WEC returns tonight for their first show since their awesome April PPV debut. This one isn't a PPV though you can check it out live on Vs Network in the US, on The Score in Canada and on Setanta Sports in Australia. Lots of great matchups on this card including the headliner former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner begins his journey to get his title back taking on the undefeated Kamal "Prince of Persia" Shalorus. If you've never seen a WEC show before do yourself and check it out. In my opinion the WEC puts on the most consistent fun to watch MMA shows in the world.
Here's the televised card with my predictions:
Bantamweight Fight (135 lbs)
Will Campuzano (7-1) vs. Eddie Wineland (16-6-1)
This one should be a great TV opener as they both are super fast and they love to stand and trade. Eddie Wineland is a former WEC Bantamweight Champion, actually their first ever Bantamweight Champ, that has really stepped his way back up into title contention with two straight wins over George Roop and Manny Tapia. Eddie won't be afraid to come forward and push the pace on his younger less experienced opponent. Will Campuzano lost his WEC debut to Damacio Page, a fight he took on short notice. After that he won a decision over Coty Wheeler. Campuzano is also taking this fight on short notice replacing Charlie Valencia.
Prediction - Eddie Wineland by TKO round 2. Campuzano will make a mistake at some point and the veteran Wineland will capitalize on it.
Lightweight Fight (155 lbs)
Chris "The Polish Hammer" Horodecki (14-2) vs. Danny "Boy" Downes (6-0)
Horodecki is a young super talented fighter that made a huge mistake in his WEC debut against Anthony Njokuani when he turned his back and suffered a highlight reel KO. Horodecki will be much more prepared for Downes and he'll be determined to redeem himself after that big loss. I've never seen Downes fight he's got 6 straight wins in regional promotions and King of the Cage and from what i've read he likes to strike. Horodecki has been known to fight on the ground from time to time but he's a kickboxing specialist so i'm expecting this fight to be a good little war. Speaking of Horodecki if you can find his IFL fight vs Shad Lierley from June 2007 check it out it was amazing.
Prediction - Chris Horodecki by TKO round 1. Horodeck is more battle tested and hungry to redeem himself after his last loss. Downes also took this fight on very short notice replacing Ed Ratcliff.
Featherweight Fight (145 lbs)
L.C. Davis (16-2) vs. Josh "The Fluke" Grispi (13-1)
This is a fantastic battle of two very well rounded potential Featherweight contenders. LC Davis has gone 3-0 so far in the WEC with decision wins over Javier Vasquez, Diego Nunes, and Deividas Taurosevicius. A win over Grispi will definitely put him one more big win away from a title shot. Josh Grispi despite his nickname is certainly no fluke. He's in the exact same spot as Davis going 3-0 so far in the WEC but his wins have all been first round stoppages including submission wins over Mark Hominick and former UFC Lightweight champion Jens Pulver and a TKO over Micah Miller. Grispi likes to finish fights FAST. He's only gone past the first round once in his entire career. He's also HUGE for a featherweight and I think works in his favor against LC Davis.
Prediction - Josh Grispi by submission round 1. Grispi is going to try his best to maul LC Davis and destroy him just like he did to Jens Pulver. And I think he'll do just that.
Featherweight Fight (145 lbs)
Mark "The Machine" Hominick (17-8) vs. Yves "Tiger" Jabouin (14-5)
Mark Hominick has fought for WEC, UFC, Affliction, TKO and everywhere in between. He's very well rounded with just as many submission wins as TKO's. Don't let his record fool you, when you consider the level of competition he's faced in his career his record is pretty good. After losing to Josh Grispi he's got two straight submissions in WEC and Affliction and he'll look to continue that roll against Jabouin. Jabouin made his WEC debut at WEC 43 losing a close split decision to Raphael Assuncao. Jabouin has a submission to his credit but he's definitely more of a striker. He'll be looking to keep this fight off of the ground for sure. If he's smart he'll stay on the outside and try to bait Hominick into a brawl.
Prediction - Mark Hominick by decision. Jabouin is going to have a hard time keeping this one off the ground. There's always a chance he can catch him with a big punch, but I think he'll spend about 75-80% of this fight fending off Hominick advancing position on the ground.
Main Event
Lightweight Fight (155 lbs)
Jamie "C-4" Varner (16-3) vs. Kamal "Prince of Persia" Shalorus (6-0-1)
Jamie Varner is the former WEC Lightweight Champion, a belt he held for about 2 years. He's very good on the ground but is also a great technical boxer. Between his title run in the WEC and his two fights in the UFC he's very battle tested and I think he'd be a top 10 Lightweight in the UFC if he returned there. Shalorus is a very gifted freestyle wrestler with heavy hands. His two fights in the WEC have made him a fan favorite because of his exciting style. He pretty much abandons the wrestling and loves to throw wild powerful punches. Unfortunately for Shalorus I think it's a bad style matchup for him if he goes that route. Although he'd be in danger of a Varner submission on the ground I think his chances are much better outwrestling Varner to a decision or somehow picking up a TKO than they are standing.
Prediction - Jamie Varner by submission round 2. Varner will pick apart the wild Shalorus on the feet and then grab a quick submission. Probably a choke.
What this card lacks in big names it more than makes up with great exciting matchups. There are several potential fights of the night here and a good mixture of styles. Don't be surprised if this ends up being one of the most exciting overall fight cards of the year.
WEC 49 preview and predictions
