411s WEC 37 Torres vs. Tapia Report 12.03.08
Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.03.2008
There is no upset tonight as Miguel Torres dismantles Manny Tapia in two rounds. Elsewhere Wagnney Fabiano debuts for the WEC and lays claim to a featherweight title shot. Check out 411s complete WEC 37 Torres vs. Tapia Report for all of the details!
WEC 37 Torres vs. Tapia
-LIVE from The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada!
-Todd Harris and Frank Mir are the announcers.
-We get a video package for Joseph Benavidez vs. Danny Martinez.
Bantamweight Bout - Joseph Benavidez (8-0) vs. Danny Martinez (12-2):
ROUND ONE: Kim Winslow is the official. She's taller than both men and here we go! They come out, no touch as they circle. Martinez in and takes Benavidez to the cage. Good sprawl by Benavidez and they separate. Thrust kick by Benavidez, combo by Benavidez but Benavidez in with one of his own. Martinez charges, great sprawl by Benavidez and to the cage they go. Knee by Martinez, they separate and circle. Big kick by Benavidez misses, but he catches Martinez with a great combo and rocks him. He pushes him to the cage, they separate and another great combo by Benavidez. Body kick by Benavidez after another combo a she starts to dictate the pace. They clinch, to the cage and Martinez takes Benavidez down for a moment, but he is back up. Martinez with a waistlock, Benavidez escapes and almost lands a spinning back fist. Benavidez with the combo again, and then both men land jabs. High kick checked by Martinez, Benavidez charges in with a combo and they clinch. Benavidez with a sweet judo throw, gets a side headlock and lands god lefts to the head and face of Martinez as the round ends.
SCORECARD:: Benavidez is landing cleaner and more often, while Martinez is trying to load up. The great throw and takedown near the end easily gives Benavidez the round, 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins and a leg kick by Benavidez. Push kick follows, and then a body kick. Push kick again by Benavidez, a flying knee lands for Benavidez, combo as well and they clinch. They separate as Martinez misses a right. Jab by Martinez, body head combo by Benavidez and then a leg kick. A good body kick by Benavidez, followed by another combo. A flying Superman style shot by Benavidez misses, gets the knee and then the combo and leg kick. Combo to the body by Benavidez, jab by Martinez and that is answered by another combo from Benavidez. Big left by Martinez misses, body kick by Benavidez and then an overhand right. Two knees by Benavidez and a left lands. Benavidez slips, back up and to the cage they go. Front headlock by Martinez, knee by Martinez and they drop to north south. Martinez looks for the back but Benavidez escapes. Jab by Martinez, another, a body kick lands and the round ends.
SCORECARD:: Benavidez is controlling and landing a lot of strikes, while Martinez is still looking for the big shot. I have it 20-18 for Benavidez.
ROUND THREE: Round three begins and a push kick by Benavidez lands. Both lands rights, push kick by Benavidez and then just misses a kick to the head. Leg kick by Benavidez, body kick and a combo lands. Martinez with a flurry and lands finally. Double jabs by Benavidez, push kick by Benavidez again and then another. Jabs by both, hook by Martinez and they clinch. Martinez gets a leg, but Benavidez escapes. Great right by Benavidez, an uppercut lands and then the flying knee. Leg kick by Benavidez, right and a kick to the body by Benavidez also lands. Leg kick by Benavidez and then a right also lands and backs off Martinez. Martinez tries a flying knee, misses and then he lands a jab. Jabs by both, knee by Martinez and they clinch. Good combo by Martinez, a knee misses and Benavidez is playing defense now as the round ends.
SCORECARD:: Martinez finally started to fight late in the round, but it was just too little and too late as Benavidez was out working him early in the round. I have it 30-27, but could see an argument for 29-28.
THE RESULT: Joseph Benavidez via Unanimous Decision (30-27 across the cards)
Craig Hummer is with Benavidez. He says he followed the game plan, Danny is a tough guy and he knew it would be a tough fight. Benavidez says Faber has helped him a lot.
-Brian Bowles vs. Will Ribeiro is up next.
