Jon Jones defeats Mauricio Rua at 2:37 of Round 3 to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Urijah Faber defeats Eddie Wineland by Unanimous Decision. Jim Miller defeats Kamal Shalorus by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 3. Nate Marquardt defeats Dan Miller by Unanimous Decision. Brendan Schaub defeats Mirko Filipovic by TKO (strikes) at 3:44 of Round 3. Luis Cane defeats Eliot Marshall by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 1. Edson Barboza defeats Anthony Njokuani by Unanimous Decision. Mike Pyle defeats Ricardo Almeida by Unanimous Decision. Gleison Tibau defeats Kurt Pellegrino by Split Decision. Joseph Benavidez defeats Ian Loveland by Unanimous Decision. Nick Catone defeats Constantinos Phillippou by Unanimous Decision . Erik Koch defeats Raphael Assuncao by KO at 2:32 of Round 1.

Although I once again enjoyed the four free fights the UFC gave us as part of their ongoing “UFC Prelims LIVE” series of shows, I have to admit that my expectations were completely backwards.

I was looking forward to the Facebook stream a lot more, because it boasted bigger names and veteran talents. However, I thought Almeida, Tibau, Pellegrino, and Pyle all put on rather pedestrian affairs. They weren’t bad fights, but they definitely fell short of my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the Spike TV broadcast, which featured a great TKO win by Luis Cane and a very, very entertaining striking war between Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani.

I rarely dislike being right, but I’m not without a heart. I don’t like seeing Mirko Cro Cop lifeless on the mat. This is the second time in a row that Cro Cop has lost by KO, and I think it may be time for him to call it a career. I could possibly see Cro Cop moving down to Light Heavyweight, but I think Cro Cop’s days of being relevant as a Heavyweight are now firmly and finally over and done with, and not even the staunchest Cro Cop supporter can argue against that.

I’m glad Nate Marquardt beat Dan Miller, but I have a new appreciation for how tough Dan Miller is. I didn’t think he would be able to deal with Nate Marquardt’s power for three rounds without going down, and he proved me dead wrong. So here’s some credit where it’s rightfully due: his performance coupled with the fact that he took this fight on ultra-short notice means that Dan Miller far exceeded my expectations at UFC 128, even in losing.

With his win at UFC 128, I think Jim Miller has firmly staked his claim near the top of the UFC Lightweight division. Miller has got to be only a few fights away from a title shot, there’s just no way he’s not unless the UFC doesn’t realize what they have in him. In Jim Miller you’ve got a fighter that will fight anyone anywhere, he’ll strike with strikers and he’ll try to submit high-level Brazilian Jui Jitsu fighters. Miller has the raw talent to go very far in the UFC’s Lightweight division, and his performance at UFC 128 proves that he’s living up to his potential. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jim Miller.

Eddie Wineland is one tough fighter, but Urijah Faber proved that he still has it at UFC 128. I was happy enough knowing that Faber finally debuted in the UFC, but seeing him win and win big while still retaining his very entertaining style was one of my favorite moments of the night. I think this was a very important, very big step on the comeback trail for Urijah Faber, and I think 2012 could be the year where Faber becomes a champion again. Depending on how things shake out, we may even enter 2012 with Faber as champion.

I called it, fans and friends. I gave Rua his due, I said he could beat Jon Jones, now give me my due. This is the new era, now. Jon Jones is “the chosen one”. Like some mythical fairy-tale, the young champion has now ascended to the throne and will be the one to break “the curse”. It’s a whole new ballgame now, and Jon Jones is the best Light Heavyweight fighter in the world.

And that’s what I thought about UFC 128, fans and friends. What about you? What’s your opinion on “Shogun vs. Jones” now that it’s all said and done?

5. Donald Cerrone’s Hunt for the Triangle.

Donald Cerrone has always had an expert ground game, it’s one of the things he’s most well-known for. I along with many others thought that it would only be a matter of time before he locked something in on his WEC 53 opponent, Chris Horodecki. What I didn’t expect was for Horodecki to fight so hard not to get submitted. Cerrone hunted for and ultimately got his submission, a Triangle Choke, but he had to adjust position countless times and stay active off his back in order to finally get Horodecki to tap out. It was a prolonged, hard-fought submission battle that really displayed Horodecki’s heart and Cerrone’s vaunted ground game.

