411's WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber II Report 6.07.09

Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 06.07.2009

Mike Brown retained his WEC Featherweight title by defeating Urijah Faber by Unanimous Decision in Faber's backyard. Elsewhere, Jose Aldo earned a title shot by knocking out Cub Swanson in 8 seconds and Jens Pulver possibly stepped into the cage for the last time, losing to Josh Grispi via first round submission. Click for the full WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber II Report for all the details!

WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2
From the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California
Live on VS.

-Opening video highlighting the four main card fights.

-Our hosts are Todd Harris and Kenny Florian. They run down the main card and talk about the importance of Pulver's fight in term of his future in the sport.

-Video preview for Pulver vs. Grispi

Featherweight Fight: Josh Grispi (12-1) vs. Jens Pulver (22-11-1)

Round One: Left hook by Grispi. Pulver goes for a takedown and leaves his neck out. Grispi grabs a guillotine choke. Pulver holds on and fights it but ends up tapping out.

Official Decision: Josh Grispi by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at :33 in Round One

-On replay it looks like Pulver was inches away from getting his head out.

-"I'd boo me to if I was fighting Jens" says Grispi.

-Jens announces his retirement. He doesn't make it completely official but he says "I started here and I think I just ended it here." Harris thinks it's just Pulver talking in the heat of the moment. Pulver says he loves the crowd and the sport. He now says, "I'm not saying I'm done yet but it's been an incredible run."

-Interviews with Brian Bowles and Miguel Torres. Bowles says he's fine coming off his injuries and he feels good. Torres says he feels fine after the war he had with Mizugaki. The fight is on August 9th.

-Video preview for Cerrone vs. Krause.

Lightweight Fight: James Krause (10-0) vs. Donald Cerrone (9-1, 1 NC)

Round One: Body kick by Cerrone as Krause goes for a takedown. Straight left by Cerrone. Krause gets a body lock takedown. Cerrone goes for a triangle but Krause pulls out. Cerrone gets to his feet but Krause gets another takedown. Cerrone goes for an omaplata. He uses it to sweep and get into the guard of Krause. Krause goes for a heel hook but Cerrone pulls out and up to his feet. Krause grabs a single but Cerrone blocks it and gets a guillotine choke. Krause gets out and Cerrone catches him with a knee. Straight right by Cerrone drops Krause. Cerrone pounces on him and gets the back of Krause. He tries to flatten him out. He does so and locks in the rear naked choke. Krause taps out.

Official Decision: Donald Cerrone by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:38 in Round One

-Cerrone says he's working on his takedown defense. He wants to fight Varner again.

Bantamweight Fight (Preliminary): Scott Jorgensen Vs. Antonio Banuelos

Round One: Big right hand by Banuelos gets Jorgensen backing up. They clinch and Banuelos gets the takedown. Banuelos gets the back of Jorgensen as he goes to stand but can't control him and Jorgensen escapes. They clinch again. Big left by Banuelos as they break. Jorgensen is wincing. Good combo by Banuelos but Jorgensen answers with a right hook. Another clinch and a break. Jorgensen shoots but Banuelos sprawls. Good combo by Jorgensen as he stands after the shot. Counter left by Banuelos. They clinch and Jorgensen hits some knees to the body. The round ends. 10-9 Banuelos.

Round Two: Good one-two by Banuelos. They clinch and Banuelos drops for a double. Jorgensen sprawls out and goes for a guillotine but Banuelos stands to escape. Elbows in the clinch by Jorgensen. Jorgensen always lands a knee to the body in the clinch. Uppercuts by Jorgensen in tight. Right hand by Banuelos. Straight right followed by a right uppercut by Jorgensen. Clinch and more knees to the body by Jorgensen. Good combo by Jorgensen. Jorgensen scoring with the left hook. Jabs by Jorgensen. Big right followed by a body kick by Banuelos. Good left hook by Banuelos. Round ends. Very close round. 10-9 Jorgensen.

Round Three: Big flurry by both fighters to start the round. Jorgensen getting the better of the exchanges. Banuelos goes for a single but Jorgensen gets a guillotine. Banuelos turns and gets out. They both stand. Jorgensen dominating the stand up now. And as I type that Banuelos lands a big left hand. Jorgensen scoring over and over with the jab. Cut on the cheek of Banuelos. Big knee in the clinch by Jorgensen. Jorgensen putting his combos together nicely and scoring. Banuelos goes for a takedown but Jorgensen sprawls. Jorgensen switches and gets the back of Banuelos. He has no hooks so Banuelos stands. Jorgensen still has his back on the feet. Jorgensen switches to a single and gets the takedown. Jorgensen gets an anaconda choke but Banuelos spins out. Banuelos on his back with Jorgensen standing above him as round ends. 10-9 Jorgensen.