-Hummer is with Varner and Faber. They hype the January show in San Diego. This will be on the same night as the WWE Royal Rumble.
-We get a video package for Brian Bowles vs. Will Ribeiro.
Bantamweight Bout - Brian Bowles (6-0) vs. Will Ribeiro (9-1):
ROUND ONE: The official is Yves Lavigne. And here we go, they come out and they circle. Jabs by both miss, back spin kick by Ribeiro misses. Combo by Bowles and he backs off Ribeiro. They clinch, to the cage and they fight off of the cage, dirty boxing from both and they separate. Both land as they trade, jabs by Bowles but a left by Ribeiro lands. Leg kick by Ribeiro, but Bowles lands a left as Ribeiro looked for a leg kick. Good body head combo by Ribeiro. Right hook lands, straight right by Bowles. Leg kick by Ribeiro, back spin kick lands for Ribeiro as well. Combo by Bowles lands in return, Ribeiro shoots and takes Bowles to the mat. Bowles has a guillotine, they roll and Ribeiro fights and escapes. Bowels gets the back and starts to land, but Ribeiro with a back elbow tries to keep him from getting anything locked in. To guard, Ribeiro gets a warning for an illegal up kick and Bowles works from the guard with body shots and elbows. Ribeiro is able to hold on as they exchange elbows to end the round.
SCORECARD:: This was a very fun first round. Ribeiro looked to be on his way to taking the round as he shot in, but Bowles was able to get the near submission and did some fine work on the ground, which should give him the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins and Ribeiro kicks Bowels low, but it is all good as they continue. Combo by Bowles backs off Ribeiro, who then answers back with a big overhand right. They trade, body kick by Ribeiro and they circle. Ribeiro misses a high kick, leg kick lands and as Bowles looks for the back of Ribeiro, falls off and Ribeiro tries to go in, but eats a big up kick. Ribeiro into the guard as Bowles gets warned for grabbing the cage. To the feet they go, good uppercut by Ribeiro, Bowles shoots and gets the big slam. He is in half guard as Ribeiro tries a loose guillotine, Bowles out and works strikes from the half guard. Bowles is working to pass to a mount, but isn't being active enough. Bowles is landing some solid shot to the head of Ribeiro, enough to keep it on the ground as Ribeiro holds him close. They get stood up as Yves has had enough of that shit. Bowles shoots, Ribeiro fails on a guillotine as Bowles is on top as the horn sounds.
SCORECARD:: A much clearer round there as Bowles had the takedowns and riding time. I have it 20-18 for Bowles.
ROUND THREE: Ribeiro comes out quick to begin the round, leg kick by Ribeiro and Bowles back with a jab. Leg kick again by Ribeiro, another but Bowles back with a HUGE right and Ribeiro shakes it off. Ribeiro throws wildly, shoots in on Bowles, he gets the guillotine and that is all as Ribeiro taps.
THE RESULT: Brian Bowles via RD3 (1:11) Submission
Craig Hummer is with Brian Bowles. Bowles says the guillotine is his go to move. He thinks he has earned a title shot, and wants the winner of tonight's main event. AFTER PARTY PIMP~!
-They hype the Featherweight Division: Brown, Garcia, Faber, Aldo, Pulver and Fabiano. FABBY~!
-We get a video package for Wagnney Fabiano vs. Akitoshi Tamura.
Featherweight Bout - Wagnney Fabiano (10-1) vs. Akitoshi Tamura (12-6-2):
ROUND ONE: The official is Steve Mazzigatti. Fabiano bows to Tamura at the instructions, classy Fabby, classy. They come out, touch and circle. Tamura with a knee, Fabiano shoots and takes him down. Fabiano in guard, working for mount now and Tamura pulls butterfly guard. Fabiano works off of the cage, head and arm choke by Fabiano as he continues to try and escape the guard. He gets the mount, but Tamura gets half guard again. Fabiano with a few lefts to the head of Tamura, Fabiano postures up and tries to work some elbows. Tamura locks up the leg of Fabiano to keep him in guard. Some rights by Fabiano, not doing damage but working as he tries to get out of the guard. Half guard by Fabiano, a good right lands but Tamura is awesome from his back as he nullifies Fabiano's attack. Some body shots by Fabiano, and then a great elbow lands. The struggle is stopped as the round ends.