4. Dominick Cruz’s 5^th Round Performance.

Cruz’s entire performance at WEC 53 was memorable, but the fifth round in particular honestly had me thinking “What the hell does it take to get this guy tired?” Cruz set a brisk and frenetic pace, and his opponent Scott Jorgensen met him every step of the way. But while Jorgensen seemed to slow down just a tad (which is still remarkable) in the later rounds, Cruz continued to practically dance around the cage up until the final bell (which is even more remarkable). Dominick Cruz once again proved how well-rounded he is and how ridiculous his cardio is at WEC 53, and his performance in the fifth round was the clearest indication of both.

3. The Fourth Round Submission War Between Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson.

It’s hard to describe how fast these two moved in the fourth round when they both struggled to get top position and lock in some type of fight-ending submission. To best summarize: it was a long series of “blink and you’ll miss it” moments. First Henderson gets the takedown, then he gets back mount. Then Pettis rolls out, gets into Ben’s guard, and then he has back mount. They stand back up, Henderson shoots for a takedown, Pettis tries a guillotine. Henderson moves to side control, and just when you think Henderson is in the clear, Pettis regains guard and nearly secures the choke. It was one of those moments where you were out of breath just watching it, and it was far and away one of the best moments of the night.

2. The “History of the WEC” Tribute Video.

This was something for WEC fans new and old: a wonderful highlight video that beautifully chronicled the decade-long history of “the little promotion that could”. From humble beginnings all the way up to a shockingly successful Pay-Per-View event, the WEC delighted fans across the country and permanently changed perceptions around the world. The WEC’s influence on modern-day MMA cannot be understated, and this tribute video really showed just how great this promotion was. I hope it appears online, because I’d love to watch it again and again.

But of course, as if there was any doubt, the best moment of WEC 53 was…

1. The Ninja Kick from Hell.

Everyone’s debating what to call this, but I think one word sums it up perfectly: insanity. This move was pure insanity. I practically leaped out of my chair the moment I saw it happen. There’s really no way to accurately describe seeing a grown man wall-walk a cage, kick another man right in his face, and nearly KO a man many thought simply couldn’t be knocked out or even come anywhere close to being knocked out. You simply have to see this move to believe it, and trust me: you won’t regret it for a second. Far and away it’s one of the best strikes that’s ever landed in a professional MMA fight.

So there you go, fans and friends: five big reasons to watch and even re-watch what was a night filled with many memorable moments. And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the new series or WEC 53 in general?

Next for Kamal Shalorus: Look for Kamal to be given a slow start in the UFC. His WEC 53 fight was by no means his best fight or the clearest indication of his skills. Kamal actually might have to work a preliminary card or two before he gets a shot at the main stage. I think Kamal will be tested out as a gatekeeper in the UFC, but if he shirks off that label quickly, we’ll begin to see him on TV and PPV more and more often.

Next for Donald Cerrone: I think this latest win proved once and for all that Cerrone is ready, willing, and able to fight the best in the UFC. In particular, I’d love to see Cerrone tackle someone like Kenny Florian. Those two just match up so well: Florian has good hands and an under-rated ground game (most of the time), while Cerrone has a good submission game and under-rated stand-up (again, most of the time).

Next for Chris Horodecki: Another slow starter here, but I do think Horodecki will be invited into the UFC. Right now I think a drop down to Featherweight would be the best thing for Chris Horodecki to do. If he insists on fighting at Lightweight, I think he will get one or two good matches with some of the UFC’s best… but only to be served up as cannon fodder. Someone’s got to play the role of “sacrificial lamb”, and Horodecki’s entertaining style suits that role perfectly. Like Shalorus, it’ll be up to him to quickly throw off that shackle, and proving that he can will be one of Horodecki’s earliest and toughest tests in the UFC.

