Ben Henderson, the former WEC lightweight champion will be meeting with perennial contender Jim Miller at the upcoming “UFC on Versus 5″ card, which takes place on August 14 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The main-event of the evening will pit welterweights Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle opposite of one another, though Henderson and Miller could very well find themselves in the co-main event slot due to the gravity of their bout and the implications that it will carry over into the division.

In his most recent bout, Henderson made good on his UFC debut when he took on former contender Mark Bocek at UFC 129 just a few weeks ago. Henderson was able to nullify all of the Jiu-Jitsu specialist’s attacks by pressing the action with heavy handed strikes, knees in the clinch, and though he was taken down, each time worked himself back to his feet and made Mark pay for all of his offenses. In the end, Henderson won in a clean sweep 30-27 unanimous decision win across the board. The victory helped him bounce back from a disappointing loss to Anthony Pettis last December at WEC 53, where the native of Arizona relinquished his lightweight title in a “Fight of the Night” performance.

Next, Henderson will be taking on one of the best fighters in the lightweight class when he squares off against top contender Jim Milller, whom in his last few bouts has looked every bit the world beater that he’s turning out to be. Recently, Miller extended his win streak to seven in-a-row when he finished then undefeated Olympian, Kamal Shalorus at UFC 128. Jim was in his own backyard of Newark, New Jersey and in the early goings dictated the pace of the bout. Touted for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, Miller was able to show his always improving stand-up when he inevitably TKO’d the Iranian with an uppercut to jumping knee combination, followed up by ground-and-pound blows which closed out the show.

Henderson having been a former world champion and considering Miller’s recent streak, this bout could serve as a possible title eliminator down the line, though the lightweight picture is now skewed thanks in part to Anthony Pettis whom is promised a shot at the title with a win over Clay Guida come this June, in an effort to unify the WEC and UFC titles. Additionally, current title challenger Gray Maynard and champion Frankie Edgar have since been sidelined due to injury but may return as early as this Summer.

So, MMA peeps, what do you thin about this match-up? Who do you favor and do you think the winner should warrant a title shot? Sound off in the comment section below.

Next for Ben Henderson: It’ll be only the best for “Smooth” from here on out. Henderson’s tenacity, cardio, and punching power all looked very impressive in his UFC debut, as did his trademark flexibility. Henderson may fight John Makdessi next, who is undefeated and scored a dramatic spinning backfist KO at UFC 129. Other potential fighters for this year and beyond include Dennis Siver, George Sotiropoulos, and Clay Guida. The Lightweight division is still getting itself sorted out right now, so it’s hard to nail down an exact opponent, but I do think that Henderson will get a pretty big name for his next challenge.

Next for Vladimir Matyushenko: I think it’s time that Matyushenko met Antonio Rogerio Nogueira again. The two fought at an Affliction card back in 2009, with “Little Nog” winning by TKO in Round 2. But things have changed since then: Nogueira appears to be struggling to stay afloat in the super-competitive Light Heavyweight division, while “The Janitor” just got done with one of the fastest victories of his career. I think it’s time to see if “Little Nog” should still be considered amongst the 205 elite, or if it’s time for Vladimir to ascend to such a status.

Next for Randy Couture: Have we seen the last of Randy Couture? The world may never know. It would only moderately shock me if Couture waited a few years and then announced that he’d fight at 50 years old, just to prove that he could. In the near future, though, expect Couture to get offered up some kind of deal, kind of (but not exactly) similar to the deal Chuck Liddell took, which Couture may or may not take due to his film career. If nothing else, I think Couture will put the headset back on and be a guest announcer for at least a handful of UFC shows.

Next for Lyoto Machida: If Matt Hamill beats Quinton Jackson, then it’s time for the Rampage/Machida rematch so many wanted after Jackson won a controversial decision. If Jackson does beat Hamill, Machida could end up facing someone like Ryan Bader, Forrest Griffin, or Rich Franklin. I think Machida proved a lot in this fight with Couture, and I think the UFC is going to put Machida right back in the shark tank for his next bout.

Next for Jose Aldo: It’s currently rumored that Aldo’s next opponent will be Chad Mendes at UFC 133 in August. Mendes is an undefeated 10-0 fighter with two (T)KO’s and two submissions. I think it’s likely that Jose Aldo will beat Chad Mendes, and if he does, Aldo will then most likely face Kenny Florian in a bout that I think shows clear favoritism for Florian. Nonetheless, I think Aldo will beat both Mendes and Florian.

Next for Georges St. Pierre: I certainly know what I want to be next for GSP: either a super-fight with Anderson Silva or a “title vs. title” match with Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. But I know that there’s a mountain of red tape preventing both of those fights from happening. So here’s what I think is most likely for GSP: Carlos Condit. Condit will steamroll Dong Hyun Kim, and with the rumors and speculation all coming to naught once again, GSP will fight Condit near the end of the year.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of UFC 129?

Pablo Garza defeats Yves Jabouin by Submission (Flying Triangle) at 4:31 of Round 1. John Makdessi defeats Kyle Watson by KO (Spinning Backfist) at 1:27 of Round 3. Jason MacDonald defeats Ryan Jensen by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:37 of Round 1. Ivan Menjivar defeats Charlie Valencia by TKO (Strikes) at 1:30 of Round 1. Claude Patrick defeats Daniel Roberts by Unanimous Decision.

Jake Ellenberger defeats Sean Pierson by KO (Strikes) at 2:42 of Round 1. Rory MacDonald defeats Nate Diaz by Unanimous Decision. Ben Henderson defeats Mark Bocek by Unanimous Decision. Vladimir Matyushenko defeats Jason Brilz by KO (Strikes) at 0:20 of Round 1. Lyoto Machida defeats Randy Couture by KO (Front Kick) at 1:05 of Round 2. Jose Aldo defeats Mark Hominick by Unanimous Decision. Georges St. Pierre defeats Jake Shields by Unanimous Decision.

When it comes to the “UFC on Prelims LIVE” specials, both on Facebook and Spike TV, all I can really say is “Wow”. From the moment the first fight aired on Facebook (about five minutes late, mind you), we had non-stop fireworks and several amazing finishes. You know you’re in for something special when the first fight is a non-stop war that ends with a Flying Triangle submission.

