411's WEC Greatest Knockouts Report 11.28.08
Posted by Jonathan Solomon on 11.27.2008
Check out these explosive KO's from World Extreme Cagefighting's past including three championship defenses.
WEC Greatest Knockouts Report
This special edition of World Extreme Cagefighting on VERSUS presents the best knockouts from the promotion. Back in the saddle are Todd Harris and Frank "Don't Ask Me To Play Soccer" Mir.
Thanks go out to WEC.tv for the fight pictures.
Lightweight Champion "Razor" Rob McCullough (14-3) vs. Challenger Richard Crunkilton (15-1) September 5th, 2007
In the pre-fight video, Razor Rob says he will "stomp his face in." I thought soccer kicks were illegal. The Crunkster says the champion's title reign is about to end.
Herb Dean is the referee and we are under way. Crunkilton throws a body kick but Razor Rob catches it and swings for the fences. Crunkilton tries two more kicks but never lands. Crunkilton throws a left cross but Rob answers with a flurry before Rich throws a high kick. They separate and Richard Crunkilton throws yet another high kick. Rob looks like he's thinking of ways to avoid those feet. Crunkilton lands a left jab. Rob throws a fierce right and lands one on the button. Crunkilton falls to the mat (but he's not out) and Razor Rob lands about four heavy shots. Crunkilton sprawls and gets back to his feet. Razor Rob lands another big right and Crunkilton is DOWN! Richard sprawls and returns to his feet as McCullough lands a knee in the clinch. It is hard to tell but McCullough appears to have a cut near his right eye. Razor Rob throws several big rights as Crunkilton decides not to try and block. Rob lands another big right and this time, Crunkilton is down (but again, not out) and finally the referee stops the fight. Color man Frank Mir says Crunk's game plan was awful. I could not disagree.
The winner and still WEC Lightweight Champion is Razor Rob McCullough in the first round.
Steve Cantwell (3-1) vs. Justin McElfresh (5-2) August 5th, 2007
Cantwell thinks McElfresh has no skills and offers no threat other than being 6'6". McElfresh thinks his reach will stop Cantwell from striking.
Big John McCarthy is the referee. Cantwell is a southpaw and lands a body kick. After a few moments of feeling each other out, Cantwell lands a nice left. McElfresh tries to keep distance by throwing jabs while Cantwell throws flurries that don't land. Cantwell lands a nice combination with a hook, an uppercut and a knee. Cantwell uses a Muay Thai clinch and then tee's away on McElfresh with jabs and hooks. McElfresh is down and the ref stops the fight.
Your winner is Steve Cantwell.
Charlie Valencia (7-2) vs. Antonio Banuelos (13-3) March 24th, 2007
Valencia promises to show how "real" Mexican-Americans fight. Meanwhile, Banuelos gives one of the worst pre-fight promo's by...well, saying how he doesn't like to talk. He says he's aggressive and will let his fighting do the talking.
Fight is joined in progress at 2:50 of round one.
Valencia catches a kick and lands a right. Valencia lands an uppercut and a jab while Banuelos fails in his (apparent) attempt to shoot in for the takedown. They clinch and Banuelos takes Valencia down with a ton of power. Valencia quickly sweeps around and gets on his feet. From nowhere, he lands a right and knocks Banuelos down. Valencia lands one punch before the referee stops the fight. Banuelos' left eye is cut and dripping blood while Charlie circles the cage in victory.
Your winner is Charlie Valencia.
Brock Larson (20-1) vs. Kevin Knabjian (6-2-1) June 3rd, 2007
Larson calls his younger opponent a punk while Knabjian insists his skills have improved.
Steve Mazagatti is the referee. Immediately, Larson lands an overhand left and knocks Kevin on his back. Larson rushes him on the ground, tries to take his back for the choke but Knabjian gets out. Larson lands a big knee followed by a flurry of punches before the referee stops the fight.
Your winner is Brock Larson.
