411's WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo Report 11.17.09

Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 11.18.2009

Jose Aldo captured the WEC Featherweight title by finishing Mike Brown via second round TKO in a dominant performance! Elsewhere, Manny Gamburyan pulled out a decision victory over Leonard Garcia and Karen Darabedyan made a successful WEC debut by defeating former WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough by split decision. Check out the full report for all the details!



Preliminary Results

* Frank Gomez def. Seth Dikun via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
* Ricardo Lamas def. James Krause via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
* Antonio Banuelos def. Kenji Osawa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
* Cub Swanson def. John Franchi via submission (guillotine choke) - Round 3, 4:50
* L.C. Davis def. Diego Nunes via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)


WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo
From The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
Live on VS.

-Opening video highlighting the TV card.

-The hosts are Todd Harris and "THE CHAMP" Frank Mir. Mir breaks down Aldo vs. Brown and Harris runs down the rest of the card.

-Video preview for Shalorus vs. Kerr

Lightweight Fight: Kamal Shalorus (4-0-1) vs. Will Kerr (8-1)

-This fight was scheduled to be a preliminary bout but because the prelims ran long it got bumped to the TV portion.

Round One: Big left hook by Kamal drops Kerr. Kamal pounces on him and tries to finish but Kerr survives. Kerr looking for a leg lock but Kamal pulls out and gets to his feet. Kerr back on his feet as well. Leg kick by Kamal. Big punches by Kamal stumble Kerr. Big right hand by Kamal drops Kerr and the ref jumps in before Kamal can jump on him.

Official Decision: Kamal Shalorus by TKO at 1:26 in Round One

-Kamal says that he was thinking seven or eight moves ahead.

-Video preview for Castillo vs. Roller.

Lightweight Fight: Danny Castillo (8-1) vs. Shane Roller (6-2)

Round One: Body shot by Castillo. Leg kick by Roller. Castillo finding gloves and arms with his punches while Roller is coming up short with his strikes. Roller shoots, Castillo stuffs it but Roller has a body lock. Castillo fights out and they square up on the feet. Left hook by Castillo and then he gets the takedown. Roller pops right back up. Both on the feet. Castillo gets the takedown, Roller rolls him over, Castillo sweeps back over to get up, and Roller grabs a guillotine on the way up. Castillo gets out and they're back on the feet. Castillo gets a takedown but eats a knee on the way in. Castillo in the guard of Roller. Short right hands by Castillo. The round ends. 10-9 Castillo.

Round Two: Castillo clinches and puts Roller against the cage. Body shots by Castillo. They break from the clinch. Left hook followed by a right hook by Castillo. Roller tries a takedown but Castillo shoves him down instead. Castillo standing over Roller. Roller gets to his feet. Roller clinches and puts Castillo on the cage. Castillo turns out and gets out of the clinch. Castillo just avoids his knee as he drops his head. Roller connects with the knee the next time Castillo drops his head. Roller gets the takedown and is in side control. Roller moves right to mount and locks in a guillotine. Castillo gets out of the guillotine but he gives up his back. Roller has both hooks in but Castillo is trying to stand out. Roller punching away on Castillo. Castillo stands up with Roller on his back. Roller tries to grab an ankle but slips off the back. Castillo tags Roller as he tries to stand. Quick exchange won by Castillo as the round ends. 10-9 Roller.

Round Three: Body shot by Castillo. Good right hand by Castillo. Roller shoots but Castillo sprawls and ends up on top of Roller. Roller tries to get to his feet but Castillo puts him right back down. Castillo standing in the guard of Roller. Castillo passes to side control. Roller turns into him and grabs a single. Castillo turns him back over and gets the full mount. Roller gives up his back and Castillo just gets off and lets him up. Castillo shoots but Roller avoids and gets the back on the feet. Roller slams him down still on the back. Roller gets both hooks in and locks in the rear naked choke. Castillo has no choice but to tap out.

Official Decision: Shane Roller by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:32 in Round Three

-Roller thinks he's earned a title shot with this victory.

-Promo for WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff. The event takes place on December 19.

-Craig Hummer is with Ed Ratcliff and Donald Cerrone. Ratcliff says he's training for a 360 fight and he's coming up with a 360 game plan. Cerrone wants to stand and bang with Ratcliff.

-Video preview for McCullough vs. Darabedyan.

Lightweight Fight: Rob McCullough (17-5) vs. Karen Darabedyan (8-1)

Round One: Good combo by Karen to start. Leg kick by Karen. Rob returns fire. Good left hook by Karen. Another good left and he follows with the right. Left hook by Karen stumbles Rob. Rob regains his composure quickly. Left hand followed by the right by Karen. Leg kick by Rob. Rob finding arms with his combo. Body kick by Rob followed by a leg kick. Jab by Karen opens a cut on Rob's nose. Double jab by Karen. Another double jab by Karen. Double jab scores again. Left hook followed by a right to the body by Karen. Another left hook scores. The round ends. 10-9 Karen.

Round Two: Good left by Karen. Karen gets the takedown off a leg kick by Rob. Karen in the guard of Rob. Rob trying to control Karen but eating fists. Good elbows by Karen. Rob explodes to his feet but Karen still has a hold of him. Knee by Rob. They break from the clinch. Leg kick by Rob. Right hook by Rob. Karen slips but is right back up. Karen is cut under the right eye. Straight right by Rob. Body kick by Rob. They trade left hands. Leg kick by Rob. Right hand by Karen. Quick exchange that Karen gets the better of but Rob ended with a leg kick. Straight right by Karen. The Round ends. Pretty close round on the feet but the takedown won it for Karen. 10-9 Karen.