From there, things got even better. John Makdessi nailed a fantastic spinning backfist to KO Kyle Watson after three very intense rounds of action. Then, Jason MacDonald triumphantly returned to the UFC after a serious injury and proceeded to put on a ground clinic before choking out Ryan Jensen. But that was only three of the four finishes we got to see on the Facebook stream of “UFC Prelims LIVE”. To top it all off, Ivan Menjivar heinously broke Charlie Valencia’s nose with a brutal elbow before finishing him.

And in the main event of the Facebook broadcast, Claude Patrick and Daniel Roberts had a pretty entertaining three-round scrap. As if that wasn’t good enough, we had a great finish from Jake Ellenberger and a landmark performance from Sean Pierson, who completely outclassed and outright schooled Nate Diaz. Pierson is definitely one of the can’t-miss prospects of the division.

Overall, this was by far the best “UFC Prelims LIVE” special I’ve ever seen. It’ll take me a few days to come to an official conclusion, but right now I can say that “Prelims LIVE” blasted ahead of the competition in the race to crown my next “dark horse favorite” and replacement to the WEC. I think I’ll be tied up with UFC 129 post-event coverage for the next several days, but sometime next week I may just officially declare “UFC Prelims LIVE” my new dark horse favorite. Stay tuned.

I was very, very, very happy that Ben Henderson defeated Mark Bocek. I think Henderson did more than enough to win all three rounds, and to be honest, I was very displeased with Mark Bocek utilizing lay and pray tactics. Henderson was clearly the better striker, by miles, and his flexibility and ever-improving ground game all but neutralized Mark Bocek. Part of me was worried that Bocek would have been gifted a decision, and that part of me was already planning a mini-tirade, but all is well now that “Smooth” has picked up his first win in the UFC.

Sometimes it’s true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks… but Vladimir Matyushenko’s old bag of tricks seems to be doing him just fine. Matyushenko has arguably never looked more impressive in the UFC, and I think this is the start of a pretty interesting comeback. With this win, “The Janitor” has now won five out of his last six, and is currently riding high with back-to-back stoppages. So where does he go from here? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that Matyushenko just put a whole lot of Light Heavyweight fighters on notice with his fantastic KO’ing of Jason Brilz.

Does it really get any better than a leaping Front Face Kick KO? That was Lyoto Machida at his best, and I think this fight set up the comeback I’ve been waiting for. Lyoto Machida is back, ladies and gentlemen, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him. When it comes to Randy Couture, there’s not too much I could say that I haven’t already said before. Randy is one of the most humble, most genuine, most amazing persons in the history of the UFC, as well as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. I hate to see him go, but I completely understand his decision to do so. Randy Couture… I’m going to miss watching you fight. I’m going to miss you a whole hell of a lot.

What a fantastic co-main event, a fight that truly displayed the tremendous heart and skill of both Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick. To be completely and bluntly honest, I would have only been slightly upset if Mark Hominick had pulled off the surprise upset. Hominick has now asserted himself as one of the best Featherweight fighters in the world, and Jose Aldo now has a giant target on his back since his aura of invincibility has taken a big hit. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Jose Aldo, and I wish nothing but the best for Mark Hominick.

And in the main event, Georges St. Pierre once again proved why he’s the Pound-for-Pound best fighter in the world. Jake Shields is arguably the toughest test GSP has ever faced, and if he’s not, he’s definitely one of the toughest. But just like so many of his other fights, GSP spent the majority of this fight utterly outclassing his opponent. There’s nothing left for GSP at Welterweight… it’s time for a super-fight with Anderson Silva.

Overall, I honestly can’t think of a better UFC event. I can’t think of an event that had more outstanding matches, more dramatic finishes, more amazing submissions, more highlight-reel KO’s. From the absolute bottom to the tip of the top, just about every fight not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them. This was a night I don’t think I’ll be forgetting for a long, long, long time. Perhaps it’s just the adrenaline talking right now, but I honestly think UFC 129 could go down as the greatest UFC event of all time.

But that’s just what I thought, fans and friends. What about you? Any thoughts on this card?

Those that have followed me for any prolonged length of time know that I’ve struggled to find a proper replacement to the WEC as my “dark horse favorite”. That’s the show/series/promotion I constantly advocate and cover in hopes that people will tune in and see what all the fuss is about, and then consequently turn into fans that start supporting the promotion in earnest. Currently, three shows are battling it out for that spot: the “UFC Prelims LIVE” events, the Bellator events on MTV2, and Strikeforce’s “Challengers” series of shows.

With seven free preliminary fights scheduled for UFC 129, all of which sound great on paper, this could be the event that finally crowns a new “dark horse favorite”. But I have to wonder: is it fair to give that sort of accolade to this sort of show? It’s still the UFC, after all… it’s just the preliminary fights.

That’s one side of the argument, here’s the other: if “Prelims LIVE” is exempt because it’s just a different aspect of the same product, “Challengers” should be exempt as well, since it’s still Strikeforce. That would leave only Bellator, and I have to wonder: is that fair, given that both “Prelims LIVE” and “Challengers” are only beginning to come out of their bubbles as the “B-shows”? And don’t forget, Bellator is struggling to emerge out of that very same bubble.

So I’m going to throw it to you, fans and friends, to let me know what you think I should do. I’ll consider every option and give honest thought to any and all responses. The question is: in the hunt to crown my next “dark horse favorite”, is it fair that shows like “UFC Prelims LIVE” and “Strikeforce Challengers” are in the running? Because with seven free fights on Spike TV and Facebook, that question is more important to me now than ever, since UFC 129’s preliminary fights may finally tip the scales in that series’ favor.

In regards to the rest of the card, I’m really excited to see Ben Henderson debut in the UFC. He’s coming off of a loss, sure, but that fight just so happened to be one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. I think Ben Henderson can go very far in the UFC. Mark Bocek will be a tough test and a real proving point for Henderson, and I look forward to seeing him bring his incredibly effective mix of cardio, speed, power, and flexibility into the Octagon.

