors team and went 0-3.

In his last bout, Levens (9-8) was submitted in the first round by Kenny Ento at the Palace Fighting Championships in Lemoore, Calif.

Jeff Sherwood contributed to this report.

Note: This article was updated at 1:10 p.m. EST to include new information regarding the crime scene.

Everybody loves some midweek MMA, and all you closet bantamweight fans out there get some extra love this time around as WEC 37 airs live Wednesday on the Versus network from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The treat for bantamweight fans of course is the title tilt featuring incumbent champion and wolfcut connoisseur Miguel Torres against the bleached dome of Manny Tapia. Also on tap is the WEC debut of two of the world’s premier featherweights as Akitoshi Tamura and Wagnney Fabiano will lock horns in a suddenly wide-open division.

All that and more, so strap in and tune out for another round of on-point prognostication. If you disagree with anything, just make sure to send some hate mail. I spent most of today just basking in the hate-filled glow of my inbox.

Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia

Miguel Torres Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’10/135 lbs.
Age: 27
Hometown: East Chicago, Ind.
Fighting out of: Hammond, Ind.
Record: 34-1

The stakes: The obvious prize here is Torres’ WEC bantamweight strap. But as the UFC’s kid brother continues to come into its own, holding the WEC 135-pound title means being the face of the division, a pound-for-pound luminary and, potentially, the division’s standard-bearer for future generations. Think of it like being the Pope, except you regularly have to make a Cardinal scream uncle or risk losing the funky wardrobe.

If anyone deserves to play pontiff, it’s Torres, who spent years on the local circuit while forum diehards championed his cause. The irony of Torres becoming champion is that after years spent searching for worthy opponents, he now has an entire division of fighters from the world over looking to pilfer his magic clothes. For Torres, this is about reminding the Cardinals who runs Sunday mass.

The breakdown: Hands down one of the sport’s most feared grapplers, Torres’ penchant for stringing together submissions makes Tapia’s usual ground-and-pound approach a risky proposition. What Torres will have to be mindful of is Tapia’s powerful boxing, as Yoshiro Maeda had some success mixing it up on the feet against the champion.

The key difference is that Tapia’s striking lacks diversity while Torres’ muay Thai allows him to deal on even terms on the feet while keeping the luxury of pulling guard. The vast difference in grappling acumen is an advantage that Torres must pursue to be assured a win over his garishly coiffed adversary.

Manny “The Mangler” Tapia Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’5/135 lbs.
Age: 27
Hometown: Riverside, Calif.
Fighting out of: Chino, Calif.
Record: 10-0-1

The stakes: After a knee injury derailed an earlier bout with Torres, Tapia’s nearly 11 months away from the cage will end with a bout against the man who has come to embody the bantamweight division. With the growing stable of fighters gunning for the same opportunity, Tapia must realize that this may be the only chance he gets to carve out a place atop one of the sport’s most exciting weight classes.

While the days of the bantamweights serving as the butt of ill-conceived midget jokes are hardly over, the surging popularity of the WEC has at least legitimized the division in the eyes of many fans and turned the division’s champion into a true commodity. For Tapia, this is a chance to transcend the artificial limitations of being a small man in a big man’s world.

The breakdown: “The Mangler” is a fitting moniker for Tapia, who relies on winging powerful, if not entirely accurate, punches before closing the deal with a ground-and-pound blitzkrieg. Unfortunately, attempting to ground and pound Torres is like rolling into the Thunderdome with nothing but a “Sesame Street” DVD. Pain is sure to follow.

Tapia’s best hope is to keep Torres at bay with his boxing and draw him into a slugfest where he lands combinations and then creates space. Constantly repeating that cycle would certainly frustrate Torres and likely keep him from turning this bout into a jiu-jitsu seminar.

* * *

The bottom line: As much as Tapia’s straightforward style has endeared him to fans, he has yet to face the best the division has to offer and jumping in line to fight Torres represents a Scott Bakula-level quantum leap in competition. Watch for Torres to use his clinch game early to set up a takedown or guard-pull that will inevitably lead to an absurd string of submission attempts before Tapia is left with no recourse but to tap out for the sake of leaving his appendages intact.

The clattering thud you’ll hear shortly after the conclusion of Wednesday’s World Extreme Cagefighting 36 card is likely to be the deposit of the organization’s middleweight championship belt — to be contested by Chael Sonnen against Paulo Filho — into the nearest garbage can.

In September, the promotion announced that it would be euthanizing both its 185-pound and 205-pound classes in an effort to focus more on the trimmer weight divisions, a charge headed by the personable (and generously chinned) Urijah Faber.

Should you be disappointed? While it’s true that the heavier slots were flimsy — it’s unlikely Brian Stann or Steve Cantwell would survive even a UFC Fight Night — the limited talent pool actually served a good purpose. By grooming athletes with clear potential, Zuffa — which owns both the WEC and its bigger, substantially meaner brother, the UFC — was able to control its own feeder system.

