411's WEC 46: Henderson vs. Varner Report 01.10.10

Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 01.10.2010

Ben Henderson became the Undisputed WEC Lightweight Champion with a third round submission victory over former champion Jamie Varner. Elsewhere, Urijah Faber made a successful return to the cage with a third round submission victory over top contender Raphael Assuncao and Mike Brown got back to his winning ways with a quick first round submission victory over Anthony Morrison. Click for the full report.

UFC 46: Varner vs. Henderson
From The ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California
Live on VS.

-Opening Video

-Todd Harris and "THE CHAMP" Frank Mir are the hosts.

-Jamie Varner hasn't fought in 350 days but he's not worried about ring rust.

-Mir believes that ring rust will be an issue.

-Harris runs down the card.

Featherweight Fight: Mackens Semerzier (7-0) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (11-3)

-Semerzier is coming off a submission victory over Wagney Fabiano at WEC 43. Taurosevicius is coming off a split decision victory over Javier Vasquez at WEC 43.

-Jason Herzog is the referee.

Round One: Taurosevicius comes out southpaw. Taurosevicius quickly moves forward and forces a clinch, pushing Semerzier against the cage. Semerzier reverses the postion. They trade positions again. Taurosevicius drops for a single. Semerzier looks for a guillotine. Taurosevicius picks him up and slams him down right into side control. Semerzier still has the guillotine and gets Taurosevicius in half guard. Taurosevicius stands up and at the feet of Semerzier. Semerzier looking for up kicks but Taurosevicius avoids them, pushes the legs aside, and gets side control. Elbows by Taurosevicius. Semerzier gets full guard and traps one arm. Taurosevicius lifts him with Semerzier still on his arm and this allows both men to get to their feet. They create distance. Inside leg kick by Taurosevicius. Right hook catches Semerzier and seems to stun him. Taurosevicius shoots for a single and tries to slam Semerzier but Semerzier stays on his feet. Semerzier looks for a guillotine but Taurosevicius picks him up and slams him down again. Semerzier gets guard. Semerzier controls the posture of Taurosevicius. Taurosevicius with short body shots. The ref stands them up. Taurosevicius ducks under a hook and looks for the takedown. Semerzier manages to stay on his feet but they end up in a clinch with Taurosevicius controlling. The round ends.

10-9 Taurosevicius as he landed a couple of big takedowns and those were the most significant damage of the round.

Round Two: Leg kick by Semerzier. Both men coming up way short with their strikes. Semerzier with a one two but Taurosevicius blocks most of it. Semerzier lands a head kick but Taurosevicius takes it. they clinch and Semerzier looks for a trip takedown but Taurosevicius over powers him and puts him on his back. Semerzier scrambles to his feet but Taurosevicius gets his back on the feet. Taurosevicius picks up Semerzier and drops him down. Semerzier rolls through and lands an up kick. Semerzier looking for the triangle but Taurosevicius blocks it. Taurosevicius standing at the feet of Semerzier. Taurosevicius avoids the up kick and drops into the guard of Semerzier. Short punches by Taurosevicius as he tries to stay active. Taurosevicius postures to his feet in the guard of Semerzier and lands some good right hands before dropping back down. Taurosevicius postures to his feet in guard again and rains down some punches. Taurosevicius trying to push the legs aside but Semerzier avoids it. Semerzier looks for a knee bar but Taurosevicius avoids it and lands some good hammerfists. Taurosevicius passes to side control. Semerzier gets half guard and Taurosevicius lands some good elbows as the round ends.

10-9 Taurosevicius as he controlled the round and did some good damage on the ground.

Round Three: Right hook by Taurosevicius as Semerzier moves in. Leg kick by Taurosevicius but Semerzier responds with a body kick. Another body kick by Semerzier. Taurosevicius catches a body kick and pushes Semerzier down but Semerzier gets right back up. They clinch but quickly break. Right hook by Taurosevicius and they clinch. Knees to the body by both before they break. Taurosevicius shoots but Semerzier sprawls. Taurosevicius still has a single. They get to their feet with Taurosevicius still having a single. Semerzier goes for a kimura and takes down Taurosevicius with it. Taurosevicius rolls through and Semerzier goes for a foot lock. Taurosevicius gets out and Semerzier stands at the feet of Taurosevicius. Semerzier comes down with some good hammerfists and body shots. Taurosevicius grabs the foot of Semerzier but that opens him up and allows Semerzier to land some big hammerfists. Semerzier drops into half guard. Taurosevicius controls the posture. Taurosevicius is cut on his forehead. Semerzier passes to side control and Taurosevicius turns into him. Semerzier looks for a guillotine and rolls to his back. Taurosevicius pops his head out and is in the guard of Semerzier. The round ends.

