The 50th edition of the WEC event takes place tonight, in Las Vegas with a Bantamweight Championship fight headlining the bouts. Lets take a look at the 5 main card fights and dive into some analysis and predictions:
WEC 50 - Cruz vs. Benavidez 2
August 18, 2010
Palms Casino Resort,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Dominick Cruz vs. Joseph Benavidez
Anthony Pettis vs. Shane Roller
Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson
Scott Jorgensen vs. Brad Pickett
Bart Palaszewski vs. Zachary Micklewright
Javier Vazquez vs. Mackens Semerzier
Anthony Njokuani vs. Maciej Jewtuszko
Dave Jansen vs. Ricardo Lamas
Fredson Paixao vs. Bryan Caraway
Danny Castillo vs. Dustin Poirier
Zachary Micklewright supports an undefeated record, and his fight against Palaszewski will be his second in the WEC. He has range ans superior striking and power to put the beat down on any opponent.
Sub Swanson only sports a one fight win streak coming into WEC 50, and is looking to preserve his spot in upper echelon talent. He has sufficient stand up and ground game to beat most opponents with only 3 of his wins going to the judges.
Chad Mendes is an undefeated fighter, making his 3rd showing in the WEC. He has superior wrestling ability, good top control, and a focused game plan and uses it all to his advantage.
Shane Roller rides a three fight win streak into his bout with Pettis. He has great submission offense with 5 of his 8 wins coming via tap out. With his ability to set up take downs and the clinch, he has the skills needed to implement his game plan.
Pettis has only lost once in his MMA career (to Bart Palaszewski) and takes a two fight win streak into this match up. He prefers the striking game and can handle flashy moves and unique combinations.
Cruz holds the Bantamweight title, and will defend it against Benavidez, in the rematch of a previous fight. Cruz has not lost in his last 6 fights, and only once in his MMA career.Cruz supports a good stand up and wrestling base, as well as good cardio and power.His elite level of talent shows why he holds the belt.
Benavidez is a supremely impressive fighter, only losing one fight in his career. Sadly that loss was to Dominick Cruz, the man he is rematching for he title.Benavidez bounced back from the loss against Cruz, winning two straight including tapping out the extremely talented Miguel Torres in the 2nd round.
Anthony Pettis vs. Shane Roller
Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson
Scott Jorgensen vs. Brad Pickett
Bart Palaszewski vs. Zachary Micklewright
Javier Vazquez vs. Mackens Semerzier
Anthony Njokuani vs. Maciej Jewtuszko
Dave Jansen vs. Ricardo Lamas
Fredson Paixao vs. Bryan Caraway
Danny Castillo vs. Dustin Poirier
Bart "Bartimus" Palaszewski
Bart Palaszewski is in his second stint in the WEC, and riding a two fight win streak into this match up. Palaszewskihas good durability and can go through every round and usually survive. Palaszewski has offensive skills and the ability to out grind his opponents.
VS
Zachary Micklewright
Zachary Micklewright supports an undefeated record, and his fight against Palaszewski will be his second in the WEC. He has range ans superior striking and power to put the beat down on any opponent. Analysis: Micklewright should continue his unbeaten streak with his advantageous offense and striking ability. Palaszewski is tough, and can take a beating, and take a fight to the scorecards, but either way it seems the odds are stacked against him.
Prediction: Zachary Micklewright via 3rd Round TKO
Brad Pickett has not lost an MMA fight since mid 2007, riding a nine fight win streak into the bout against Jorgensen, though he is misleadingly nicknamed and has not scored a knockout since his punch to the body finished Antanas Jazbutis.
Scott Jorgensen brings a four fight win streak into this bout, with the hopes of contending for the title just a reach away. He has not been finished since 2006, and provides good wrestling ability, submission offense and a newly found stand up game.
Cub Swanson
Brad "One Punch" Pickett
VS
Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen
Scott Jorgensen brings a four fight win streak into this bout, with the hopes of contending for the title just a reach away. He has not been finished since 2006, and provides good wrestling ability, submission offense and a newly found stand up game. Analysis: Scott Jorgensen brings an enormous amount of talent to the table now that he has found his stand up game. He has the ability to beat you up on the feet, defend your take down, then take you to the mat and submit you. Unless Pickett gets given position for an easy guillotine (since he has big ability to capitalize there), them Jorgensen's next fight should be for the title.
Prediction: Scott Jorgensen via Submission 2nd Round
VS
Chad Mendes
Chad Mendes is an undefeated fighter, making his 3rd showing in the WEC. He has superior wrestling ability, good top control, and a focused game plan and uses it all to his advantage.Analysis: Swanson may not have the take down defense to keep Mendes from out wrestling him, taking him to the mat, and beating him up. While Mendes does not have a really ferocious assortment of ground and pound, he had the energy and control to keep the fight in his favor, and is unlikely to be submitted from the bottom.
Prediction: Chad Mendes via Unanimous Decision
Shane Roller
Shane Roller rides a three fight win streak into his bout with Pettis. He has great submission offense with 5 of his 8 wins coming via tap out. With his ability to set up take downs and the clinch, he has the skills needed to implement his game plan.VS
Anthony "Showtime" Pettis
Pettis has only lost once in his MMA career (to Bart Palaszewski) and takes a two fight win streak into this match up. He prefers the striking game and can handle flashy moves and unique combinations.Analysis: This battle of contenders is a close fight to call, with the edge going to Roller because of Pettis's self induced lack of TDD.
Prediction: Shane Roller via Unanimous Decision
Dominick Cruz
Cruz holds the Bantamweight title, and will defend it against Benavidez, in the rematch of a previous fight. Cruz has not lost in his last 6 fights, and only once in his MMA career.Cruz supports a good stand up and wrestling base, as well as good cardio and power.His elite level of talent shows why he holds the belt.VS
Joseph Benavidez
Benavidez is a supremely impressive fighter, only losing one fight in his career. Sadly that loss was to Dominick Cruz, the man he is rematching for he title.Benavidez bounced back from the loss against Cruz, winning two straight including tapping out the extremely talented Miguel Torres in the 2nd round.Analysis: Versus anyone else, Benavidez would be a given. But against the only man to dismantle him in his career, the odds outweigh him again. Benavidez victory over Torres was very impressive, but he isn't bound to have the same luck against Cruz. Anything can happen in any fight, but Cruz should retain the belt after this bout.
Prediction: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Results to follow event
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