Round Three: Left hand by Karen. More leg kicks by Rob. Karen shoots but Rob sprawls and makes Karen pay with a knee to the body. Back on the feet. Both come up short on the jab. Leg kick by Karen and Rob returns fire. Left hand by Karen after Rob scores with a leg kick. Good right by Rob. They trade leg kicks. Good left by Karen followed by another. Body kick by Rob but he eats a right hand. Left hand stumbles Rob as he throws a body kick. Another body kick by Rob. Double jab by Karen. Left hook by Karen. Leg kick by Rob. Karen comes back with a stiff jab. Another close round. 10-9 Karen.

Official Decision: Karen Darabedyan by Split Decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)

-Junior Seau joins the broadcast via satellite to plug his new show where he does jobs in sports. It's called Sports Jobs.

-Video preview for Garcia vs. Gamburyan.

Featherweight Fight: Leonard Garcia (17-4) vs. Manny Gamburyan (11-5)

Round One: Leg kick by Garcia. Right uppercut by Garcia as Manny drops his head. Manny grabs a single but Garcia spins out. Back on the feet. Leg kick by Manny. Left hook by Garcia, Manny shoots and grabs a single. Manny grabs a body lock and knees Garcia in the groin. The ref halts the action. Garcia takes a rest but is ready to go again. The ref gives Manny his only warning. Manny clinches and puts Garcia against the cage. Manny gets the takedown but Garcia right back up. Manny still has a hold of Garcia. Knee to the body by Manny. Manny controlling the clinch as they trade knees to the thighs. The ref breaks them. Head kick by Garcia by Manny eats it. Garcia trips Manny with a kick as Manny shoots in. The round ends. 10-9 Garcia.

Round Two: Manny blocks a head kick. Leg kick by Manny. Manny shoots and misses. Right hand by Garcia finds the arms. Manny shoots and grabs a single. Garcia sprawls and punches Manny in the body. Manny gets the takedown but Garcia right back up. Manny scores with some punches as Garcia stands. Still in the clinch. Knee to the thigh by Garcia and he gets out of the clinch. Manny slips throws a big right hand. Garcia throws a left as Manny is on all fours. Manny clinches and gets a big takedown. Manny in half guard. Good rights by Manny. Garcia turning into Manny and getting to his feet. Manny has a face lock and kneeing Garcia in the side. Another takedown by Manny followed by some good ground and pound as the round ends. 10-9 Manny.

Round Three: They hug to start the round. Good left by Manny followed by a leg kick. Right hand by Manny as Garcia throws a body kick. Manny shoots and Garcia quickly sprawls. Back on the feet. Heavy combo by Manny. Garcia drops his hands and eats a left hook that he just shakes off. Manny shoots and gets the takedown. Manny in guard. Manny passes to half guard. Garcia scrambles to his feet but Manny has his back as he gets up. Manny drags Garcia down but Garcia back up. Manny still has a hold of the body of Garcia. Manny drops to a single and drags Garcia down. Manny in half guard. Shoulder shrugs by Manny followed by short right hands. Garcia scrambles out and has a head lock as the round ends. 10-9 Manny.

Official Decision: Manny Gamburyan by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

-Manny says Garcia hits hard.

-Frank Mir breaks down Brown vs. Aldo. Mir says Brown has razor sharp basics and a heavy right hands while Aldo is quick, powerful, and explosive.

-Video preview for Brown vs. Aldo.

WEC Featherweight Title Fight: Jose Aldo (15-1) vs. Mike Brown (22-4) (c)

Round One: Double jab by Brown backs up Aldo. Uppercut followed by a left by Aldo. Brown scores with a overhand right. Leg kick by Aldo. Brown clinches but Aldo shoves him away. Aldo backing up Brown with punches but Brown covering well. Left hook by Brown. Brown blocks a head kick. Good combo by Brown. Body kick by Aldo. Right hand followed by a head kick by Aldo. Brown stumbles a bit. Brown grabs a clinch and drops to a single. Aldo defending well. Knee to the body by Aldo. Brown has a body lock and tries to drag Aldo down but can't do it. Brown still controlling the clinch. Knees to the thighs by Brown. Aldo finally gets out of the clinch. Stiff jab by Aldo. Body kick by Aldo. Leg kick by Aldo. Jumping knee by Aldo misses. The round ends. 10-9 Aldo.

Round Two: Brown pushing forward. Spinning back kick by Aldo followed by a leg kick. Brown backs into the cage. Flying knee by Aldo. Brown grabs a single but Aldo gets out of it. Aldo gets a takedown and moves right to mount. Brown gives up his back, Aldo flattens him out and pounds on him. The ref is close to stopping it. The ref finally jumps in and stops it.

Official Decision: NEW WEC Featherweight Champion - Jose Aldo by TKO at 1:20 in Round Two

-Aldo says that Brown is a tough powerful fighter so he worked a lot on his speed.

-Brown says that Aldo was landing the shots and that he wasn't. Brown says it's back to the drawing board for him.

-End show.