10-9 Semerzier as he landed some good shots on the ground and had multiple submission attempts.

Official Decision: Deividas Taurosevicius by Unanimous Decision (29-28 across)

-Taurosevicius says he doesn't care what's next for him.

Featherweight Fight: Anthony Morrison (15-6) vs. Mike Brown (22-5)

-This is Morrison's WEC debut. He is coming off a submission (strikes) victory over Alvin Robinson in December 09. Brown is coming off a TKO loss to Jose Aldo at WEC 44. In that fight he lost the WEC Featherweight title.

-Jason Herzog is the referee.

Round One: Morrison throws two head kicks but they're blocked. Short left hook by Morrison. Left hook followed by a right by Morrison. Brown shoots but Morrison stuffs it. Brown clinches and puts Morrison against the cage. Brown drags Morrison to the ground and quickly moves to side control. Brown gets the crucifix position and starts dropping punches. Morrison escapes out of it but Brown keeps him on his back and moves to mount. Morrison gives up his back. Brown quickly sinks in the rear naked choke. Morrison TAPS OUT!

Official Decision: Mike Brown by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:54 in Round One

-Brown says he's back on track he's looking for another title shot.

-Video preview for WEC 47 featuring Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz for the WEC Bantamweight title and the returns of Miguel Torres and Jens Pulver

-Cruz says he needs to be elusive and avoid the right hand of Bowles. Bowles says he just needs to stay calm and put his hands on Cruz.

Lightweight Fight: Dave Jansen (11-0) vs. Kamal Shalorus (5-0-1)

-Jansen is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Richard Crunkilton at WEC 43. Shalorus is coming off a TKO victory over Will Kerr at WEC 44.

-Herb Dean is the referee.

Round One: Quick counter by Jansen. Body kick by Shalorus. Jansen presses forward and lands a good right. Shalorus responds with a right of his own. Another good right by Jansen. Both just miss with an overhand. Jansen moving forward and connecting. Jansen shoots but Shalorus sprawls and they're back up. Good right by Jansen. Shalorus swinging wild with a lot of power. Leg kick by Shalorus. Counter left by Shalorus. Quick exchange but they both miss. Jansen shoots but another sprawl by Shalorus. Back on the feet. Body shot by Jansen. Good left hook by Jansen. Shalorus grabs a body lock and gets Jansen down but Jansen is right back up. Big right hand by Shalorus as Jansen moves in. Jansen moves forward but his punches only find gloves. Jansen cut next to his left eye. Short left hook by Jansen. They both connect with a right by Shalorus had more power and dropped Jansen to a knee. Another right by Shalorus drops Jansen to a knee. Jansen back up. Body kick by Jansen. The round ends.

10-9 Shalorus. The round was close but he dropped him to a knee twice late in the round to seal it.

Round Two: Left hook by Jansen. Leg kick by Shalorus. Big exchange but nothing connects clean by either. Right hand by Shalorus just misses. Shalorus just missing with his strikes. Body kick by Jansen. Big right hand by Shalorus followed by a left. Another right hand. Shalorus catching Jansen with the right every time he moves in. Shalorus ducks under and gets the takedown. Shalorus in guard. Shalorus stands at the feet of Jansen. Jansen scrambles up and just avoids a right hand. Shalorus continues to duck under and come up with the right hand. Jansen with a knee as Shalorus ducks his head. Jansen shoots but Shalorus shurgs him off. Right hand by Jansen stumbles Shalorus but Shalorus comes back with a right hand of his own that stumbles Jansen. Straight right by Shalorus. Jansen cut on the forehead now. Body kick by Jansen. Big left hook by Shalorus. Jansen shoots but Shalorus sprawls again and they break. The round ends.