Next for Dominick Cruz: The man wants Urijah Faber. He’s been calling him out all the time, the second he beat Scott Jorgensen he stormed across the cage and tried to get in Faber’s face. I say: give this man the fight he wants. I think Urijah Faber vs. Dominick Cruz is an amazing fight on paper, and would sell a lot of tickets if booked in Faber’s backyard. And it’s not like Faber hasn’t been thrust back into title contention after only one win in the past.

Next for Ben Henderson: I think “Smooth” is ready for the top of the top and the best of the best. I actually think Henderson’s next opponent will be the loser of the upcoming Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard match-up. While ultimately it was “Showtime” that ended WEC 53 by carrying the gold, Ben Henderson once again proved why everyone should be taking him seriously as a top-division Lightweight. I fully believe that last night was just a temporary bump in the road. Ben Henderson is going to do great things in the UFC.

Next for Anthony Pettis: I hate to say this so soon, but I feel so strongly about it that I just have to: I think Anthony Pettis will become the UFC Lightweight Champion. Regardless of if it’s Edgar or Maynard, I think Pettis is going to unify the belts and emerge as the best Lightweight in the world. The man just mixes it all so well, his style is so entertaining and yet he’s also immensely skilled. He sets an incredible pace, has ridiculous cardio, and pulls out amazing moves on a per-fight basis. I’m a firm believer, and I’ve got both feet planted squarely in his bandwagon. Anthony Pettis is going to rule the UFC.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of WEC 53?

Anthony Pettis defeats Ben Henderson via Unanimous Decision to become the new and final WEC Lightweight Champion. Dominick Cruz defeats Scott Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision, retains his WEC Bantamweight Championship, and is crowned the first UFC Bantamweight Champion. Donald Cerrone defeats Chris Horodecki via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:43 of Round 2. Kamal Shalorus defeats Bart Palaszewski via Split Decision. Shane Roller defeats Jamie Varner via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:55 of Round 1. Brad Pickett defeats Ivan Menjivar via Unanimous Decision. Eddie Wineland defeats Ken Stone via KO (Slam) at 2:11 of Round 1. Yuri Alcantara defeats Ricardo Lamas via KO (Strikes) at 3:26 of Round 1. Danny Downes defeats Tiequan Zhang via Unanimous Decision. Danny Castillo defeats Will Kerr via KO (Strikes) at 1:25 of Round 1. Renan Barao defeats Chris Cariaso via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:47 of Round 1.

I think this event got off to a bit of a slow start, but my oh my did it all end up paying off in the end. I think a combination of factors led to the opening Palaszewski/Shalorus fight not living up to all of its expectations. For one, I think Kamal’s vicious leg kicks really hampered Bart’s style of starting out slow but getting into a great groove in the later rounds. Secondly, Kamal’s efforts to end the fight in the first ended up gassing him out. And finally, I think the pressure to secure a win in order to secure a position in the UFC also contributed to these two mostly playing it safe. But that’s not to say this was a bad fight. It was certainly underwhelming, but I remained more or less entertained throughout a majority of the fight.

Things quickly picked up when Cerrone and Horodecki had their entertaining and wild two-round scrap. As I predicted, Chris Horodecki is a good fighter, but he’s just not ready for a top-division star like Cerrone. And speaking of top-divisions stars, Dominick Cruz continues to put on amazing performances showcasing his utterly ridiculous cardio. I thought that the fact that he was fighting with a bum hand would’ve played a factor, however small, in this fight, but it appears that I was dead wrong. After this fight, I don’t think I’ll be picking against Dominick Cruz again for quite some time.

And in the main event, I honestly think we as MMA fans were treated to one of the best MMA fights of all time. The first three rounds saw all kinds of excitement, close calls, near misses, and almost-finishes, but the fourth and fifth rounds are practically without compare. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, and absolutely without hyperbole, I think the late-round wall-walk kick Anthony Pettis somehow miraculously managed to pull off, a move that seemed to be pulled right out of “The Matrix”, will go down as one of the most amazing strikes ever successfully pulled off in Mixed Martial Arts. I have absolutely, positively no earthly idea how that strike did not KO Ben Henderson. Both men seemed to have steel in their chins and a fire in their hearts that is virtually unequaled.

