411's MMA Roundtable Preview - WEC 38
Posted by Ryan Seymour on 01.24.2009
Affliction isn’t the only MMA event this week. WEC 38 is also on this week with a lightweight championship bout and a rematch between two of the best featherweights in Jens Pulver and Urijah Faber. Join 411’s roundtable preview of this exciting event.
WELCOME:
An exciting week for MMA fans as not one but two events will be on this week. We all know about Affliction but WEC 38 could be just as entertaining. Jamie Varner tries to defend his lightweight championship against a very game opponent in undefeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. Also on the card is a rematch of one of the best fights of 2008. Urijah Faber tries to bounce back from his big upset loss against MMA legend Jens "Little Evil" Pulver.
THE STAFF:
The MMA Juggernaut, Jonathan Solomon!
From the "Greatest MMA Column", Dan Plunkett!
From Tapping out with T-Berg, Todd Bergman!
From "The Ground and Pound, John Curry!
And of course, from The Ultimate eXperience, I am Ryan Seymour!
Featherweight bout: Jose Aldo vs. Rolando Perez
Jonathan Solomon: Aldo is 12-1 and undefeated in the WEC. Through his two fights, I know one thing, the guy has quick hands. He is tough to put away and only one man has been able to do it in his career (Luciano Azevedo in 2005). Perez is a late addition to the show as a replacement. He is 4-1-1 in his career and making his debut. Unless he comes out and is able to knock Aldo for a loop, Jose should be able to take the fight where he wants to and win.
Winner: Jose Aldo, TKO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: Thank God we can make it through an entire televised WEC card and not have to hear Joe Martinez say "somebody's o has got to go." I can't stand it when he does that. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Aldo again, and would have loved to have seen him fight Faber as originally planned.
Winner: Jose Aldo, TKO, Round 2
Todd Bergman: You really don't want to be a late replacement against Jose Aldo. He's dangerous anywhere that the fight goes and he just won't quit. Perez is a strong guy, but Aldo's reach advantage will be the deciding factor in this showdown. Punches in bunches stop this fight early in the 1st round.
Winner: Jose Aldo, TKO, Round 1
Ryan Seymour: Jose Aldo has been a very entertaining fighter so far in the WEC and has more then proven himself as being able to fight at the elite level. Rolando Perez makes his WEC debut in this fight and is relatively unknown. Aldo has won all his fights in the WEC by TKO, I see that trend continuing.
Winner: Jose Aldo, TKO, Round 3
Welterweight bout: Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Campbell
Jonathan Solomon: Villefort at 8-2, in his last fight submitted Mike Massenzio (now in the UFC) and has won three of his last four victories by submission. His only two losses have been by knockout so it's not likely this fight will go the distance. Campbell is finally making his WEC debut and has won his past three fights by KO so he stands a solid chance.
Winner: Mike Campbell, KO, Round 1
Dan Plunkett: Campbell is 4-0, with three of those victories coming by quick knockouts. Villefort was last seen submitting Mike Massenzio in the IFL. I would be surprised if this went the distance.
Winner: Danillo Villefort, Submission, Round 1
Todd Bergman: Villefort is the better prospect of the two, and I look for him to push the pace against Campbell, who really hasn't fought a high caliber of opponent. Mistakes happen when your under pressure, and I think that Villefort will get the submission victory early in the 1st Round.
Winner: Danillo Villefort, Submission, Round 1
Ryan Seymour: Danillo "Indio" Villefort is coming of a impressive victory over UFC fighter Mike Massenzio. Both are relatively unknown with Villefort being the only fighter to have a fight in a semi-big organization like the IFL. Villefort trains with the American Top Team and I expect him to give Campbell his first professional loss.
Winner: Danillo Villefort, Submission, Round 2
Featherweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver
Jonathan Solomon: You will not find me whining about this rematch. The first fight was EPIC in every sense of the word and I am glad I will see it again. Faber should be fighting like a man possessed with a desire to get his belt back. Pulver did not look too impressive in his most recent fight, a big KO loss to Leonard Garcia. It was surprising since Pulver was such a thorn in Faber's side in their fight. Pulver's will was impressive. However, I still do not think he has a game that can beat Faber right now. Unlike Mike Brown, does Pulver still possess that sheer, raw KO power? Pulver certainly will not out-wrestle Faber. With that said, I do not see this lasting to a decision. Faber's mission begins this weekend and The California Kid will defeat a legend yet again.
