World Extreme Cagefighting came to the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado tonight for WEC 51: “Aldo vs Gamburyan.” The stacked event was headlined by a WEC Featherweight Championship bout between champion Jose Aldo Junior and top contender Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan.
Also on the card, lightweights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Jamie Varner squared off for a second time in a three-round grudge match, while unbeaten Chinese prospect Tie Quan “The Mongolian Wolf” Zhang made his WEC debut. MMARising.com has full results for all of the night’s fights.
WEC Featherweight Championship
Jose Aldo Junior vs Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan
Round 1:
Gamburyan scored with a big one-two to open the fight that sent Aldo backwards and off-balance. Aldo quickly recovered and landed a knee. The fighters traded jabs and Gamburyan landed a leg kick. Cautious kicks and jabs were exchanged and Gamburyan connected with a pair of quick combinations in close. A lunging one-two partially landed for Gamburyan, but Aldo covered up well.
The crowd grew restless with the relative inactivity compared to earlier fights in the evening, but Gamburyan continued to pick his shots with single punches and kicks. Aldo landed a vicious leg kick and Gamburyan staggered. Another hard leg kick landed for Aldo and Gamburyan looked to counter with a right hand. Gamburyan was poked in the eye, but referee Herb Dean instructed him to continue. Aldo stuffed a takedown with hammerfists before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Gamburyan.
Round 2:
Gamburyan rushed in and tried for a takedown early in the second round, but Aldo stuffed it and landed a leg kick. Aldo jabbed and threw an uppercut in close. Two punches rocked Gamburyan and Aldo dropped him with an uppercut. A dazed Gamburyan dove for Aldo’s legs, but Aldo punched free and knocked Gamburyan out cold with punches under Gamburyan’s arm from back control. Vicious ground and pound from Aldo, who retains the title.
Winner: Jose Aldo by KO (Punches) at 1:32 of round two. He improves to 18-1-0 and remains the WEC Featherweight Champion.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Jamie Varner
Round 1:
Cerrone rushed right in with punches and Varner clinched. The fighters traded knees and battled for position against the cage. Cerrone rocked Varner with a knee, but he somehow survived. Varner spit out his mouthpiece and time was called to replace it. Cerrone landed a hard leg kick, right hook combo. Varner fired back with a flurry, but Cerrone drilled him with another left. Varner connected with a lead left hook and Cerrone clinched. He landed knees until Varner punched free. Cerrone landed another hook-kick combo as Varner continued to circle backwards.
Cerrone scored a takedown, but Varner worked back to his feet against the cage. Varner stood and landed a combination, then backed away. Cerrone landed a leg kick, but was tagged by a solid one-two in return. He landed another leg kick and continued to score with punch-kick combinations. The fighters clinched very briefly and Cerrone landed a glancing head kick. He rocked Varner again with a punch and swarmed him with more strikes before the bell. 10-9 Cerrone.
Round 2:
Varner scored with a combination in the second round and Cerrone answered right back with a left hook and a leg kick. Varner targeted the body with a combination and landed a right hook. Cerrone once again scored with a left hook, leg kick combo and Varner seemed to have no answer for it. Varner replied with a left hook to the liver and a right hook to the jaw, but Cerrone took him down. He moved to side-control to fend off a guillotine from Varner. Cerrone moved to North-South and Varner scrambled back to his feet.
Yet another punch-kick combo scored for Cerrone and he ducked under a left hook. Cerrone threw a flying knee and a right hook as Varner began to bleed from near the left eye. A lunging one-two landed for Cerrone and he followed with a lead left hook. Cerrone landed a leg kick and tried for a takedown, but Varner stuffed it. A punch-kick combo sent Varner off-balance and Cerrone tried for a trip takedown. Varner backed away and checked a leg kick. He tried unsuccessfully for a takedown and Cerrone resumed his assault with another combination. 10-9 Cerrone.