Official Decision: Antonio Banuelos by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

-Video preview for Aldo vs. Swanson.

Featherweight Fight: Cub Swanson (13-2) vs. Jose Aldo (14-1)

Round One: Flying knee by Aldo to start and Swanson is out. Aldo lands a punch or two before the ref steps in.

Official Decision: Jose Aldo by TKO at :08 in Round One

-Aldo says he doesn't think he's the most powerful but he's here for his goal.

Bantamweight Fight (Preliminary): Rolando Perez Vs. Seth Dikun

Round One: Dikun scoring with the right hand. Body kick by Dikun is caught and then Perez throws him to the ground. He lets him back up. They clinch against the cage. Dikun jumps into a triangle choke. The choke looks tight. Perez survives for a long time. Perez tries to slam out but can't. He holds the choke for over a minute. Elbows by Dikun. Perez taps out.

Official Decision: Seth Dikun by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:30 in Round One

Lightweight Fight (Preliminary): Mike Campbell Vs. Anthony Pettis

Round One: Campbell catches a head kick but as he goes to pick him up, Pettis grabs a guillotine. Campbell survives and slams him down to escape the hold. Pettis goes for a triangle and then an armbar but Campbell escapes. Campbell in the guard of Pettis. Campbell tries to throws the legs aside to pass but Pettis blocks it and locks in a triangle choke. It's tight. Campbell taps out.

Official Decision: Anthony Pettis by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:49 in Round One

-Recap of Brown defeating Faber to win the Featherweight title.

-Florian breaks down Faber vs. Brown. Brown has a big right hand is confident while Faber needs to stay discipline.

-Video preview for Faber vs. Brown

Featherweight Title Fight (Main Event): Urijah Faber (22-2) vs. Mike Brown (21-4) (c)

Round One: They clinch. Faber's back on the cage. Elbow by Brown as they break. Head kick by Faber. Left and right by Faber. Brown shoots. Faber grabs a guillotine. Brown pulls out and is on top of Faber. Brown has his back but can't get a hook in. Faber stands but Brown still has his back. Big knee by Brown. Faber spins out and lands some knees. They break. Brown cut on the left eye. Right hand staggers Brown. Faber jumps for something and Brown knocks him down. Brown has side control. Faber spins to sprawl position. Headlock by Brown. Brown going for a guillotine but Faber won't allow it. He escapes and they stand. The round ends. 10-9 Faber.

Round Two: Big right hand by Brown followed by an uppercut. Body kick by Faber. Big right by Brown and then he gets the takedown. Side control by Brown. Elbows from the top. Faber gives up his back and Brown spins to a front face lock. Faber stands but Brown has his back. Back elbow by Faber but Brown gets the takedown and has side control. Faber sweeps but Brown gets back to his feet. They clinch and break. Front kick by Faber. Faber tagging him with the left hook. Brown with another takedown. Faber back up. Another left by Faber. Round ends. 10-9 Brown.

Round Three: Body shot by Faber. Jumping knee by Faber. Faber swings with an elbow but almost gets caught in a guillotine. Brown can't finish it but has the back of Faber. Brown with short punches on top. Faber stands and lands good elbows in tight. Left hook by Faber. Right elbow followed by a knee by Faber. They clinch with Faber's back against the cage. Brown drops for a double but Faber sprawls. Brown goes for a heel hook. Faber pulls out and lands a back elbow on the way up. Big right hand by Brown. Left hook by Faber. They clinch. The round ends. 10-9 Brown.

Round Four: Body kick by Faber. Front kick by Faber. Dirty boxing by Brown. Left staggers Brown a bit. Right elbow by Faber. They clinch. Elbow by Brown as they break. Elbows in tight by Faber. Body shot by Brown. Faber throwing nothing but elbows as his right hand seems to be broken. Dirty boxing by Brown. Knee by Faber. They clinch. 10-9 Brown.

Round Five: Body kick by Faber. Knee in the clinch by Faber. Takedown by Brown. Faber back up and scores with an elbow. Left hook by Faber. The clinch and Faber goes for a guillotine but Brown picks him up and slams him down. Faber scrambles and gets to his feet. Faber throwing a slapping left hand. Takedown by Brown. Faber back up and in a clinch. Brown drops for a double and Faber goes for an anaconda. He can't secure it. Back on the feet. Big takedown by Brown. Faber back up and lands an elbow. Brown gets a takedown as the round ends. 10-9 Brown.

-A lot of close rounds but Faber couldn't seem to do much after he broke his right hand in the first round.

Official Decision: STILL WEC Featherweight Champion: Mike Brown by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

-Brown says Urijah is tough but it was his night again. Brown puts over Faber.

-Faber is getting his hand iced. Faber says he hurt both his hands. Faber says he'll be back.

-Todd and Kenny wrap things up.

-End show.