Mark Munoz (3-0) vs. Chuck Grigsby (13-3) June 1st, 2008
Fight is joined in progress at 1:33 of round one
Grigsby is on his back while Munoz is trying to pass guard. Munoz passes to side control and drops bombs. Munoz stands up and throws wild shots. Grigsby tries to go for a knee bar but Munoz lands several unanswered shots and the referee jumps in to stop the fight.
Your winner is Mark Munoz.
WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho (14-0) vs. Challenger Joe Doerksen (39-9) August 5th, 2007
Here was Jens Pulver's take on this championship fight.
Fight is joined in progress at 1:22 of round one
Both fighters are standing. Filho pushes the pace and lands a combination that sends Doerksen to the mat. Doerksen tries to stand up and eats a ton of punches. Doerksen is on spaghetti legs and Filho will not stop throwing haymakers. Finally Big John McCarthy stops the fight.
Your winner and still WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho.
Brian Bowles (4-0) vs. Marcos Galvao (5-2) December 12th, 2007
Fight is joined in progress at 4:18 of round two
Both fighters are standing. They exchange leather but don't land anything of note. Bowles charges at Galvao and swings, forcing Galvao to retreat into the cage. Bowles lands a few shots and Galvao is down. Galvao tries to pull guard but Bowles is throwing a ton of strikes. Galvao tries for a knee bar but Bowles gets out and both men return to their feet. Galvao appears to be gassed. Every minor punch from Bowles stuns Galvao. A few jabs are followed by an uppercut and Bowles sends Galvao to the mat faster than the U.S. stock market. The ref stops the fight.
Your winner is Brian Bowles.
Leonard Garcia (10-3) vs. Hiroyuki Takaya (9-4-1) February 13th, 2008
Pre-fight promo transcript:
Takaya (through translator): Leonard will go down.
Garcia: I'm gonna knock him out!
We start at 4:10 of the first round and Takaya charges at Garcia. Garcia moves and throws a leg kick. WOW, Garcia throws a big overhand right that misses and you wouldn't be off if you thought Gary Sheffield circa 1997 just swung a bat. Takaya lands a pair of leg kicks. Garcia lands a big punch followed by a body kick but Takaya doesn't seem phased. Garcia lands a jab and knocks Takaya down. Leonard pounces on him and throws three unanswered bombs before the ref stops the fight.
Your winner is Leonard Garcia.
WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Doug Marshall (7-2) vs. Challenger Brian Stann (5-0) March 26th, 2008
Herb Dean is the referee. The champion and challenger trade leg kicks. After exchanging flurries, they clinch against the cage. Marshall lands knees while Stann throws a few body punches. They break apart and Marshall unloads with a great combination but Stann has his hands up to block it all. Stann answers with a jab that sends the champion to the mat. Stann thinks its over, hesitates then pounces and throws a few more shots before the referee calls the fight.
Your winner and new WEC Light Heavyweight Champion is Brian Stann.
WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough (15-3) vs. Challenger Jamie Varner (13-2) February 13th, 2008
Fight is Joined in Progress at 4:52 of the third round
We join the fight during a slug fest. Varner moves toward McCullough and eats a cross that sends his mouthpiece flying. They trade punches and Varner is nearly knocked off his feet but maintains his composure. Razor Rob nearly knocks him out but Varner goes for the double-leg takedown. Rob sprawls and gets away. Varner calls timeout (you could do that?) to get his mouthpiece back and referee Steve Mazagatti obliges. The fight resumes and Varner lands three body punches. Varner throws a cross followed by a jab that knocks Razor Rob down. Varner pounces on him with punches but McCullough gets back to his feet, all the while, eating more punches. Varner knocks him down with a jab again and this time the referee stops the fight.
Your winner and new WEC Lightweight Champion is Jamie Varner.
The knockouts have ended, although you can bet Leonard Garcia's knockout of Jens Pulver and Mike Brown's blast of Urijah Faber will make future clip shows. Hopefully, WEC & Versus will produce new Wreckage shows for the new year. Specifically, they need to get that Rob McCullough/Donald Cerrone fight on television A.S.A.P. after all the praise it has received. Thanks for reading.