Perfect example? Jake Rosholt, a 4-0, four-time Division-1 wrestler who is predicted to be hell on wheels in another couple of years, is a ready-made prospect for the WEC’s competitive, but not suffocating, middleweight division. (Champion Filho was overqualified to begin with.) He could improve at his own pace; get pushed without getting pushed over.

In the UFC, where there’s no such thing as the shallow end of the pool, the learning curve is going to be steep.

Photo by Sherdog.com

While attention-nabbing bouts
for Urijah Faber are limited,
the featherweight division is
stocked with young talent.

It’s a shame for guys like Rosholt, and it’s a roll of the dice for the promotion itself, which is obviously banking on Faber to stir up attention for his sub-division of prizefighting. Faber is certainly a capable athlete — too capable, having disposed of several challengers to his 145-pound title and left with only two compelling and attention-nabbing bouts remaining in the class: a rematch with Jens Pulver and an unlikely showdown with Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto.

To that end, Faber has made noise recently about moving up to 155 pounds if the situation warrants, but it’s never sound business to try and cannibalize one champion against another. And if he does, what becomes of the WEC, which ostensibly exists solely for promoting both Faber and 135-pound titleholder Miguel Torres?

Faber’s drawing power is tenuous at best: Though his fight with Pulver in June drew a record number of eyes to cable station Versus, his opponent had been seen on weekly Spike television not long before under the UFC’s umbrella. There’s talk of him headlining a WEC pay-per-view in ’09, but without a similar hook — a notable lightweight dropping a class — it’s unlikely Faber would compel an already-stressed market to shell out the cash, even with the guaranteed coaxial hype brought on by Versus.

That leaves the WEC with a high-profile headliner that doesn’t exactly have an endless line of opposition in front of him. Challenges from underwhelming contenders are fine for quarterly free television, but as a premium event, it lacks.

To fuel Faber’s career, it seems inevitable that the promotion will have to begin signing more international talent and convince a handful of lightweight contenders to cut out the carbs — even if it were for a one-off superfight. (Frankie Edgar, for one, is slight for that weight.)

Eroding contenders isn’t a problem unique to Faber: If and when Georges St. Pierre gets past B.J. Penn and Thiago Alves, he’s more or less cleaned out the welterweight division. The difference is, St. Pierre isn’t expected to power an entire promotion in the same way Faber is.

If all this reads like a Chicken Little monologue, it shouldn’t. The WEC has consistently been one of the most well-produced and entertaining fight programs on the dial. Lighter athletes who don’t need to feed 250 pounds of muscle can go for endless rounds; if anything, the excision of the bulkier classes just sheds some of the obligations to put on largely irrelevant fights. (Filho is already rematching Sonnen; Stann was set to face Cantwell again before the fight was scratched.)

Maybe it’s a good thing: With Faber’s skills towering over the others in his class, he could be embraced by a mainstream media desperate for an American MMA figurehead to hang their support on.

As for the belts in the waste bin? If it brings us another step closer to having one true world champion in each weight class, Godspeed.

And toss the WAMMA gold in there while you’re at it.

For comments, e-mail jrossen@sherdog.com

It’s good to be king.   And right now, Jamie Varner (Pictures) is the king of the WEC lightweight division. Even though he’s the champion, it’s not hard to stay motivated. The hunter is now the hunted. Yet the always-ravenous underdog is now the heavy favorite, too.

How can those labels not change a fighter’s mindset?

In Varner’s case, after he climbs one mountain, he looks for a taller peak to scale.

Fighting exclusively in the WEC 155-pound division while trying to crack the lightweight top 10 has not been easy. Instead of naysayers questioning his credentials, they are now questioning his division’s legitimacy.

Since the WEC found a home under the Zuffa umbrella, the company has crowned six champions in six separate weight classes. Although fighters such as Carlos Condit (Pictures) and Miguel Torres (Pictures) have been awarded with top 10 accolades across numerous polls, the WEC’s 155-pound class has yet to have a fighter even sniff the top 10 since the company’s reemergence.

Varner is out to prove that he is more than just a big fish in a small pond.

“I still got all the doubters out there, and that’s motivation to me,” Varner said. “All the people out there saying this guy in the UFC would beat you or this guy in Dream would kill you. I want to beat everyone that Zuffa puts in front of me and hopefully one day get my opportunity to fight a B.J. Penn (Pictures) and show the world what I’m made of.”

The next showcase for Varner is his first title defense Sunday against Marcus Hicks. Unlike his last opponent, former champ Rob McCullough, Hicks is a fighter who has the ability to knock you out on the feet just as easily as he could lock on a guillotine choke.

For the past two years, Varner has been training out of Arizona Combat Sports. Todd and Trevor Lally (Pictures) founded the gym located in Tempe, Ariz. Trevor will be in Varner’s corner Sunday and knows it won’t be long before his fighter has a permanent home in the 155-pound top 10.