I think I may get a little misty-eyed if Randy Couture makes good on the rumors and retires if he loses to Lyoto Machida. I know it’s very selfish of me, but part of me just doesn’t want Randy Couture to stop fighting. I just like watching him so much, and he still puts so much into his fights even at his age. He may not have had the best record in the UFC, nor was he the most dominant fighter of his time, but Randy Couture is a legend nonetheless.

When it comes to the two title fights, I’ve said so much about both of them that I’m honestly out of words. I think they’re going to be excellent fights, and I can guarantee I’ll be on the edge of my seat for both of those fights. I think the following is a pretty fitting last thing to say about these fights, so here it is: I’m just glad the wait is almost over.

And there you have it, fans and friends: my final thoughts on UFC 129. And what about you? Any last thoughts before this historic event?

Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson: Although Bocek has fought eight times in the UFC, he’s lost to some of the UFC’s top-division stars. And Ben Henderson was one of the last WEC Lightweight Champions. By the time the WEC folded, I think you could make a serious argument that their best matched the UFC’s best, in particular, I’m talking about Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson. “Bendo” is one of the best Lightweight fighters in the world, and I think he’s going to prove that at UFC 129. Ben Henderson wins by submission in Round 1.

Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz: “The Janitor” has lost one fight in his latest return to the UFC, and that was to eventual Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Matyushenko has won four of his last five, and I think he’s ready for a fighter like Jason Brilz. Brilz is very tough and has some good submissions on his record, but Matyushenko has fought his entire career without ever getting submitted. It’ll be a long, hard-fought war, but Vladimir Matyushenko will win by Unanimous Decision.

Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida: Part of me really, really wants the UFC’s ageless wonder to put together another legendary performance and defeat a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. But I just don’t think that’s going to happen. With his back against the wall, Lyoto Machida will come out with his best, and leagues better than he’s recently been. He’s had time to reflect and reconnect with what made him a champion, and I think this will be the start of Machida’s big comeback. As much as I hate to pick against Couture, I believe that Machida will win by KO in the first round.

Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick: I just can’t pick against Jose Aldo. It just strikes me as impossible. I truly think we’ve only begun to see the best Jose Aldo. With Aldo healthy and anxious to make his UFC debut, I think Mark Hominick is going to get destroyed. I don’t say that out of disrespect for Hominick, but out of the respect I have for Aldo’s killer instinct, smart technique, and ridiculous striking power. It’ll take him a round or two to find his flow and get into his groove, but sooner or later Mark Hominick will be just another victim laying on the canvas thanks to the hands and feet of Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo wins by (T)KO either in Round 2 or Round 3.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields: Much like Couture/Machida, part of me really wants to see the underdog go all the way and shock everyone. I like Jake Shields, I really do. I’ve defended him from accusations of being a boring fighter, and I’ve followed him for quite some time. But there’s good, and then there’s great. And then there’s great and greater. Jake Shields is greater than most of the great Welterweights in the world… but George St. Pierre is the greatest. By far. GSP has just been too good for too long, and he’ll have over 55,000 screaming Canadians all on his side. It will probably stand out as one of the best fights of the year, and in the end, Georges St. Pierre will win by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”?

5. Seven free fights. Seven. That’s two more than the Pay-Per-View broadcast.

A certain section of fans love to complain about how they’re not getting their money’s worth when they purchase some of the UFC’s less-than-stellar Pay-Per-View shows. To counteract that, or at least to soften the blow somewhat, the UFC routinely offers up free preliminary fights from most major cards, whether it be through Facebook, Spike TV, or even ION Television. And this one event will see all seven preliminary fights broadcast, two on Spike TV and a whopping five on Facebook. If you’re a fan of free fights (and how could you not be?), UFC 129 is a can’t-miss event.

4. Randy Couture could be fighting for the very last time at UFC 129.

There is only one Randy Couture, and there will always be only one Randy Couture. Couture is a legend, a multi-division champion, one of the best Octagon warriors to ever call the UFC home. And his dramatic comeback that started all the way back when he won the UFC Heavyweight Championship may finally be at an end. Faced with former Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, Couture may finally hang up the gloves following the bout. If only for what should be an amazing post-fight speech, this fight shouldn’t be missed.

3. Jose Aldo debuts in the UFC against feared striker Mark Hominick.

It’s time for the UFC faithful to see what all the fuss was about. It’s hard to justify hype like “the best Featherweight fighter in the world” and “currently one of the best pound-for-pound fighters”. But not only does Aldo justify that hype, he makes you feel foolish for even doubting him in the first place. But Mark Hominick won’t be going down without a fight. It’s going to be an all-out war between one of the best fighters competing today and the unlikely challenger that will try his hardest to do the impossible.

2. Georges St. Pierre defends his championship against Jake Shields.

Can anyone beat Georges St. Pierre? A lot of people say “no” to that question. But Jake Shields doesn’t think so. Jake Shields knows he can beat Georges St. Pierre, and even GSP himself knows that he’s not unstoppable. GSP will walk into UFC 129 with the odds overwhelmingly stacked in his favor, but when has that ever held back Jake Shields? There are so many things that could happen in this fight, and both men are at such a high skill level, that this fight has all the makings of an instant classic.

