World Extreme Cagefighting came to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight with WEC 50: “Cruz vs Benavidez 2.” The excellent event was headlined by a back-and-forth WEC Bantamweight Championship rematch between champ Dominick Cruz and challenger Joseph Benavidez.
Also on the stacked card, Shane Roller faced Anthony “Showtime” Pettis in lightweight action, while Cub Swanson took on Chad Mendes at 145. Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen and Brad “One Punch” Pickett squared off in a bantamweight bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event.
WEC Bantamweight Championship
Dominick Cruz vs Joseph Benavidez
Round 1:
The fighters traded quick and unorthodox strikes in the first round, but neither could land anything cleanly. Finally, Benavidez landed a nice right hand and Cruz answered with one of his own. Benavidez slipped to a knee, but stood up and knees were exchanged in a clinch. Cruz landed a knee to the body and backed away. Benavidez rushed forward with winging punches, but missed the mark.
A right hook landed for Benavidez, however, and Cruz answered with a leg kick. Benavidez just missed with an uppercut as Cruz threw one of his own. The fighters exchanged right hands and body kicks and Benavidez connected with a hard right hook as Cruz threw another kick. Cruz took Benavidez down and easily escaped a guillotine choke. Cruz struck from the top until the end of the close round. 10-9 Cruz.
Round 2:
Cruz fell while throwing a kick in the second round and Benavidez tried for a guillotine choke, but Cruz escaped. Benavidez, bleeding from the hairline, missed with a flurry and ate a knee to the upper body. He countered with a one-two and tried for a takedown, but Cruz stuffed it. Benavidez leapt in with a jumping kick and Cruz missed with wild counterpunches. Cruz threw a body kick, but Benavidez drilled him with two flurries of punches.
Cruz landed a knee and another kick and Benavidez fell while throwing a leg kick. He dove for a takedown, but Cruz stayed on his feet. A right hand landed for Cruz and he followed with a one-two. Cruz drilled Benavidez with a jumping knee to the jaw, but Benavidez was unhurt and immediately countered with an overhand right. Benavidez stayed busy with punches and used a guillotine choke to counter a takedown. The round ended in a clinch. Razor-thin round. 10-9 Benavidez.
Round 3:
An exchange of punches opened the third round and Cruz defended a takedown. Benavidez landed a stiff leg kick and a right hook counter. Cruz snapped Benavidez’s head back with a jab and ducked under an overhand right. Benavidez clinched for a takedown and Cruz defended well. Benavidez backed him up to the cage, but Cruz circled free. He landed a lunging jab and a knee. A right cross and a knee to the body landed for Cruz and Benavidez dropped down for a takedown.
Cruz stepped out and landed a stiff jab, but Benavidez connected with an overhand right. Kicks landed for both fighters and Benavidez got the better of the exchange. Cruz answered with a hard kick to the upper thigh. Benavidez threw a knee and just missed. A jab landed for Cruz and Benavidez immediately countered with a one-two. Cruz took Benavidez down in the final seconds to steal the extremely close round. 10-9 Cruz.
Round 4:
Cruz took Benavidez down to begin the fourth round and looked to set up an arm-triangle choke from the top, but Benavidez regained guard and briefly tried for a triangle choke. Cruz kept the pressure on with punches and tried to move to mount. He transitioned to an armbar, but Benavidez escaped out the back and the fighters stood. Benavidez tripped Cruz against the cage and locked on a guillotine choke as the fighters got to their feet again.
Cruz escaped the choke and secured a body lock, then threw short knees to the body. Benavidez answered with a knee to the face that cut Cruz on the nose. A scramble followed and the fighters went to the ground, then stood again. Benavidez pulled guard with a guillotine choke and Cruz escaped. He attempted an arm-triangle choke from the top and then looked to move to mount, but Benavidez escaped and the round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Cruz, barely.
Round 5:
The fighters exchanged hooks at the same time in the fifth and final round and both landed kicks. Cruz checked a leg kick and the fighters threw right hands at the same time. Cruz threw a flying knee that narrowly missed and he landed a kick to the upper body. Benavidez answered with a flurry and Cruz fired off a one-two. Benavidez landed a leg kick and Cruz swarmed with a trio of punches.
Benavidez connected with a spinning back elbow and Cruz landed two more punches. A lead right hook found the mark for Benavidez and he tried to clinch for a takedown, but Cruz had none of it. Benavidez landed a hard right hook and Cruz backed up. He counterpunched as Benavidez pressed forward. Cruz ducked under a punch and landed a kick-punch combo, then took Benavidez down. He struck from the top and landed a solid elbow before the bell. Great fight. 10-9 Cruz.
Winner: Dominick Cruz by Split Decision (49-46, 48-47, 47-48) after five rounds. He improves to 16-1-0 and remains the WEC Bantamweight Champion.
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs Shane Roller
Round 1:
Roller punched his way into a clinch early on and tried for a takedown, but Pettis defended well. Roller tripped Pettis to the mat, but Pettis immediately got to his feet. Roller dove in for a takedown and backed Pettis up against the cage. Pettis stepped free and cracked Roller with a hard right hand. Pettis threw a jumping switch kick that grazed the face of Roller, but Roller answered with a one-two. Roller tried for a takedown, but wound up on the bottom.
