WEC 46 results and recaps

By Guillaume Coufleau

WEC 46 took place at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. on Jan. 10., 2009. As main event Jamie Varner and Ben Henderson faced off in a lightweight title unification bout.  Also featured on the card were former featherweight champions, Urijah Faber and Mike Brown, who fought top contenders Raphael Assuncao and Anthony Morrison.

Non televised card:

- Will Compuzano def. Coty Wheeler by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

- Eddie Wineland def. George Roop by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

- Mark Hominick def. Brian Caraway by submission (armbar) at 3:48 in round 1

- Wagnney Fabiano def. Clint Godfrey by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

- Charlie Valencia def. Akitoshi Tamura by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Main card:

Mackens Semerzier vs. Deividas Taurosevicius

Taurosevicius went for a take down early in the first round. Semerzier tried to lock him in a guillotine choke but Taurosevicius transitioned to side control, then got back on his feet. Semerzier kept his distance only using leg kicks. Taurosevicius maintained pressure on Semerzier and took the fight to the ground again but was not able to finish the fight sas the round came to a close.

In the second round Semerzier attacked with striking moves and tried a take down that Taurosevicius countered. Semerzier got the top position for a brief time but Taurosevicius got back on his feet and worked Semerzier from the top. He pounded him and landed some good strikes and elbows while remaining dominant.

In round three Semerzier suddenly became more aggressive and forced Taurosevicius down on his back for the first time during this fight. Both tried to submit each other and Semerzier almost finished with a kimura then transitioned to a guillotine choke soon after. Taurosevicius kept escaping though and got the mount seconds before the bell rang. Semerzier definitely stepped it up as the fight came to a close but it was too little too late.

Deividas Taurosevicius def. Mackens Semerzier by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Mike Brown vs. Anthony Morrison

Morrison attacked first with leg kicks. Brown took his time to feel him out, then  used his superior wrestling skills to take him down to the ground where he pounded him relentlessly When Morrison gave up his back Brown closed the deal with a rear naked choke.

Mike Brown def. Anthony Morrison by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:54 in round 1

Dave Jansen vs. Kamal Shalorus

This bout started off as stand up battle. Jansen tried to take the fight to the ground but Shalorus was determined to stay on his feet.  Jansen changed his strategy and dished out a flurry of punches. Shalorus was not holding back either and dropped bombs on Jansen ‘s chin. Although Jansen landed more punches Shalorus did visibly more damage.

In the second round Shalorus was waiting for Jansen to attack so he could counter him  with his  powerful right fists He  then took Jansen down but was not able to capitalize on it.  Jenson then increased the pace and rocked Shalorus with a good combination of fists. Shalorus countered with hooks. At the end of the second round Shalorus  still looked fresh while Jenson was bleeding.

In round three Shalorus took control of the fight by raining down heavy shots.  Jenson tried to get out of the line of fire by attempting several takedowns to no avail.  Jansen landed good knees  and defended well enough to last the entire round but the blood on his face showed who caused more damages.

Kamal Shalorus def. Dave Jansen by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Urijah Faber vs. Raphael Assuncao

Assuncao had two opponents: Urijah Faber and the crowd. The two fighters quickly locked each other in the clinch. When they separated Faber rushed at Assuncao throwing his right hand. Faber continued to press in with his aggressive and reckless style. Assuncao eventually countered him at some point and connected with some decent shots.

Faber got the first take down of this fight early in the second round. He caught him with a guillotine but it was not tight enough and Assuncao slipped out and got back to his feet. Faber charged again and took him down but he almost got trapped in a triangle choke this time. He remained in top position, though, and landed  good shots while Assuncao kept trying to escape.

Faber starts off round three with another takedown but Assuncao is prepared this time and defends well. Faber then drops him with a big straight right. While trying to get back onhis feet Assuncao  gave up his neck and Faber caught him with a rear naked choke that ended the fight.

Urijah Faber def. Raphael Assuncao by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:49 in round 3

Jamie Varner vs. Ben Henderson

Both fighters felt each other out at the beginning of the first round. Varner then attempted a takedown but Henderson was not ready to fight on the floor yet. Varner  locked a  standing guillotine that put Henderson in a very uncomfortable position but he survived  and referee Herb Dean eventually separated them. Henderson landed a good head kick and rushed at Varner who was turning back. Henderson dished out some knees from the clinch and connected with a vicious elbow just before the round came to an end.

At the beginning of round two Henderson landed good kicks while Varner  answered with his fists. Both fighters made good moves but there was an overall lack of action in this round. Varner countered a side kick with a take down but Henderson got up before Varner could take advantage of it.

In round three Henderson connected with landed punches while Varner seemed to slow down. Just when Varner thought he had Henderson in the clinch, Henderson  jumped up and locked a guillotine on Varner forcing him to tap out immediately. Henderson, the interim title holder, became the undisputed lightweight champion.

Ben Henderson def. Jamie Varner by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:41 in round 3.