And the number-one reason to watch UFC 129 is…

1. It’s UFC 129. ‘Nuff said.

I’ve had a lot of time to think over this card, and I’ve spent a lot of time covering it in detail. And with every new fight covered, with all my research done, I can now say one thing for sure: this event is going to be the most important MMA event of 2011. It’s a major victory for the UFC, and in my opinion, it’s way bigger than the victory they scored when they booked an event in Abu Dhabi for the first time. This could go down as a defining moment in the UFC’s history. It absolutely should not be missed.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see UFC 129. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields”, currently scheduled for April 30, 2011 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Five preliminary fights will be shown on the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 6:00 PM ET. Two additional preliminary fights will be shown on Spike TV starting at 8:00 PM ET. The five-fight main card will be shown live on Pay-Per-View starting at 9:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the UFC’s debut in Toronto after a long, long period of legal strife. It is also the first UFC event ever to be held inside of a stadium. It will also set the record for the largest North American MMA crowd in history, with over 55,000 fans expected to fill the Rogers Centre. And to top it all off, the event features two championship bouts with two dominant champions defending against two tough challengers, in addition to what could be the last fight of MMA legend Randy Couture’s career.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Georges St. Pierre is considered the greatest fighter in the world, in the eyes of many. He’s practically revered in Canada. And as good as he’s been, Georges St. Pierre just keeps improving. We think his ground game has peaked, then he just comes out and dominates like never before. We think his striking isn’t good anymore, then he jabs Josh Koscheck at will for five rounds and breaks his orbital bone. GSP is one of the toughest tests any MMA fighter at any weight class could ever face. And in his path is Jake Shields, a multi-promotion champion with great wrestling, great submissions, good hand speed and power, and impressive cardio. Shields may be the underdog, but if there was a world out there where Georges St. Pierre didn’t exist, Jake Shields would probably be the one wearing UFC gold right now.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Jose Aldo was so dominant inside the WEC’s famous blue cage that he looked almost inhuman. He finished so many people, and the one man he couldn’t finish in the WEC just so happened to be one of the greatest Featherweight fighters of all time. Aldo is a wrecking machine disguised as a man, and he’s facing a very tough test in Mark Hominick. Hominick is fast, packs a powerful punch, and is a very cerebral striker. This is going to be a very violent fight, but it should also be a great one.

Why You Should Watch This Card: There’s not a lot more I could say about this card other than “go watch it”. It’s really getting to that point. I’m such a big fan of this card. You want free fights? You get seven. You want a good PPV card? You get five fights, two title fights, Randy Couture, and more. There’s very, very, very little not to like about this card.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I honestly can’t think of one. Some of the fights may not look all that close on paper, but anything can happen in MMA and 2010 taught us that that’s a saying that’s more true now than ever. It’s a ridiculously stacked card and you should watch it. Period.

Closing Thoughts: I can’t wait to see this card. I’ve been building it up for the past several weeks and days, but I have complete faith that it’s going to live up to its potential. This is going to be an awesome, awesome event.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to UFC 129?

Mark Bocek is one of many Canadian fighters that will be fighting in the UFC’s debut in Toronto, Ontario. Bocek entered the UFC back in 2007 and with a 4-0 record, with all four wins by stoppage: one TKO due to injury and three submissions. Unfortunately, Bocek lost his UFC debut to eventual UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. In one of the first fights that would one day lead many to refer to Edgar as “The Answer”, Edgar TKO’d Bocek in the first round with only five seconds to spare.

Since that loss, Bocek has assembled a respectable record in the UFC, going 5-3. His losses were to the aforementioned Edgar as well as to Mac Danzig and Jim Miller. Jim Miller is currently one of the best and (dare I say it) most under-appreciated Lightweights in the UFC, while Mac Danzig was the winner of the sixth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Bocek is currently riding high on the heels of a submission victory over Dustin Hazelett that earned him “Submission of the Night”.

His opponent, Ben Henderson, stormed into the WEC with a record of 7-1 and immediately established his presence. With a near-unlimited gas tank combined with a high level of both speed and power, as well as a flexibility that led many to compare him to Gumby, Henderson would challenge for the Interim WEC Lightweight Championship after only two wins inside the famed blue cage.

At that time, it was widely believed that Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone were by far the two best Lightweights in the WEC. Henderson promptly took that notion and turned it right on its head by outlasting and ultimately besting Donald Cerrone in a fight that won “Fight of the Night” and was a serious contender for Fight of the Year. Henderson then unified the WEC Interim Lightweight and Lightweight Championships with a third-round submission win over the returning Jamie Varner.

Ben Henderson then capitalized on that momentum by beating Donald Cerrone yet again, this time shocking everyone and submitting Cerrone in the first round during the WEC’s first and only Pay-Per-View event. But Henderson’s defining moment would come when he fought Anthony Pettis at WEC 53, the final event the WEC would ever run. For five straight rounds, both men put on a performance that led me to call their fight one of the best of all time. Henderson would end up losing a close fight, with Pettis finally tipping both the scales and the judges in his favor after hitting one of the most dramatic strikes of all time: a wall-walk headkick.

If you couldn’t already tell by my glowing praise, I’ve got high hopes for Ben Henderson in the UFC. I can admit that about a quarter of that reaction comes from the WEC super-fan in me, but the other three-fourths are based solely on Henderson’s brilliant performances inside the blue cage. Mark Bocek will be a tough test for him, and I have no doubt that it will be an all-out war. But I have a lot of faith in Ben Henderson, and I can’t wait to see him make his UFC debut.

And that’s that, fans and friends! Day two of “UFC 129 Complete Collection” is now over and done with. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series so far, and please stay tuned for the third and final day of this series, which takes place tomorrow and will feature big match-ups like Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick, Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida, and the main event, Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on this fight?

5. Donald Cerrone

I think this would be a great fight in all areas of the MMA game. If it goes to the ground we’ll probably see so many transitions and sweeps and counters that our heads may start spinning. If it stays standing, both men swing with authority and precision, so it has all the elements of a great brawl. Cerrone is on a two-fight win-streak and really wants to prove his relevance in the crowded Lightweight scene, while Anthony Pettis could use a good victory over a former WEC main star in order to really set the stage for his unification bout. So long as both men show up at their physical and mental best, this fight could easily approach “Fight of the Year” quality.

4. Kenny Florian

This fight would once and for all prove whether or not Kenny Florian chokes in big fights. At one time I thought that Kenny Florian would be a dominant UFC Lightweight Champion if BJ Penn simply didn’t exist. Of course I was wrong, but that doesn’t change the fact that Florian remains one of the biggest, most consistent threats that any UFC Lightweight could ever face. If Kenny Florian is a gatekeeper, he’s the MMA equivalent of Cerberus. Not only would this be an amazing fight, it would also be a huge proving point for both fighters.