Round 3:
The fighters touched gloves to begin the final round and Varner sidestepped a leg kick. Cerrone mixed up his combination by adding two additional punches before throwing a leg kick. The fighters clinched briefly and Cerrone landed a big kick to the body. Cerrone tried for a takedown and landed a one-two as Varner circled away. Varner scored with a hard overhand right. And another. Cerrone was unfazed and answered with a knee. He ducked under a right hook from Varner and landed a left.
Varner connected with a right hook to the body and just missed with a one-two. Cerrone took him down and landed short elbows from the top as Varner bled from the nose and eyebrow. Varner tried to scramble to his feet and did so. Cerrone shot in, but could not take Varner down. Varner threw a lunging flurry that missed the mark. Single punches landed for both fighters and Cerrone connected with a right hand and leg kicks. Carrone landed front kicks before the bell.
Winner: Donald Cerrone by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-3-0, 1 NC.
Miguel Torres vs Charlie Valencia
Round 1:
Torres threw a handful of leg kicks early in the first round as Valencia circled to the sides. Valencia threw a head kick, but missed. He landed a leg kick of his own and Torres fired back with a one-two. The fighters remained cautious until Valencia rushed forward with a flurry that missed the mark. He landed another leg kick and Torres quickly countered with one in return. Valencia turtled up as Torres unleashed a barrage of punches and he backed Valencia up to the cage.
Torres threw short punches in close until Valencia broke free with a knee. Valencia threw a flurry to the body, but Torres backed up and only one punch landed. Time was called after a kick from Torres strayed low. Action resumed and Valencia seemed to be motivated. He began to land leg kicks and circled around Torres. Valencia ducked under a series of jabs from Torres, but Torres floored him with a punch late in the round. He swarmed with punches, but Valencia held on until the bell. 10-9 Torres.
Round 2:
Valencia threw a head kick to open the second round and missed with a looping overhand right. He dove for a sloppy takedown and Torres made him pay with a right hand and a kick. Valencia dropped after a body shot and Torres tried for a guillotine choke. He stood and dropped Valencia with a knee. Valencia recovered and regained guard, but Torres quickly moved to side-control. He took Valencia’s back and locked on a body triangle. Valencia defended well, but Torres eventually locked on a rear-naked choke and Valencia was forced to submit.
Winner: Miguel Torres by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:25 of round two. He improves to 38-3-0.
George Roop vs “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung
Round 1:
Roop landed a nice jab to open the fight and the fighters traded leg kicks. Jung missed with two looping punches. Roop fired off a head kick that Jung partially blocked and both fighters landed punches. Jung connected with a one-two and Roop answered with two jabs and a head kick. Jung pushed forward and landed an uppercut, but Roop replied with a flurry and a body kick. Jung punched his way into a clinch, but Roop shrugged him off. Roop jabbed and Jung drilled him with an overhand right.
Roop was unfazed and landed two more jabs and a body shot. More jabs landed for Roop and Jung caught a kick. He clinched and backed Roop to the cage, but Roop reversed and dirty boxed in close. He backed away and Jung threw a leg kick that missed. Roop landed a quick one-two and more jabs. The fighters traded big bombs and Roop followed with a three-punch combo and a head kick. Jung landed a glancing right hook. Roop rushed in with four punches, but Jung ducked under all of them. Roop jabbed until the bell. 10-9 Roop.
Round 2:
Roop opened the second round with a stiff jab and the fighters traded punches. More jabs landed for Roop and he followed with a delayed head kick. Jung swarmed with punches and Roop fired back with some of his own. Roop jabbed and fired off a massive left head kick. Jung, out cold instantly, fell to the mat and his forehard smashed off of his own knee. Devastating knockout win for Roop.
Winner: George Roop by KO (Head Kick) at 1:30 of round two. He improves to 11-6-1.
Mark “The Machine” Hominick vs Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia
Round 1:
Garcia flashed out a quick head kick and the fighters traded punches early on. Garcia threw another head kick and a right hand to the body. A quick one-two and a combination to the head and body followed for Garcia and he landed a glancing head kick. Hominick fired back with punches and Garcia answered with three of his own. Garcia stumbled after throwing a leg kick and Hominick tagged him with a flurry. Garcia threw a combination and missed with a wild lead left hook.