Is it too soon to call Henderson/Pettis one of the best fights of all time? Maybe. But, hell, right now I don’t care. I’m calling it: Henderson/Pettis is one of the best MMA fights of all time. Note to any and all future promotions: this is how you end a show. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the WEC’s best and brightest, and make no mistake, the WEC name is going to live on for a long, long time.

And that’s my opinion, fans and friends. Now that all is said and done, what did you think about WEC 53?

Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus: As a fan of the short-lived, briefly-televised, and surprisingly-impactful (considering how many of its top stars have gone on to sign with major promotions) International Fight League promotion, I’m a fan of Bart Palaszewski. I think “Bartimus” has finally found some stable ground in the WEC after an up-and-down start, and I look forward to seeing him ratcheting up a fifth straight win. Based on experience and the quality of opponents beaten, I’m predicting Bart Palaszewski wins by TKO in Round 2.

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki: As harsh as this sounds, I don’t think Chris Horodecki will ever fully emerge out of the shadow of his humiliating TKO loss to Anthony Njokuani. There’s a chance that Horodecki could beat Cerrone, but any fighter has a chance in any bout no matter what anyone says. But I just have to go with the favorite here, Donald Cerrone just got done putting on a brilliant performance and he’s proven in the past that only the best of the best can ever hope to put him away. Donald Cerrone wins by submission in Round 1.

Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen: I have a feeling that this is going to be a benchmark-setting brawl. Both men have big punching power and the chins necessary to land shots at will without too much fear of reprisal. I think it’s very, very likely that this fight will go all five rounds. And despite the fact that Cruz swears that it won’t change anything, I think the fact that he’s fighting with a bum hand will end up costing him as the fight drags on. For those unaware, Cruz is out for four to six months after this fight, regardless of whether or not he retains his championship, in order to get surgery for a lingering hand injury. Based on his impressive skills and the fact that his opponent may end up fighting with only one arm before the night is through, I’m predicting that Scott Jorgensen takes a Split Decision.

Ben Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis: Of all the fights of WEC 53, this one is the hardest one to call. Both men are just so versatile, tough, and exciting. No matter who wins, I think this fight will be a surefire entry into the “Fight of the Year” competition. My head favors the champion, but my heart and my gut tells me that “Showtime” will find a way to win. And what fun would it be if I just went with the most logical choice all the time? I’ve got tons of respect for both men, but I’m picking Anthony Pettis to take a Unanimous Decision.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Who do you think will win at WEC 53, and why?

The Event: WEC 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis”, scheduled for December 16 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The main card will be broadcast live in the Versus network starting at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the last chance to get in on the “WEC craze” before all the good fighters wind up in the UFC. I’ve supported the WEC for quite some time, I’ve basically taken up the role of town crier because of their penchant for putting on amazing shows featuring the top lighter-weight fighters in the world. The final WEC show looks to continue the trend with two amazing title fights and an undercard filled with talent.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Constant, blistering action. WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the best Lightweight in the WEC, but challenger Anthony Pettis is a close second. Both men have shown a penchant for setting a ridiculously fast pace and having the cardio to keep it going for a long, long while. Plus, both men are so well-rounded that this fight could conceivably end anywhere at any time. It’s going to be an amazing fight.

