World Extreme Cagefighting 35 Results
by Robert Sargent
Having already put together a string of excellent cards so far this year, WEC 35 was more of the same, as Jamie Varner and Carlos Condit managed to retain their titles, while Steve Cantwell became the new WEC Light Heavyweight Champion.
A number of thrilling first-round stoppages on the card kept the crowd entertained all night before an epic battle in the main event between Condit and Hiromitsu Miura.
WEC Welterweight Championship
"The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit vs "The Last Samurai" Hiromitsu Miura
Initially expected to walk right through his opponent, Condit wound up having all he could handle against Miura, as Miura used a series of impressive Judo takedowns and vicious ground and pound that had the champion in danger on multiple occasions.Condit opened up round one with a series of kicks to the legs and body, and Miura replied with a quick one-two and a kick. The fighters traded punches and Condit landed another solid kick, but Miura replied with a hard right soon after. Condit tried to lock on a Thai clinch and was promptly slammed to the mat with a very impressive Judo throw. Condit got back to his feet, only to be tripped to the mat again. Miura landed a pair of kicks, but ate a big right hook, and decided to take Condit down again. Condit again got up and dropped Miura seconds later with a counter right cross. Condit pounced and tried to finish, but Miura survived a barrage of elbows and a shoulder lock attempt. Condit attempted an armbar late in the round, but Miura escaped and used another Judo takedown to toss Condit to the canvas. Condit takes the close first round.
Condit again came out kicking early in round two, and knocked Miura down with a glancing punch. Miura attempted an armbar, then landed a solid upkick, and Condit moved to half-guard. Condit landed weak strikes from the top and looked for a Kimura. After a scramble, Condit moved to mount and landed elbows and punches. Miura gave up his back and Condit tried for an armbar. Miura escaped and worked from Condit's guard, landing a few strikes. The fight returned to the feet and Condit landed more kicks, then tripped Miura and took his back. Miura regained guard and Condit landed strikes until the bell. 10-9 Condit.
Miura scored with punches early in round three, and Condit replied by taking his back and trying for a rear naked choke as the fighters fell. Condit moved to mount and attempted a guillotine choke, then looked for a keylock. When that failed, Condit teed off with punches and elbows. Miura reversed position in the span of a second and began furiously striking from the top. Condit, appearing to be fatiguing, ate a series of punches to the face, but managed to get to his feet. Miura landed two hard punches and Condit replied with a jumping knee, then took Miura down. Condit took north-south position, then moved to Miura's back and finally to mount. For the final minute, Miura fought off relentless strikes and choke attempts from Condit, and barely survived until the bell. 10-9 Condit.
Both fighters landed punches in the opening 30 seconds of round four, but it was Miura who rocked the champion with a pair of big rights and a quick one-two. More punches landed for Miura, and he scored another Judo takedown. Miura fired away with hammerfists as Condit tried to defend, but Condit got up and scored a takedown. Condit tried for a guillotine choke from the mount, and Miura used the opportunity to reverse position. Miura escaped a heel hook attempt and the fight returned to the feet. Both fighters landed wild strikes and Condit scored a sloppy takedown, landing in mount. Miura again reversed and landed over a dozen punches that seemed to have Condit dazed. However, Condit fought back to his feet and dropped Miura with a knee, then followed up with strikes on the ground that forced a stoppage to the incredible fight.
Winner: Carlos Condit by TKO (Strikes) at 4:45 of round four. He improves to 23-4-0 and remains the WEC Welterweight Champion.
WEC Light Heavyweight Championship
Steve "The Robot" Cantwell vs "All-American" Brian Stann
Cantwell managed to avenge a previous loss to Stann by beating Stann at his own game, dominating the striking battles and taking the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship in the process.Stann landed a hard right early in round one, but Cantwell came right back with a one-two and a body kick, then caught Stann coming in with a solid counter right cross. The fighters traded strikes and Cantwell landed a solid left, then rushed in with a flurry against the cage. Cantwell unleashed a barrage of punches, two knees and a kick, then clinched. The fighters separated and traded strikes, and Cantwell came forward with a Superman Punch and a knee. Big punches landed for Cantwell and he clinched again. After a separation, Cantwell scored with a hard body kick and punches, then landed a flying knee, but fell in the process. Stann landed numerous punches to his downed opponent, but Cantwell fought back to his feet. 10-9 Cantwell.