Hominick landed a left hook to the body and a right cross, then snapped his head back with a jab. Garcia began to miss with his counterpunches and Hominick scored with more jabs. Garcia landed a solid body kick and the fighters exchanged jabs. Garcia connected with a right cross and missed with a spinning kick. Garcia threw a lunging hook and missed a head kick. Hominick remained the aggressor and landed a nice counter left. Garcia threw a stiff leg kick and Hominick jabbed before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Garcia.
Round 2:
The fighters picked up the pace early in round two and both landed punches in an exchange. Hominick targeted the body and landed a glancing right hand near Garcia’s left eye. A nice right cross scored for Hominick and Garcia answered with a flurry, but Hominick clipped him with a counterpunch in close. Hominick jabbed and Garcia missed with a wild, lunging uppercut. Hominick landed more jabs and Garcia fired back with single punches; most of which missed. Hominick landed a short jab, then staggered him with a straight left to the jaw.
More jabs and a right hand all landed for Hominick and Garcia missed wildly with counterpunches. Garcia began to throw jabs of his own, but Hominick kept him at bay and landed a looping right hook behind the ear. Hominick scored with more jabs and sidestepped a combination. He followed with a right cross and jabs that bloodied Garcia’s nose. Garcia landed a body shot, but Hominick backed him up with punches. Garcia landed a hard right hand late in the round. 10-9 Hominick.
Round 3:
Hominick landed a one-two early in the final round, but Garcia managed to put together some crisp combinations. More jabs landed for Hominick and Garcia slipped while throwing a kick. A stiff jab snapped Garcia’s head back and Homonick connected with a left hook to the body. Garcia fired back with a body kick and Hominick answered with jabs and another body shot. Garcia landed a nice right hand and Hominick peppered him with jabs. A right cross backed Garcia up, but he recovered and rushed in with a flurry.
Hominick continued to land jabs at will and blocked the counterpunches from Garcia. Another body shot and more jabs all landed for Hominick as Garcia appeared to fatigue. Garcia missed with a looping right hook and Hominick briefly dropped him with a straight left counter. A combination and two jabs scored for Hominick and Garcia missed with a flurry and a head kick. Again, Garcia missed badly with a trio of punches. Hominick bloodied Garcia’s nose again with jabs and Garcia was unable to land a knockout blow in the final seconds. 10-9 Hominick.
The judge who scored the fight for Garcia should not be allowed near a scorecard again anytime soon.
Winner: Mark Hominick by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 19-8-0.
Tie Quan “The Mongolian Wolf” Zhang vs Pablo “The Scarecrow” Garza
Round 1:
Garza missed with a head kick early on and the fighters clinched. Both landed knees and Zhang mixed in punches before throwing Garza to the mat. He locked on a Brabo Choke as Garza tried to get back to his feet, but Garza escaped and worked for an armbar. Zhang evaded danger, but Garza kept him trapped in his guard. Zhang stood and passed to half-guard. He once again secured a guillotine choke and rolled to his back. Garza had nowhere to go and was forced to tap. Big win for Zhang in his WEC debut.
Winner: Tie Quan Zhang by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:26 of round one. He improves to 12-0-0.
Undercard Fights:
Mike Brown defeated Cole Province by TKO (Punches) at 1:18 of round one. He improves to 24-6-0 with the win.
Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki defeated Ed “9mm” Ratcliff by Split Decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 16-2-0 with the win.
Diego “The Gun” Nunes defeated Tyler Toner by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-1-0 with the win.
Antonio Banuelos defeated Chd “The Savage” George by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 18-6-0 with the win.
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defeated Nick Pace by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0 with the win.
With devastating knockout and entertaining fights throughout, WEC 51 was another excellent event for World Extreme Cagefighting. Chinese prospect Tie Quan Zhang notched his first victory in the WEC, while Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone evened the score at 1-1 with Jamie Varner. In the main event, Jose Aldo Junior once again showed why he is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport when he knocked out Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan in the second round.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)