What to Look Forward to in the Co- Main Event: Five rounds of two talented men duking it out and trying to crumble each other’s granite chins. Both WEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and his opponent Scott Jorgensen are good in all the areas of the game, but far and away they’re known as good strikers with impressive cardio that know how to dominate their opponents. Considering how resilient both men have proven, this one could go all five rounds and nobody would be complaining, because both men would be looking for the KO in every round. If WEC 53 was not the WEC’s last hurrah, this could easily be headlining a show of its own.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Normally I give an entire paragraph as to why fight fans should watch this card, but for “Henderson vs. Pettis”, I only need two sentences. So here they are. One, this is the WEC’s final show. Two, this is one of the best cards the WEC has put together in a year filled with the WEC putting on amazing, fantastic shows. That’s really all you need to know. Tune in or miss out.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: This will happen very rarely in “Crash Course”, but for today’s edition I’m taking the road far less traveled: I’m not going to give any reason to not watch this card. There may be a few reasons, sure, but ultimately I think they pale in comparison to how important this card is and how much it means to all involved. The WEC deserves a fond farewell and one last big ratings bump before all is said and through, and it’s up to us as MMA fans to give it to them. Point blank: watch this card.

Closing Thoughts: I hate to see the WEC go, but I know I’m going to love its final show. I only wish I had become a fan of the WEC sooner. That’s literally my only regret in the many months I’ve spent avidly following and practically preaching about this company. I’ll be watching this one with my eyes glued to the screen, and no matter what your preferences are as an MMA fan, you should be doing the same on December 16.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any final thoughts on the WEC’s final show?

According to Sherdog, the officially confirmed, finalized lineup stands as such: Benson Henderson (C) vs. Anthony Pettis for the WEC Lightweight Championship, Dominick Cruz (C) vs. Scott Jorgensen for the WEC Bantamweight Championship, Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki, Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus, Tie Quan Zhang vs. Daniel Downes, Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller, Brad Pickett vs. Ivan Menjivar, Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone, Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr, Ricardo Lamas vs. Yuri Alcantara, Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado vs. Chris Cariaso.

The closer and closer we get to this card, the more and more I find my feelings grow conflicted. Make no mistake, I really want to see this show. I think it’s going to be another amazing event in a long line of great WEC shows. The undercard is stacked, the main card is stacked, both the main event and co-main event have serious “Fight of the Year” potential. On paper, this looks to be a late entry into the “Event of the Year” competition.

But this is the WEC’s final event. It’s one thing to talk about how many of the main WEC stars will benefit from the UFC’s increased exposure, it’s another thing entirely to definitively close the book and lay to rest an awesome promotion that pretty much changed the way I viewed Mixed Martial Arts. I’ve said this before, but it does bear repeating: one of the main reasons I have so much respect for lighter-weight fighters is because I was once one of the uninformed cynics that thought that they were just a bunch of little kids going around pretend-fighting each other. The WEC forced me to permanently get rid of my stereotype that lighter-weight fighters weren’t entertaining, and for that I’m extremely grateful.

So, yeah, I kinda do and kinda don’t want to see the WEC come to a close. I think they’re going to have an awesome final event, and I can’t wait to see my favorite WEC stars steal the show on the main stage. But I’ll miss the WEC itself: the atmosphere, the attitude, everything. It was my “little-promotion-that-could”. It was the promotion that broke ground not by shunning its cynics and catering to a small niche audience by adopting an “us versus them” mentality, but rather by putting on so many great events with great fighters that your perceptions had no choice but to change.

Looking towards the future, I think the memory of the WEC will live on for quite some time. Once the UFC fans get a taste of how entertaining and dominant the former WEC fighters are, no doubt they’ll begin to wonder where they got their start. And of course that’ll lead them right to the WEC, and with a little bit of luck, they’ll become a WEC fan. Because rest assured, I think the WEC fighters will take the UFC by storm. And while I’ll bid a fond farewell to the WEC at WEC 53, I know with certainty that the best is yet to come.

And what about you, fans and friends? As we come closer and closer to that pivotal date, what fights are you looking forward to and how will you be saying goodbye to the promotion?

Courtesy of Sherdog, the official WEC 53 event now stands as such: Benson Henderson (c) vs. Anthony Pettis for the WEC Lightweight Championship. Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Scott Jorgensen for the WEC Bantamweight Championship. Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki. Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus. Tie Quan Zhang vs. Daniel Downes. Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller. Brad Pickett vs. Ivan Menjivar. Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone. Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr. Ricardo Lamas vs. Yuri Alcantara. Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado vs. Chris Cariaso.