10-9 Shalorus. He got the takedown and landed the bigger shots on the feet.

Round Three: Short left by Shalorus. Another left by Shalorus after he misses with a wild right. Stiff left by Shalorus followed by another. Jansen shoots and Shalorus sprawls. Back on the feet. Body kick by Jansen. Uppercut by Jansen. Jansen just misses with a knee. Shalorus catches a body kick and knocks down Jansen with a right. Jansen right back up. They trade jabs. Short left by Shalorus. Big right hand by Jansen. Leg kick by Shalorus wobbles Jansen a bit. Big right hand by Shalorus. Jansen shoots and Shalorus easily avoids it. Right hand by Jansen. Shalorus with an easy takedown. Shalorus in guard. Jansen scrambles to his feet. Jansen shoots and another easy avoidance by Shalorus. Good knee by Jansen as Shalorus ducks under. Right hand by Shalorus. Easy takedown for Shalorus. Shalorus in guard. Jansen trying to use the cage to wall walk. Shalorus keeps him on the ground. Jansen gets up to his feet but Shalorus has a front face lock. Shalorus spins to the back as the round ends.

10-9 Shalorus. The takedowns won him the round.

Official Decision: Kamal Shalorus by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

-Shalorus says, "Jansen is a good wrestler but I'm a world class wrestler. I'm an Olympian. No one can take me down."

Featherweight Fight (Prelim): Mark Hominick (16-8) vs. Bryan Caraway (14-3)

Round One: Short left by Caraway. He lands another good left hook. Good straight right by Hominick. Caraway shoots and gets the takedown. He's in guard. Caraway stands at the feet of Hominick and tries to push the legs aside to pass but Hominick keeps him in guard. Caraway postures to his feet in the guard. Caraway raining down with some good punches. Caraway drops back into guard. Hominick tries to scramble up but Caraway keeps him on the ground. Caraway postures to his feet again in the guard. Good punches by Caraway. He drops back down. Hominick tries to scramble but can't. Caraway still in guard. Hominick tries to sweep. Caraway blocks it but Hominick catches him in a triangle. He switches to an armbar and Caraway TAPS OUT!

Official Decision: Mark Hominick by Submission (Armbar) in at 3:48 in Round One

-Hominick's plan was to tire out Caraway since it was his WEC debut.

Featherweight Fight: Raphael Assuncao (14-1) vs. Urijah Faber (22-3)

-Assuncao is coming off a split decision victory over Yves Jabouin at WEC 43. Faber is coming off unanimous decision loss to Mike Brown at WEC 41. That fight was for the WEC Featherweight title.

-Josh Rosenthal is the referee.

Round One: Body kick by Faber. Assuncao moves forward and they clinch. Assuncao controls the clinch and has double unders. Faber reverses the position but Assuncao puts him back against the cage. They break. Front kick by Faber. Faber runs forward and looks for a right but Assuncao avoids it and clinches. Assuncao controlling the clinch and has Faber against the cage. Short right hands by Assuncao. They break. Right hand by Faber and another clinch. Faber controlling this time. Assuncao reverses. They break. Uppercut by Faber. Counter right by Assuncao. Faber gets tripped as he moves forward. Quickly back up. They clinch and Assuncao controls. Faber reverses and they break. Faber presses forward and clinches but a quick break. Jab by Faber. Push kick by Faber. Faber looks for a flying knee but Assuncao moves back and lands a good series of punches. Leg kick by Assuncao. Right hand by Faber but Assuncao fires back. The round ends.

10-9 Assuncao. Close round but the clinch control by Assuncao won it for him.

Round Two: Faber grabs a single and gets Assuncao down. Faber in the guard. Assuncao controlling the posture of Faber. Elbows by Faber. Assuncao tries to explode to his feet but Faber grabs a guillotine. Assuncao rolls to his back and then back to his knees to escape. Assuncao gets to his feet. Good flurry by Assuncao. Right hand by Faber. Leg kick by Assuncao. Body kick by Faber. Counter right by Assuncao. Right hand by Faber drops Assuncao. Faber pounces on him but Assuncao is alert and looks for a triangle. Faber avoids it and is now in guard. Big shot by Faber. Assuncao throwing from the bottom but Faber throwing as well. Faber staying tight to Assuncao. Assuncao throwing his legs up and looking for an armbar but Faber stays tight. Good elbows from the bottom by Assuncao. Faber explodes with a right. Assuncao tries to get to his feet but Faber keeps him on his knees. Assuncao gets up as the round ends.