3. Jim Miller

It appears as if Jim Miller just can’t catch a break. He’s only lost to Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard, he’s won his last six fights, and yet he still gets mostly middle-of-the-road competition. Miller’s intensity has really been amping up lately, since he thinks a lot of people don’t take him seriously, and against Pettis he’d likely be at his best. It would be a very dynamic, fast-paced fight, even for Anthony Pettis. And that’s definitely a fight I’d like to see.

2. Ben Henderson

Before the legendary “Showtime Kick” rocked Ben Henderson and shook the MMA world, “Bendo” was having a classic and ultra-close encounter with Pettis that just has to see a second chapter. Will history repeat itself? Would Pettis be able to land another insane kick? Would either one manage to finally lock in the submissions they constantly hunted for throughout their five-round war of attrition? All these questions would likely be answered it what would surely be an amazing second encounter.

But my number-one opponent for Anthony Pettis just had to be…

1. George Sotiropoulos

There seems to be no stopping Sotiropoulos, but then again, there seems to be no stopping Anthony Pettis. Sotiropoulos continues to improve by leaps and bounds every single time he competes, but once again, so does Anthony Pettis. I think this fight would prove once and for all who the can’t-miss prospect of the Lightweight division truly is. I don’t think any fight will ever fully measure up to what should have been the WEC/UFC Championship Unification bout, but this fight definitely comes closest.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you think Pettis should face when he makes his UFC debut?

Following a devastating loss to Anthony Pettis a little over two weeks ago at WEC 53, Henderson relinquished his title to the Duke Roufus product along with a promised number contender’s spot pending the winner of Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard III for the UFC lightweight title.

However, despite the setback Ben will move on to the worlds largest mixed martial arts organization (which has since been assimilated with the WEC promotion following the organization’s last event; both promotion’s fall under the Zuffa LLC banner) and look to reassert himself as one of the best in his weigh class.

MMAJunkie.com reports that the former champion will now meet with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whiz, Mark Bocek. The Canadian will return to the octagon to face Henderson at UFC 129, which is expected to take place at the Rogers Centre on April 30 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For Bocek, it will mark the first time that he has competed in Canada for back-to-back events under the UFC banner.

He was last seen in action in November for UFC 124 which took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, when Bocek took on the slick submission expert, Dustin Hazelett. Despite his success in the organization’s 170-pound division, Hazelett met his match when Bocek was able to spoil the lightweight return for Dustin when he submitted the Jorge Gurgel pupil with a triangle choke midway through the first-round. With the win, Bocek has now won 4 of his last 5 fights inside the UFC, with his lone loss in that stretch coming to top contender Jim Miller.

A win here is especially important for Henderson if he ever hopes to re-stake his claim as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world, a moniker he was slowly gathering with his impressive stint in the now defunct WEC promotion, where he defeated the likes of Shane Roller, Donald Cerrone (twice) and former champ Jamie Varner.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the new match up? If you give the edge in submissions to Bocek, Henderson’s underrated wrestling ability cannot come into question. Who do you think will walk away the victor come April? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here are the highlights from an interview Pettis recently had with MMA Weekly: “I’m going to go back home Monday and we’ll figure out both styles and whoever wins the [Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard] fight, I’m going to have to fight either one of them, I think I’ll fight both of them eventually. I want to be the best in the world. That’s the place to do it at.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really do think that Anthony Pettis will emerge as the UFC Lightweight Champion once all is said and through. And it’s not just because I find him so entertaining, which of course I do. It’s because he has the uncanny ability to entertain while still approaching his fights with a very cerebral, technical mindset. He may have tried something crazy, but the reason he tried it was sound: he knew he had to do something big in order to definitively win the fight. And Pettis did have the courage to try something big: he landed something that’s usually only seen in movies and video games. Pettis seems to grow by leaps and bounds on a per-fight basis, and I think this win over Henderson was a massive learning experience for him.

Looking forward, the toughest tests of his young career certainly do lie ahead, and that’s said with absolutely no disrespect meant towards the talented men “Showtime” has beaten in the past. Whether it’s Gray Maynard or Frank Edgar, Pettis is in for a long fight against a fantastic wrestler. Frank Edgar truly is “The Answer”, he’s not particularly amazing at one thing but manages to mix everything together so well that he’s emerged as the undeniable best Lightweight on the planet. Meanwhile, Gray Maynard is an incredibly dominant wrestler who’s shown outright disdain for his opponent’s strengths and has fully lived up to his nickname “The Bully” in the countless fights he’s had where he completely shuts down his opponent’s offense and literally bullies them around the Octagon.

So, can Anthony Pettis really beat Gray Maynard and Frank Edgar? The possibility certainly exists. His ground game is very good, he nearly submitted Ben Henderson several times. It just so happens that “Smooth” seems to be a human Gumby. Against stocky wrestlers like Frank Edgar or Gray Maynard, Pettis may be able to grab hold of something whenever the fight inevitably winds up on the ground. And the “Showtime Kick” proves that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Pettis’ potential as a striker. I think big, big things are in store for Anthony Pettis, and I can’t wait to see him debut in the UFC.

But what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Anthony Pettis and his chances in the UFC?

In the main event of the evening, Anthony Pettis shocked the world when he displayed devastating arsenal of striking techniques which culminated in a highlight reel head kick knockdown executed by “Showtime” launching himself from the cage and landing the maneuver mid-air on former champion Ben Henderson, before a ruckus crowd in Glendale, Ariz.

While Pettis’ star shined the brightest in his lightweight title clash with the hometown favorite in Henderson, several others displayed a varied array of skills that netted them an additional ten thousand dollars for their efforts.

While Henderson was dethroned at WEC 53 before his fellow Arizonians, himself and the newly minted WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, 23, picked up “Fight of the Night” honors for their five-round war of attrition, and added an additional ten-thousand to their total purse. The victory also helped Pettis cinch the number one contender’s spot for the UFC’s 155-pound title.