SCORECARD:: A very strategic ground battle is going on here, it's really cool to see. Fabiano takes the round 10-9 as he was clearly dominant, but Tamura did well as he took very little damage.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins, they touch and a great knee by Tamura. Body kick by Tamura, Fabiano with a great right and he gets the takedown. Tamura works rubber guard, gets some elbows from the bottom and then palm strikes. Fabiano works back to full guard, and then Tamura tries to work the butterfly guard. Fabiano into half guard now, hammer fists by Fabiano and Tamura pulls him in close. Fabiano postures up, knee on belly and gets a great elbow on Tamura. Short elbow by Fabiano, they get warned to work and Tamura pulls Fabiano close again and works wrist control. Fabiano back to guard and they get stood up. Jabs by Tamura, body kick follows and Fabiano shoots, takedown and Fabiano is in side control. Mount by Fabiano, gets a few hammer fists and then gets an arm bar but the round ends right as he extends.
SCORECARD:: More of the same here, another 10-seconds and Fabiano likely would have had the submission. I have it 20-18 for Fabiano overall.
ROUND THREE: Final round begins and Tamura misses a knee. Body kick by Tamura, Fabiano shoots, guillotine by Tamura now, Fabiano works off of the cage but Tamura holds on. Fabiano slides over to side control and escapes the guillotine. Fabiano works side control and lands short rights. He looks for a mount, knee on belly by Fabiano and a big right follows. Tamura locks up a leg, but Fabiano into mount and then back to side control. North south now, and then back to half guard. A few body shots by Fabiano as he continues to smother Tamura. They get warned to work, elbow by Fabiano and Tamura is cut and bleeding now. Fabiano to side control, looks for mount and now has the head and arm choke, and Tamura taps out.
THE RESULT: Wagnney Fabiano via RD3 (4:48) Submission
ROUND ONE: The official is Josh Rosenthal. And here we go with the main event of the evening. They come out, circle and a jab by Torres backs off Tapia. Torres with more jabs, Tapia misses a right and slips. Tapia misses a leg kick, leg kick by Torres and he comes back with the jab. BUG knee by Torres, combo and a kick follow. Body combo by Tapia, but Torres back with the jab that snaps the head back. Torres keeps working the jab, gets a knee as Tapia comes in and then a body shot by Tapia. Combo blocked by Torres, comes back with the jab and he controls the distance. Tapia in with the combo, high kick blocked by Tapia and then the exchange combos. Rolling front kick by Torres misses, that was wacky. Back to the jabs, Tapia with a good combo and works the body. Jab by Torres, Tapia slips but is fine. Leg kick by Torres, and they trade wildly as the round ends.
SCORECARD:: This was a very fun first round. Tapia seems off as he has slipped a few times and was rocked at the beginning, but he rebounded well. I will go 10-9 for Torres.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins as they dance a bit, jab by Torres and then a leg kick. Torres keeps working the jab, another leg kick and Tapia lands with a good right. More jabs by Torres, body shot by Tapia but Torres back with a flurry including a spinning back fist. Torres avoids the strikes of Tapia, Torres catches Tapia with a right and then dives in on him and lands some strikes on the ground. Tapia to his feet, knees by Torres and Tapia backs away. GREAT combo by Torres DROPS Tapia! Torres dives in and stars to unload with rights and elbows, and this time that is it as Rosenthal stops the fight. Tapia is cut and bleeding as they check him after the stoppage.
THE RESULT: Miguel Torres via RD2 (3:04) TKO
Torres says he wanted to be calmer and not as crazy. He knew Manny would use big punches, so he wanted to be calm and set him up. Torres is set to fight whomever is next in line for his title.
-Todd Harris and Frank Mir discuss the main event.