10-9 Faber. He dropped Assuncao and controlled him on the ground.

Round Three: Assuncao throwing kicks but Faber moving just out of range. Faber shoots and gets the takedown. Assuncao pushes him away and gets back up. Assuncao shoots but Faber sprawls. Assuncao has a single. Faber forces him up to a clinch and is controlling. Assuncao reverses the position. Assuncao lands and elbow on the break. Both just miss on an exchange. Assuncao trips Faber down as he throws a push kick. Faber back up. Straight right by Faber drops Assuncao. Faber pounces on him but Assuncao recovers. Faber in guard. Elbow by Faber. Another good elbow. Assuncao tries to scramble to his feet but Faber gets his back. Faber gets both hooks in, locks in a rear naked choke, and Assuncao TAPS!

Official Decision: Urijah Faber by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:49 in Round Three

-Faber says he wants a title shot. Jose Aldo enters the cage. Aldo says Urijah won't take his belt.

WEC Lightweight Title Unification Fight: Ben Henderson (10-1) (Interim Champ) vs. Jamie Varner (16-2-2) (Champion)

-Henderson is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Donald Cerrone at WEC 43. In that fight he won the WEC Lightweight Interim Title. Jamie Varner is coming off a split technical decision victory over Donald Cerrone at WEC 38. He successfully defended the WEC Lightweight Title in that fight. Varner hasn't competed since January 09 due to multiple injuries.

-Herb Dean is the referee.

Round One: Henderson comes out south paw. Leg kick by Henderson but Varner lands a good body shot. Big takedown by Varner. Henderson rolls for a knee bar but Varner blocks in. Varner lands some good strikes and Henderson gives up on the knee bar. Varner tries to grab a guillotine but doesn't have it. He still has a front face lock. Now he switches to the guillotine as Henderson gets to his feet. Big knee by Varner drops Henderson to his knees. Varner still has the face lock. Varner landing knees to the body and thighs as Henderson is on his knees on the ground. The ref breaks them and stands them up. Body kick by Henderson. Varner turns away like he had been hit in the groin. Henderson charges at him with an elbow. They clinch and Varner gets side control on the feet. Henderson turns into him. Henderson controlling the clinch. They trade knees to the body. Henderson lands a good elbow on the break.

10-9 Varner. He controlled the fight with the front face lock and almost had a guillotine.

Round Two: Flying knee by Varner is nowhere close. They clinch. Knee on the break by Henderson. Varner trips down Henderson as he throws a kick. Henderson back up. Left hook by Varner as he presses forward. Varner presses forward and connects again. Body kick by Henderson. The crowd getting very restless. Body kick by Henderson. Henderson presses forward and throws a side kick but Varner shoves him down. Henderson back up. Henderson with a leg kick. Henderson shoots but Varner stuffs it. Body shots by Varner and they clinch with Varner controlling. They trade knees to the body. Hammerfists by Varner. Varner tries a takedown but Henderson slips out of the clinch. The round ends.

10-9 Varner. The clinch control at the end won him in the round. It was close but that's because neither man did much.

Round Three: Varner presses forward and clinches. Short punches by Henderson. Knees to the body by Henderson. Good left on the break by Varner. Body kick by Henderson. Knee to the body by Henderson and Varner comes in. Varner blocks a head kick. Henderson blocks a couple of head kicks. Quick flurry but neither landed. Knee to the body by Henderson as Varner comes in. Varner tries a takedown but Henderson grabs a guillotine. Henderson jumps guard with it. VARNER TAPS!

Official Decision: UNDISPUTED WEC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION - Ben Henderson by Submission (Guillotine) at 2:43 in Round Three

-Henderson says he'll face whoever.

-Varner thought he was winning the fight until he lost.

-End show.