Former bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland may not have been featured on the nights televised portion of the event, however the 135-pounder made a lot of noise with another knockout victory to add to his already impressive résumé when he took care of newcomer Ken Stone inside of the first round. Although it wasn’t a traditional Wineland knockout culminating with his fist punching face, however when push came to shove, Eddie slammed Stone when the opportunity presented itself. The impact of the slam left the WEC newbie his Ken unconscious and as a result, Eddie picked up “Knockout of the Night” for his work.

Finally, former WEC lightweight contender Shane Roller made an impressive finish in his final bout with the UFC sister promotion when he submitted former champion Jamie Varner. The Marc Laimon protege in Roller, was able to survive an early scare when he was knockdown by Varner. Immediately, Shane went back to his wrestling roots, eventually taking Jamie to the mat and quickly secured back mount, and eventual the rear-naked choke finish. In under four minutes of the opening round, Roller picked up arguably the biggest win of his career, as well as the event’s “Submission of the Night” award.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of the final WEC show? Memorable at worst, and all in all a great way to cap off these spitfires ascension into the UFC, where they were surely face stiff competition, though will definitely hold their own. Sound off in the comment section below.

Why can Anthony Pettis win tonight over WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson?  Well, as his trainer Duke Roufus told us in his audio interview on Fighters.com yesterday, Pettis has the heart of a lion and a left head kick for the ages.  In this WEC 53 video prep segment, Pettis was only 5 weeks out of shoulder surgery, back in March 2008, when he fought Mike Lambrecht.  At the end of this video you can see Pettis’ hanging shoulder in pain.  But first, watch the amazing end to this bout.  If you want to jump to the finish go to the 4:35 mark in the video.  Stunning!

Click through to watch the video.

Click through for the audio interview.

Click through for the Fighters.com Radio interview with Duke Roufus.

The winner between Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson will not only move into the UFC following the WEC’s last event in December due to the merger, however, the winner will also go on to unify the WEC title with the UFC’s.

The move can be likened to when dual champion Dan Henderson made his way over to the organization after the acquisition of PRIDE, and unified both his welterweight (183-pound title) and middleweight title (205-pound title) with the UFC’s middleweight and light heavyweight belts, against Anderson Silva and Quinton Jackson, whom were both successful in assimilating said titles within the organization.

Now that both Pettis and Henderson have the opportunity not only to become UFC fighters but potentially champion’s, it’s a big deal to say the least. And nobody knows that more than these two.

“I was speechless (when I heard the news) this morning. It’s crazy,” said the lightweight title challenger while speaking with Sherdog.com.

“I was training hard, but now I’m pushing even harder. There’s so much to look forward to in this next year.”

For Henderson, the current WEC lightweight champion, the pressure is all on him. Having already successfully defended his title against rival and friend Donald Cerrone in his last performance at WEC 48 last April, submitting Donald inside of the first round. To date, “Smooth” is the only man to finish “Cowboy” in his mixed martial arts career. Should he retain his title against Pettis, he will go on to vie for the UFC championship against the winner between January’s tussle pitting current champion Frankie Edgar against foe Gray Maynard.

“It would mean a lot [to become the UFC lightweight champion],” said Henderson to the Sherdog.com crew.

“It’d be a dream come true. I want to be the best on the planet, so I’ll probably eventually fight both guys. I want to beat everybody — not my buddies, but everybody else.”

So, MMA peeps, who do you think will come out the victor of each respective bout? Do you think Edgar and Henderson will retain their titles and eventually meet in 2011? Or will Pettis and Maynard upset the champions and vie for the unification bout? Sound off in the comment section below.

Frankie Edgar, currently recognized as the UFC’s lightweight champion will be defending his title on January 1 at UFC 125 against rival Gray Maynard. Meanwhile, WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson will look to defend his title for a second time when he squares up with the ultra-talented Anthony “Showtime” Pettis at WEC 53 in December.

So, what does it mean when you have two champions being absolved into one weight class?

Well, they would have to fight, of course.

Zuffa was bound to run into this problem sooner or later. A featherweight and bantamweight class did not exist prior to the merger, so to determine a “true champion” was never the case, until now.

Both fighters, Edgar and Henderson, have been dominant within their respective promotion’s, however will arguably face their toughest tests to date when they meet their adversaries, inching close to the new year and a new beginning.

Frankie Edgar, the reigning UFC lightweight champion will meet the only man to defeat him in his mixed martial arts career, undefeated wrestling powerhouse Gray Maynard. Maynard is recently coming off of a decision victory over former two-time title challenger Kenny Florian at UFC 118, in Florian’s own backyard.

Edgar, meanwhile, is coming off of his second consecutive victory over BJ Penn at UFC 118 as well, putting to bed any controversy that their original bout at UFC 112 garnered by thoroughly dominating Penn from bell to bell, en route to a unanimous decision victory, winning every round on the judges score cards.

Henderson has remained undefeated in his WEC career in his last performance, when he was able to submit the durable Donald Cerrone, inside of the first round of his first title defense at WEC 48 last April.

Pettis, is riding a three-fight win streak in the WEC promotion, none of which have gone the distance. After a shaky start in his lightweight match with powerful wrestler Shane Roller, Pettis was able to eventually submit the Texan with a third-round triangle choke, which set him up for his shot against Henderson.

The winner of each respective match up will vie the UFC’s undisputed title sometime in 2011, unifying the titles in what will turn out to be an exciting turn of events.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

“Cowboy” can overcome some of his mental hurdles that have plagued him in the past, and he really hates Jamie Varner–like, REALLY.

While Cerrone has vied for the lightweight title on three separate occasions, twice against Ben Henderson (the current WEC lightweight champion) and nemesis Varner–his bout with Jamie was not about positioning himself as a top contender once again in a crowded weight class, but rather settle the score against a man whom has been a thorn in his side for nearly 2 years.

In the early goings of the co-main event of the night, just behind the featherweight title fight pitting champion Jose Aldo against top contender Manny Gamburyan, Cerrone was able to control the pace of the fight from the get-go. Rocking Varner early and often, Donald established himself as the alpha male in the cage, commanding the center and firing away with chopping leg kicks that Varner, the former WEC lightweight champion, simply had no answer for. After dropping him twice in the first, Jamie’s heart shrink little by little once the Greg Jackson product was able to take down the collegiate wrestler on several occasions in each round, where eventually he was able to secure the unanimous decision victory. While both men showed respect towards the end of the fight with a general touch of gloves and a short exchange of words, another fight almost ensued once Donald denied Varner a “bro-hug”–but tempers cooled soon after.