“The only thing Varner has to worry about is believing that he is the guy other fighters should be worried about,” Lally said. “When he believes that, I don’t think there are very many people other than a B.J. Penn who can hang with the kid. Varner is the complete package. The only thing is that he still is young in the game, and his mind is a little young.

“Before he beat Razor Rob at his own game, he still had doubts. The kid was 23 years old and he still wasn’t sure if he belonged there. I think now he feels that belt is earned. He is a lot more confident.”

Still months away from his 24th birthday, Varner is the youngest champion in any of the major MMA promotions. His youthful anticipation nearly cost him his title victory, though, as Varner suffered from what he and his camp called a case of overtraining.

For this training camp, Varner has been forced by his coaches to pull back the reins on his iron man work ethic. Lally has reminded him daily that overtraining can be worse than not training at all.

Even when Varner is not training, he’s in the gym. Between answering questions about the Hicks fight, he’s coaching the AZCS amateur MMA team through warm-ups. Varner loves to fight, but he also has a passion to teach the sport. He is quick to put on his coaching hat when asked how he would corner one of his students versus Marcus Hicks.

“Circle to his outside foot, throw straight punches because he likes to throw looping overhands and hooks,” Varner said. “Circle to left while throwing straight punches, and if we are going to go for that takedown, take him down from the clinch.”

According to Lally, the game plan for Hicks is to “just let Varner be Varner.”

Varner might sleep in the gym if you let him.

The former D-1 wrestler at Lock Haven University has all the physical gifts necessary to succeed at the highest level. Overcoming the mental roadblocks will come with time and maturity. Yet, in reality, Varner is the more seasoned fighter than Hicks, having double the number of professional MMA bouts to his credit.

Varner’s camp would like to project the pressure on the 32-year-old Hicks’ shoulders and allow the champ to be loose come fight time.

“I do have something to lose now, but the pressure really isn’t off anymore. I’m still a hungry wolf, and Marcus Hicks is in my way,” Varner said. “Keeping the WEC title is very important to me, but I want to be recognized as the best lightweight fighter in the world. Until that happens, I’m not going to be satisfied.”

The only feeling sweeter than victory for Varner may be proving the critics wrong.

“I’m not a one hit wonder,” he said. “I want to show the world that I’m a deserving champion. What makes me a good fighter is that I can adapt. The biggest thing I’m trying to show the world is that I can evolve, and no matter where the fight goes, I can compete with the best. I’m not just a wrestler, I’m not just a boxer, I’m not just a jiu-jitsu guy. And I think with this fight with Hicks, I’ll be able to open my game up even more.”

Last time in the cage, Varner showed a striking game that few outside of AZCS knew he had. After repeated shot attempts on McCullough produced little to no results, Varner went back to his corner searching for answers. He was told to out-strike the five-time world muay Thai champion, and that’s what he did on his way to scoring a dramatic TKO win.

The victory didn’t propel Varner into the top 10, but he has a plan to climb the rankings.

“I don’t know what it’s really going to take to crack the top 10,” he said. “I see me doing the same thing Carlos Condit did — fight everybody. Beat everybody they put in front of me and do it decisively — knockouts and submissions. That’s how I’m going to get myself in the top 10.”

Current World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight Leonard Garcia was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking ring, according to a report by KCBD in Lubbock, Tex.

The 28-year-old fighter was arrested for his alleged connection with the cocaine ring.

When contacted for comment, Garcia’s manager, Sven Bean said, “It was a shock to me. It definitely came out of left field. I’ve talked with his family and I’ve had one phone conversation with his lawyer. We’re just letting him do his job at this point. Hopefully, we’ll know more as the days progress.”

According to the report, authorities arrested a total of 13 suspects after a four-year investigation into the drug ring that allegedly ran from El Paso to Hub City.

The report specifically named Garcia, identifying him as a mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran. None of the other suspects were identified in the report.

If convicted, three of the suspects could face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine, while the others arrested could face life in prison and up to a $4 million dollar fine.

World Extreme Cagefighting on Wednesday officially announced the highly anticipated featherweight showdown between current champion Urijah Faber and challenger Jens Pulver. The bout will headline the promotion’s June 1 event at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

Faber has firmly established himself in the featherweight division since capturing the WEC title in 2006 with a win over Cole Escovedo. Currently ranked No. 2 in the world with a 20-1 professional record, he faces former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder Jens Pulver, who is 8-0 at featherweight.

In another feature bout, Miguel Angel Torres (33-1) makes his first defense of the bantamweight title he won in February by defeating Chase Beebe. He faces undefeated Manny Tapia (10-0-1).

Former NCAA Division I wrestling champion Mark Munoz makes his WEC debut as part of the undercard on June 1. He brings with him a 3-0 record into the promotion’s growing middleweight division.

A featherweight bout between Top 10 fighter Jeff Curran and American Top Team’s Mike Brown is also expected on the card, but has not been confirmed by the WEC.