Cantwell landed a flashy jumping switch kick early in round two and was caught with a low blow from Stann. After a brief break, Stann landed a leg kick and was countered by two punches from Cantwell. A punch to the body landed for Cantwell, along with a grazing head kick. Cantwell landed another body shot and another head kick, then scored with punches against the cage. Both fighters landed some solid punches, and Stann stuffed a takedown attempt from Cantwell. The fighters clinched against the cage and Cantwell drilled Stann with two knees, then set forth with continuous punches to the face and body. An exhausted Stann tried to fight back with punches, but was met with another knee and an uppercut, sending him staggering into the cage. Cantwell landed more knees and uppercuts, and Stann finally crumpled to the canvas. A very impressive title win for Cantwell.
Winner: Steve Cantwell by TKO (Strikes) at 4:03 of round two. He improves to 6-1-0 and becomes the new WEC Light Heavyweight Champion.
WEC Lightweight Championship
Jamie "The Worm" Varner vs Marcus "The Wrecking Ball" Hicks
Varner put on an extremely impressive display in successfully defending his title, handing Hicks the first loss of his career in the process.Varner clinched and used knees as round one began, but Hicks scored two consecutive takedowns and locked on his trademark guillotine choke. Varner escaped and landed two punches, but was briefly taken down again. Both fighters landed standing elbow strikes in the clinch, then separated. Varner landed kicks to the head and body, then a series of vicious Thai clinch knees. Varner stood and teed off with knees, body kicks and devastating punches to the face of Hicks, but Hicks somehow stayed on his feet. More huge punches landed for Varner, and Hicks finally fell to the mat. He got back up, only to be drilled with more Thai clinch knees, and was dropped for good by a looping right hook from Varner. Easily one of the most impressive performances in recent memory.
Winner: Jamie Varner by TKO (Knees & Punches) at 2:08 of round one. He improves to 15-2-0, 2 NC, and remains the WEC Lightweight Champion.
Brian Bowles vs "The Angel Of Death" Damacio Page
Bowles retained his undefeated record by trapping Page in a tight guillotine choke early in the first round, picking up a solid victory and moving closer to a title shot.Bowles looked to trade strikes early, but Page landed a hard right and just missed a spinning head kick. Page continued to press forward with strikes, but slipped and fell to the mat. Bowles landed elbows from the top, then locked on a guillotine choke as Page tried to stand. Page escaped and reversed position, landing a few strikes from Bowles's guard. The fighters stood back up and both landed big punches. Page began to taunt, but was taken down and trapped in a standing guillotine choke as he stood up. Page tried to slam Bowles to the mat in an attempt to break the hold, but could not and was forced to submit.
Winner: Brian Bowles by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:30 of round one. He improves to 6-0-0.
Josh "The Fluke" Grispi vs "Maverick" Micah Miller
This battle of young guns was won in quick fashion by the 19-year-old Grispi, as he knocked down his 21-year-old opponent early in round one and finished the fight with strikes seconds later.Grispi knocked Miller to the mat with a leg kick as Miller stepped forward, and he landed more kicks to the legs before Miller could stand back up. Grispi landed a quick flurry and a series of kicks to Miller's lead leg. Miller came forward, but was floored by a vicious right hook to the temple. Grispi pounced and landed more punches before the referee could stop the fight. Miller got back to his feet quickly after the stoppage, but had clearly been out cold from the follow-up punches on the ground. A great performance for Grispi.
Winner: Josh Grispi by KO (Punches) at 0:49 of round one. He improves to 9-1-0.
Brock Larson vs Carlo "Neo" Prater
Larson made short work of his very accomplished opponent, dropping Prater with an early punch and following up with strikes on the ground.The fighters circled each other for the first 20 seconds, with Prater missing with a wild jumping kick. Larson countered with a huge left cross that sent Prater crashing to the canvas. Larson followed up with more punches on the ground and the fight was quickly stopped, giving Larson a big victory.
Winner: Brock Larson by KO (Punches) at 0:37 of round one. He improves to 24-2-0.
Undercard Fights:
Blas Avena defeated Dave Terrel by TKO (Strikes) at 1:07 of round one. He improves to 3-2-0.Shane Roller defeated Todd "Maniac" Moore by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:00 of round one. He improves to 4-1-0.
Mike Budnik defeated Greg McIntyre by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:21 of round three. He improves to 7-0-0.
Scott Jorgensen defeated Kenji Osawa by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 5-2-0.
With its formula of featuring two or more title fights on each card, World Extreme Cagefighting has definitely found its niche in the fast-growing sport of mixed martial arts, and WEC 35 was another excellent event for the company.