With obvious disdain for one another, but amicable respect, Cerrone did the righteous thing and offered Varner a rematch.

Donald, the Denver native who was the hometown favorite in Broomfield, Colorado, offered Jamie a rematch in his home state of Arizona, which Varner obliged and asked for a December showdown, post-loss.

While Reed Harris, the General Manager of the WEC, inevitably gave his celebrated “I’m going to sit down and talk to Sean Shelby” speech, he did speak somewhat of a different tune.

“I’d have [Cerrone and Varner] fight every show the way these guys fight,” Harris said during the post-fight press conference. “That was an absolutely exciting, outstanding fight, and I’d love to see it again.”

While all three parties agree, looks like we’ll be seeing a rematch in the future, though no date is certain and no one truly knows what looms ahead for either competitor.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of the fights last night? Did Varner and Cerrone deserve “Fight of the Night” honors? Who do you favor in the rematch? Sound off in the comments section below.

In an interview with SB Nation, Gray Maynard said the following: “Who is stopping them? Name a name and I’ll bow down, but who is stopping these guys? That’s why I can’t pay attention to these people. If you’re a true sports fan who enjoys MMA and really try to understand it, you’ll get it. Look at Edgar. He’s only ever lost to myself. Huerta has never been stopped. Pretty much the same thing with Nate Diaz. Florian did get stopped by Penn, but you see what I mean. It’s an excuse, but that’s just how it is. I’m asking for the top guys. The decisions are just part of it.”

I agree with Maynard in theory, but not in practice. I think getting a decision win should absolutely not be held against you. You did your job, you won your fight, you deserve your acclaim. How backwards does it sound that fighters who tough it out and fight hard all three rounds are getting ostracized like they had a Scarlet Letter? Fighters should be praised for having the cardio, mental fortitude, toughness, and heart to go the distance, and those that do so and still dominate their opponents deserve even more praise. That’s the theory.

In practice, though…people want to see fights finished! You simply can’t ignore what the mainstream wants, and the mainstream wants to see awesome KO’s or slick submissions. We’ll even settle for a wild brawl or an active ground game. But these no-stoppage shut-outs are unappealing to fans who crave action in their sports. You can call it backwards thinking all you like, but the mainstream MMA fan holds true to one core belief: “intricacies be damned, we’re here for a fun show”. There will always be fans, especially MMA fans, that go in just for the blood, guts, and glory. You can hold your head high with the knowledge that true fans appreciate what you do and respect your ability to do it, but at the end of the day, exciting fighters sell Pay-Per-Views.

Perhaps this wouldn’t even be such a big issue if Maynard was correct in his belief that most Lightweights don’t finish their fights. But that’s the thing: they do! There are a lot of Lightweight fighters (and fighters that had runs at Lightweight) known for their stoppage victories: Kenny Florian, BJ Penn, Sean Sherk, Shinya Aoki, Jamie Varner, Donald Cerrone, Ben Henderson, Josh Thomson, KJ Noons, Anthony Pettis…just to name a few! They may not dominate the division, but they’re out there.

I’ll make one thing clear before I go: I don’t have a problem with Gray Maynard. I think he’s a fantastic athlete, and I think his rematch with Edgar will be far more entertaining than what any of the doomsayers are predicting it to be. I just don’t like that Maynard answered the question of why he doesn’t finish anybody with another question, which was “Does anybody finish anybody at Lightweight?” Because the simple answer is: yes. Yes they do. And if you really want people to stop calling you boring, why not try and finish a fight every once in a while? It couldn’t hurt.

And what do you think, fans and friends? How important is it to you that fighters finish fights, and are you excited for Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2?

In the main event of WEC 51, WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will take on the runner-up to the fifth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter” Manny Gamburyan with the championship on the line. Aldo has been a man possessed in his run to the top of the Featherweight division, having lost only one fight in his six-year career, with eleven of his seventeen career wins coming by way of (T)KO. Most recently, Aldo put on a near-shutout performance against former long-reigning WEC Featherweight Champion and WEC posterboy Urijah Faber in the main event of the WEC’s first-ever Pay-Per-View. Manvel Gamburyan has earned his nickname “The Anvil” with his spirited performances both in the UFC and the WEC, and since dropping down to Featherweight in 2009, Gamburyan is on a three-fight win-streak.

The next chapter in the war between Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone will be written at WEC 51, as the two men are set to lock horns for a second time. Both Cerrone and Varner are no stranger to the WEC Lightweight Championship, with Varner being a former Lightweight Champion and both men having competed for the championship in their recent fights. Both men need a win in a big way, with Varner coming off of a split-draw with Kamal Shalorus while Donald Cerrone is coming off of a loss to Ben Henderson. With the desire to get back into the W column as well as the already-fierce hostility these two have shown towards each other, this should be one of the best fights of the night.

Miguel Torres will also be making his return at WEC 51 against Charlie Valencia. For the first time in his career, the former long-reigning WEC Bantamweight Champion and Pound-for-Pound darling is on the wrong side of a two-fight losing streak, with many beginning to seriously question whether or not the Bantamweight division has finally caught up with him, and maybe even passed him by. Charlie Valencia is going to be a tough test and should be a good win, as he’s coming off a three-fight win-streak.

And there’s still more action to come, with big name, former champions, and incredible athletes. Here are the other announced match-ups that have been officially signed for WEC 51: Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick, Mike Thomas Brown vs. Cole Province, Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff, Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop, Diego Nunes vs. Tyler Toner, and Antonio Banuelos vs. Chad George.

This event is so star-studded that I honestly think it may even top WEC 48 as the best WEC event of the year, possibly the best MMA event in 2010 period. I can’t wait to see people like Leonard Garcia, Mike Thomas Brown, Chris Horodecki, and “The Korean Zombie”, Chan Sung Jung. Add to that a huge championship fight, a huge grudge-match, and the do-or-die scenario of Torres desperately needing to get back in the win column, and you’ve got the makings for a stellar event.