Winner: Urijah Faber, TKO, Round 2
Dan Plunkett: Their last fight was one of the best of the year. I'm not really fond of the matchmaking for this one, as a loss for either man would dig him in a huge hole which would take him a long time to climb out of. I'm a big fan of both fighters, and to be honest, I don't see any way Jens can win this fight other than landing that big left hand, which is possible if Urijah gets as careless as he was in his last fight against Mike Brown. Urijah showed in their last fight that he has very good boxing, and he can get the better of Jens standing. I don't really care which fighter wins, all I'm hoping for is a fight as exciting as their last one.
Winner: Urijah Faber, Decision
Todd Bergman: The booking of this fight makes my head hurt. I understand that the WEC is trying to milk Jens Pulver for all that he's got left, but this is getting pretty ridiculous. In my opinion, this fight will play out just like the last one, only Faber will finish Pulver in the 1st Round with a rear naked choke. Urijah won't be standing in this fight as he's got to protect his pretty face.
Winner: Urijah Faber, Submission, Round 1
John Curry: Man, oh Man, Oh Man. Urjiah wants his belt back. Jens wants to show he still has it. Urjiah was just KO'd. Pulver has had 2 bad finishes in a row. Urjiah was KO'd. Jens took Urijah the distance. Urijah toyed with Jens for 5 rounds. I've heard it all now. Jens has not stopped training for this fight, but one would have to ask how the birth of his child would impact his training especially considering that Faber needs to redeem himself. I have to give my boy Jens the shout out here and I can't turn my back on a friend when everyone is picking against him.
Winner: Jens Pulver, Decision
Ryan Seymour: Both fighters are coming of pretty disappointing losses but if this fight is anything like the first, you will be very entertained. Faber looked almost unbeatable going into the fight against Brown, Brown showed you that no one is unbeatable by KO'ing Faber in the first round. Faber threw everything he had against Pulver in the first fight and wasn't able to finish him. I see the same thing happening in this fight, with Faber winning in the exact same fashion.
Winner: Urijah Faber, Decision
WEC Lightweight Championship bout: (C)Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone
Jonathan Solomon: First of all, this is a championship fight so I have to give that edge to the defending champ. There are no aspects of the fight that stand out and SHOUT that Cerrone will be better than Varner. Varner has a heart that never quits and has a strong wrestling background. As we saw in the Hicks fight, he won't quit trying for that submission no matter how well you think a guy defends it. Cerrone does have an edge in the striking game, or so it seems on paper. With at least 3-6 inches on Varner, Cerrone should be able to keep some distance between the two men. However, unless he can knock Varner out, I don't think he can keep separation for twenty-five minutes and win.
Dan Plunkett: As his good friend Drew Fickett will tell you, Jamie Varner is a dangerous champion with good wrestling and stand up. Cerrone also has good stand up and submissions. This fight is going to be a war, while it probably won't be as good as Cerrone's last fight was, I see this being either the best or second best fight on the card. Both fighters like to stand, and I think it will either come down to that, or how many takedowns Varner lands. In the end, I think Greg Jackson can add another champion to his list of students.
Winner: New WEC Lightweight Champion Donald Cerrone, TKO, Round 4
Todd Bergman: This fight should be a contender for Fight Of The Year when we look back upon 2009. I really think that the edge in this fight goes to Cerrone. He showed that he could stand and bang his last time out and he's extremely dangerous on the ground. Varner has solid boxing, but I look for Cerrone to take it easy and let Varner make the mistake. This fight will go to the ground as Cerrone catches an awkward looking armbar just as he has done in the past.
Winner: New WEC Lightweight Champion Donald Cerrone, Submission, Round 3
John Curry: Wow. Great setup. Varner is a beast, the Cowboy is amazingly fast. The WEC has put together a pretty nice card and continues to have the best MMA fights available for free. I am going out on a limb and saying look for Cerrone to take this fight off the ground and finish it quickly.
Winner: New WEC Lightweight Champion, Donald Cerrone, Submission Round 3
Ryan Seymour: Varner the current WEC Lightweight Champion has looked impressive in his three fights under the WEC banner. But he is facing undefeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone who trains in one of the best training camps in thw world, Greg Jacksons camp. The ‘Nipple Tweak' could be on show in this fight as fighters from Jacksons camp who have used it are 4-0. Jackson is going to look even more impressive when Cerrone ads another title to Jacksons fighters.
Winner: New WEC Lightweight Champion, Donald Cerrone, Submission Round 1