A scramble followed and the fighters got back to their feet. Pettis threw another jumping switch kick and punches, then clinched against the cage. Roller landed a knee to the body and both fighters connected with big right hands. Another hard right landed for Roller, but Pettis rocked him with a head kick and punches. Roller stumbled backwards, but recovered and clinched. Pettis landed a knee and reversed the clinch. He just missed with a capoeira kick at the bell. Very close round. 10-9 Pettis.
Round 2:
Roller clinched early in the second round and tried for a takedown, but Pettis stuffed it. He threw a right hook and Roller ducked under. Roller tried for a takedown, but Pettis reversed and wound up in Roller’s guard. Pettis struck from the top with punches to the head and body and mixed in occasional elbow strikes as well. Roller held on from the bottom and looked to set up a triangle choke.
Pettis stayed busy with punches and hammerfists, then stood up to avoid an omoplata. Roller rocked Pettis with a combination and kept the pressure on with more big shots against the cage. Roller clinched and dragged Pettis down. He landed in mount, but Pettis recovered and rolled out to escape. Pettis wound up standing over Roller and dropped two hard punches. A spinning hook kick missed for Pettis before the bell. 10-9 Pettis.
Round 3:
Roller shot in for a takedown early in the final round. He picked Pettis up and slammed him down in the middle of the cage. Pettis defended well and nearly scrambled back to his feet. Roller stayed on top, but had to fight off a triangle choke attempt. An upkick landed squarely on Roller’s jaw, but he was unfazed and returned to Pettis’s guard with punches. Pettis went for another triangle choke and Roller had to quickly move to escape. Roller tried for a guillotine choke from the top and Pettis scrambled out.
More triangle attempts followed for Pettis and he got back to his feet. Both fighters appeared to be fatigued and Pettis ducked under a wild right hand. Roller ate a stiff leg kick and a hard right cross. Pettis took him down and landed two punches on the ground. The fighters stood and Pettis scored with two more leg kicks. Roller locked on a tight guillotine and pulled guard, but Pettis rolled through. Effortlessly, he secured a triangle choke from his back with less than ten seconds left in the fight and Roller was forced to submit. Excellent fight.
Winner: Anthony Pettis by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 4:51 of round three. He improves to 12-1-0.
Chad “Money” Mendes vs Cub Swanson
Round 1:
Swanson danced around early on and was clipped by a hook to the temple from Mendes. Swanson stumbled backwards and Mendes landed a pair of combinations, then took Swanson’s back in a scramble and dragged him to the mat. Mendes wound up on top in side-control and looked to set up a submission with shoulder strikes. Mendes tried to move to mount and Swanson defended.
Mendes postured up and landed a big hammerfist, then returned to side-control. Referee Josh Rosenthal stood the fighters up in a questionable move and Swanson threw a jumping switch kick that missed. Mendes caught a kick and took Swanson down. He stood and allowed Swanson to get back to his feet. Swanson landed an overhand right and Mendes drilled him with a straight right. Swanson attempted a flying knee, but was taken down before the bell. 10-9 Mendes.
Round 2:
Mendes scored a takedown early in round two and landed in Swanson’s guard. Mendes postured up and Swanson used the opportunity to stand up. The fighters traded quick punches and Swanson landed a left hand. Swanson began to throw wild kicks, but he connected with a big combination that forced Mendes to back up. Leg kicks also landed for Swanson and he kept the pressure on with jabs and a right hand to the body.
Mendes landed a one-two and took Swanson down. He passed to half-guard, but Swanson quickly regained guard. A scramble ensued and Mendes briefly took Swanson’s back, but wound up in Swanson’s guard again. Mendes threw punches to the body and trapped Swanson’s arm behind his back, but Swanson pulled his arm out. He tried for a Kimura from the bottom, then stood and landed knees in the final seconds. Very close round. 10-9 Mendes by a small margin.
Round 3:
Mendes landed a trio of punches to begin the final round and Swanson fell to his back. Mendes dove into Swanson’s guard, but Swanson managed to work back to his feet. Another three-punch flurry landed for Mendes and Swanson answered with a leg kick and a right cross. Mendes took him down and Swanson looked to work rubber guard from the bottom, but lacked the flexibility to pull it off. Mendes moved to half-guard and then to mount.
Swanson threw punches from the bottom and regained full guard. Mendes peppered Swanson with short punches, but Swanson stayed active with punches and elbows from the bottom. The fighters stood and Swanson rushed in with a jumping knee. Mendes slammed him to the mat, but the fight returned to the feet. Swanson landed a looping left hook and an uppercut, but ate a right cross in return. Mendes took Swanson’s back and dragged him to the mat. He worked from the top until the bell. 10-9 Mendes.
Winner: Chad Mendes by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 8-0-0.
Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen vs Brad “One Punch” Pickett
Round 1:
The fighters exchanged single punches early in round one and Pickett caught a kick from Jorgensen. He dropped Jorgensen with a counter right hand, but Jorgensen got back to his feet. More punches landed for both fighters and Pickett caught another kick. He took Jorgensen down briefly and the fight soon returned to the feet. Pickett landed a combination and Jorgensen answered with a one-two. Pickett connected with a lead left hook and scrambled out of a Jorgensen takedown attempt.
Pickett scored with another lead left hand, but Jorgensen knocked his mouthpiece out with a straight punch. Pickett bent down to retrieve his mouthpiece as Jorgensen teed off with punches. Pickett was fine and smiled, and cracked Jorgensen with a hard one-two. Jorgensen took him down and had to fight out of a guillotine choke. The fight returned to the feet and Pickett threw a flying knee. The fighters threw hard punches and both landed in the final 20 seconds. Excellent round. 10-9 Pickett, barely.
Round 2:
Pickett landed a big right hand and a follow-up one-two to open the second round, then stuffed a takedown. A stiff jab scored for Pickett and he countered an uppercut with a knee in close. Pickett picked his shots with stiff jabs and right hands, then backed Jorgensen up with a flurry. Lead left hooks and more jabs landed for Pickett, but Jorgensen knocked his mouthpiece out again. This time, Pickett ignored it and the fighters exchanged hard punches. Pickett landed a one-two and time was called to replace his mouthpiece.
Jorgensen shot in for a takedown and Pickett stuffed it. Pickett clinched and landed a knee that strayed low. A brief timeout was called to give Jorgensen time to recover and the fighters absolutely teed off with punches after the restart. Pickett tried for a takedown and Jorgensen reversed. He worked from the top with short punches and Pickett looked to threaten with a guillotine choke. Jorgensen landed two elbows from the top and fought out of a triangle choke attempt. He tried for a standing guillotine, but Pickett escaped. Close round. 10-9 Jorgensen.
Round 3:
Pickett opened round three with lead left hooks and Jorgensen replied with quick combinations. Jabs and a looping left landed for Pickett and Jorgensen connected with a straight right. Jorgensen landed a one-two in close and took Pickett down. Pickett tried for a guillotine and a triangle choke from the bottom as Jorgensen threw elbows. Jorgensen scrambled out of the triangle and the fighters stood. Hard right hands landed for both fighters and Jorgensen scored another takedown.
Pickett tried to fight back to his feet, but Jorgensen had none of it. Pickett went for another triangle choke and Jorgensen had to react quickly to escape. He moved to side-control and threw knees to the body. Pickett’s already bloodied face began to swell as Jorgensen threw short elbows, but he managed to scramble to his feet. Jorgensen took his back in the process, but Pickett reversed and ended the round in Jorgensen’s guard. Great fight. 10-9 Jorgensen.
Winner: Scott Jorgensen by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-3-0.
Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski vs Zach Micklewright
Round 1:
Palaszewski opened the fight with a series of inside leg kicks and Micklewright countered with a straight left. The fighters traded punches and Micklewright scored with a hard one-two. Palaszewski was unfazed and landed a lead left hook, then clinched. A stalemate ensued against the cage and the fighters were separated. Palaszewski landed another leg kick and ate a left hand in return. Both fighters landed punches in close.
Palaszewski stopped Micklewright’s forward motion with a stiff right cross and the fighters exchanged punching flurries. Time was briefly called after Palaszewski was hit with a low blow, but the fight quickly continued. Soon after, Palaszewski threw a kick that strayed low and time was called again. Action resumed and Palaszewski landed a counter right hook. He followed with another combination and Micklewright backed up. An uppercut landed for Palaszewski and the fighters traded punches and kicks in the final seconds. 10-9 Palaszewski.
Round 2:
Palaszewski staggered Micklewright with a counter right hand early in the second round. Micklewright backed up and Palaszewski followed with more punches. He stunned Mickleweight with another flurry and a body kick, then floored him with a big right hand. Micklewright was badly dazed and referee Steve Mazzagatti waved off the fight.
Winner: Bart Palaszewski by KO (Punch) at 0:31 of round two. He improves to 35-13-0.
Undercard Fights:
Maciej “Irokez” Jewtuszko defeated Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani by TKO (Punches) at 1:35 of round one. He improves to 8-0-0 with the win.
Javier “Showtime” Vazquez defeated Mackens “Mack da Menace” Semerzier by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:35 of round two. He improves to 15-4-0 with the win.
Ricardo Lamas defeated Dave “The Fugitive” Jansen by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-1-0 with the win.
Fredson Paixao defeated Bryan “Kid Lightning” Caraway by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 10-3-0, 1 ND with the win.
Danny “Last Call” Castillo defeated Dustin Poirier by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-3-0 with the win.
As always, World Extreme Cagefighting showcased an excellent night of competitive and entertaining fights at WEC 50. The main event saw Dominick Cruz edge Joseph Benavidez to retain the WEC Bantamweight Championship, while Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Chad “Money” Mende, Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen and Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski all picked up wins on the televised main card.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)