I’m looking forward to this event for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it follows the great chain of smartly-booked WEC shows that have given fight fans some of the best Mixed Martial Arts entertainment in recent history. All the main card and even a big number of the preliminary card bouts feature name talent against worthy opponents.

The double-championship main and co-main event only sweetens the pot and both bouts are further enhanced by how well the champions match up with their opponents. Benson Henderson is wildly exciting, Anthony Pettis is wildly exciting. Henderson can pull out a win from anywhere, Pettis can pull out a win from anymore. Dominick Cruz punches hard and can take a punch, so can Scott Jorgensen. Cruz has the cardio to brawl for five straight rounds and consistently remain a threat, Jorgensen also has very impressive cardio. This isn’t a pair of symbolic title defenses against opponents that are out of their league and in deep trouble. WEC 53 will feature two awesome champions defending their belts against two of the biggest threats the WEC has to offer them.

The other matches are positively jam-packed with goodness as well. Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki? Fists will be flying in that one, and someone is getting KO’d. I prefer to remember Horodecki from his killer run in the short-lived IFL promotion rather than the man who occupies the biggest piece of Anthony Njokuani’s highlight reel, so I’m very excited for this match. Palaszewski vs. Shalorus also features one of the IFL’s brightest standouts, and “Bartimus” has done pretty well in the WEC, so this is another exciting match-up. You’ve even got Jamie Varner, Eddie Wineland, Brad Pickett, Tie Quan Zhang, and so many others.

It’s tough to say whether or not the WEC’s final event will also be its best event. But it certainly has the potential to come close. And as we creep closer and closer to the day where the WEC is no more, now more and more I’ve come to realize just how much I’ll miss this promotion. Even with fewer events on a yearly basis than the UFC, fewer by far, I honestly felt that the WEC was beginning to catch up to the UFC in terms of quality. There may not have been a lot of WEC shows in 2010, but none of them should have been missed. And I enjoyed each and every single one of them. And nothing’s going to prevent me from tuning in and bidding a fond farewell to my “little promotion that could”.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are you looking forward to when it comes to WEC 53?

Former IFL star turned budding WEC contender Bart Palaszewski will look to enter the UFC on good terms with a potential four-fight win streak in it’s sister promotion with a victory over the tough Olympic wrestler, Kamal Shalorus.

The event, which will take place on December 16th at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona will pit reigning and defending WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson against top contender Anthony Pettis at WEC 53, which also mark’s the promotion’s final show before the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight class is folded into the larger organization.

Bart has reeled off three straight victories inside the WEC (four straight overall, with one bout taking place outside the organization) which helped snap a two-fight losing streak within the promotion against Ricardo Lamas and Anthony Njokuani, respectively. His most recent bout was a vintage Palaszewski performance, where he was able to demonstrate his punching prowess when the near 50-fight veteran knocked out Zach Micklewright in just 30 seconds in the second round, last August at WEC 50.

Shalorus, though undefeated in his career, is in need of a win here. After opening up his WEC career with back-to-back wins over Will Kerr (TKO victory in the first round) and Dave Jansen (defeating DJ by unanimous decision), Kamal was matched up against his toughest test to date when he faced former champion Jamie Varner in an exciting yet anti-climatic bout. The Iranian showed his granite chin in the bout when he was tagged by several shots from Varner, however weathered the storm and delivered some punishment of his own. Yet, illegal groin strikes delivered by Kamal caused him a point deduction, and in the end the bout was ruled a split-draw when it went to the score cards.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the match up? Bart is an adept submission fighter, but has been stifled in the past by strong wrestlers, which Kamal remains one of the best of in the lightweight division. As both men look forward to transitioning in the UFC, a strong performance will likely keep them around in the worlds largest organization. Sound off in the comment section below.

“I just broke my hand again, so I’m out for a bit,” Karalexis told Fighters.com Thursday morning.

The fight was removed from the WEC 44 fight card at the WEC website.  Fighters.com has not confirmed whether Shalorus will matchup versus a replacement or postpone his WEC debut.