But what do you think, fans and friends? How excited are you for WEC 51?

The WEC has a big problem moving from Versus to pay per view.  Why would I pay to watch an Aldo-Faber matchup I’m used getting for free on Versus?

It’s similar to the problem newspapers are having transitioning to the Internet.  I’m used to getting news for free.  Why should I pay now?

The UFC, which shares Zuffa, LLC as its parent company with the WEC, has successfully differentiated their PPV product from their SpikeTV product.  There are fights I know I will never see on SpikeTV under the UFC’s current PPV-focused business strategy.  Second-ranked heavyweight and UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) versus third-ranked Frank Mir (13-4) will never be a UFC Fight Night main event.

The UFC has shown Europe-staged events for free on SpikeTV, but lately those cards have been weaker than the PPV cards anyway and the UFC has successfully presented it as an occasional special gift to fans.  A treat!

But, Aldo versus Faber isn’t a treat. It could just as easily be a main event on the next Versus-televised fight card, and I could watch it for free.  So, the proposition the WEC seems to be presenting to me as an MMA consumer is, “Come on!  Give us $44.99 just this once!”

Admittedly, WEC 48 will group together the Aldo-Faber title matchup with another WEC on Versus potential main event, WEC lightweight champion “Smooth” Ben Henderson (10-1) versus “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (10-3).

But, again, this differs from the UFC’s successful model because it’s just two Versus-caliber main events on the same card.  There’s no added value that convinces me to pay $44.99 for two fights I’m used to getting for free.  The UFC’s added value on the PPV events are fights and fighters I’ll never get to see live for free.

Even if the WEC starts segregating PPV fighters, like Aldo and Faber, from its Versus cards, they don’t have the depth of talent to continue producing a quality free product on Versus or an immediate vehicle to begin marketing fighters.  Most of the UFC Fight Night cards are populated with fighters who’ve built audiences on SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter reality contest.  WEC’s second tier fighters aren’t popular enough to guarantee the same viewership on Versus if the popular fighters are taken off the Versus cards in favor of the PPV cards.  And, the WEC doesn’t have a vehicle like TUF to market those second tier fighters.

So, are you going to pay $44.99 to watch Aldo-Faber, Henderson-Cerrone?  Honestly, I don’t think I will.

Henderson had held an interim title since defeating “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (10-3) at WEC 43 in San Antonio October 10.

Varner had controlled the first two rounds with aggressive stand-up and stated after the fight, “I came to fight.  Ben was the better man. He caught me in a guillotine. He’s a studly dude. I wanted to box…he wanted to kick.  Shit happens. I was winning that fight. All he was doing was throwing were 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.”

But, as Varner shot in round three, he ate a big Henderson knee.  As Varner stumbled from the knee, Henderson wrapped the guillotine choke around Varner’s neck and squeezed until Varner tapped out.

Henderson will likely rematch Cerrone for his first title defense.

“He’s a tough dude,” Varner said of Henderson. “But I’m the champion for a reason. I have nothing but confidence going into this fight.”

Returning to the cage for the first time since his clash with “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (9-2) in January, Varner says he’s healthy and determined to take sole possession of the world title.

Following the win to earn the interim title last year over Cerrone, Henderson hungrily seeks the unified title too.

“I think Jamie and I match up pretty well,” Henderson stated. “I’m ready to leave it all in the cage and win the undisputed championship.”

WEC 46 also brings the return of former WEC featherweight champ ”California Kid” Urijah Faber (22-3) as he faces talented grappler Rafael Assuncao (13-1).

“He definitely has some dangerous tools in his arsenal,” Faber stated. “But I think I will have slight advantages in every category of the fight.”

In response, Assuncao said, “A win puts me in line for a shot at the belt.  I always had a feeling that I’d fight Urijah one day and I’m glad it’s going to happen on January 10.”

Tickets for WEC 46 go on sale Saturday, November 7 at 10 AM PT.   WEC 46 will be televised live in the United States on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT.

Henderson consistently put Cerrone on his back while swinging power shots from top position and avoiding an arm triangle in round four and a Kimura in the final round.

Henderson and WEC lightweight champion “Worm” Jamie Varner (16-3) will now fight to consolidate the titles.

Lightweight Dave Jansen (14-0) won a three-round UD over “Cleat” Richard Crunkilton, Jr. (16-3) by judges’ scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice.  Jansen was debuting in the WEC.

Featherweight “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (12-5) fought ferociously in his WEC debut, but Rafael Assuncao (13-1) eeked out a split decision victory by judges’ scores of 30-27 and 29-28 for Assuncao and 30-27 for Jabouin.

Bantamweight “Angel of Death” Damacio Page (10-5) tapped out WEC newcomer William Campuzano (6-1) in a rear naked choke at 1:02 of round one.

Lightweight Anthony Njokuani (10-2) TKO’d Muhsin Corbbrey (6-4) when the referee stopped the fight at 1:42 of round two.

Bantamweight “Young Guns” Scott Jorgensen (6-2) TKO’d The Ultimate Fighter 5 contestant Noah Thomas (14-7) at 3:13 of round one.

In a featherweight upset, Mackens Semerzier (5-0) tapped out BJJ ace and 145-pound contender Wagnney Fabiano (12-2) in a triangle choke at 2:14 of round one.

Bantamweight Eddie Windeland (14-6-1) won a three-round UD over “Mangler” Manny Tapia (10-3-1) by judges’ scores of 30-27 three times.  Tapia has lost both fights since his WEC bantamweight title challenge versus Miguel Torres (36-2) at WEC 37 in Las Vegas last December.

Bantamweight Charlie Valencia (11-5) won a three-round unanimous decision over “Ox” Coty Wheeler (9-1) by judges’ scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice.

Lightweight Deividas Taurosevicius (11-3) won a controversial three-round split decision over “Showtime” Javier Vazquez (13-4) by judges’ scores of 29-28 twice for Taurosevicius and 29-28 one for Vazquez.