World Extreme Cagefighting 38 Results
by Robert Sargent
Following a night of explosive finishes and exciting fights, WEC 38 featured just a single blemish, as the WEC Lightweight Championship main event between Jamie "The Worm" Varner and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone ended controversially in the fifth round.
The main event, which saw Varner dominate the action for most of the first four rounds, went to the judges after an illegal knee from Cerrone left Varner unable to see in the final round.
WEC Lightweight Championship
Jamie "The Worm" Varner vs Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone
Though the fight ended with a rarely-seen Technical Decision, the duration of this battle was highly entertaining and saw Cerrone hold his own against the reigning champion.Varner threw an early combination and was met with a stiff kick to the body. The fighters traded leg kicks and big punches in an exchange, and Varner rocked Cerrone with a left hook and a right cross seconds later. He took Cerrone down and slammed his way out of a modified shoulder lock. Cerrone trapped Varner in the hold once again and prevented him from doing anything. Varner stood up and unleashed bombs from the top, but Cerrone kept calm and tried for submissions. Varner continued to throw haymakers from a standing position, then dropped elbows that caused a huge mouse to develop on Cerrone's forehead. Varner stood up again and landed more punches, but Cerrone fought back to his feet and stalked Varner with punches and a body kick before the bell. 10-9 Varner.
Cerrone opened up round two with kicks to the body, but Varner scored another takedown and worked from half-guard. He landed elbows and punches to the head of Cerrone, who rolled and got back to his feet. A quick combination landed for Varner, but Cerrone fired back with another body kick. Both fighters landed punches in an exchange, and Cerrone followed up with a head kick. Varner caught a knee and took Cerrone down, where Cerrone once again locked on a modified shoulder lock. Varner postured up and rained down punches, then escaped a triangle choke attempt and got back to his feet. Cerrone pushed the pace with kicks to the legs and body, as Varner countered with quick punches. The fighters traded strikes and Varner narrowly missed with a wild overhand right. He took Cerrone down, but Cerrone locked on a tight triangle choke and Varner was saved by the bell. 10-9 Varner.
An early exchange in round three saw Varner land a one-two and Cerrone score with a knee to the head. Cerrone followed up with kicks that kept Varner on the defensive. Two head kicks partially landed for Cerrone, but he slipped while throwing the second. Varner scored with three hard punches that left Cerrone backpedalling. Varner scored a takedown and opened a cut beside Cerrone's left eye. Cerrone tried to get up and fought off a guillotine choke. Cerrone could barely see through his swollen and bloodied eyes, but continued to throw kicks. Varner landed a hard one-two, but Cerrone continued to land quick punches and kicks. More punches and kicks landed for Cerrone, but Varner drilled him with a right hook. Varner scored a takedown late in the round and Cerrone once again employed a shoulder lock before the end of the close round. 10-9 Varner.
Cerrone's face was a mess going into round four, and Varner landed a perfect head kick seconds into the round. Cerrone countered with a head kick of his own and continued to stalk Varner. Cerrone tried a flying knee, but missed. Both fighters landed stiff kicks to the body and Cerrone followed up with a quick flurry. Varner scored a takedown and worked from Cerrone's guard. Cerrone looked for armbars and triangles as Varner punished him with elbows. Again, Cerrone employed the shoulder lock that he had used in the previous rounds to nullify Varner's offence. Cerrone got back to his feet and walked down Varner with kicks. Varner scored another takedown and threw punches from the top, but Cerrone fired back with punches of his own. Varner moved to half-guard and landed elbows before the close round ended. 10-9 Varner.
The fighters embraced to begin round five, then went back to throwing kicks and punches. Varner scored a takedown and escaped a triangle choke attempt. Cerrone kicked his way back to his feet and defended a takedown attempt. Cerrone then scored a takedown of his own and landed strikes from Varner's half-guard. However, as Varner worked his way back to his feet, Cerrone drilled him with an illegal knee to the eye region when Varner's knees were still on the mat. Varner immediately covered his face in great pain and stated that he could not see. After a lengthy delay, it was deemed that Varner could not continue and, as it had gone more than three rounds, the fight went to the scorecards.
It was originally feared that Varner had suffered a detached retina, which could potentially end his career, but later reports suggested that a rematch between him and Cerrone could take place later in the year, so his vision must have improved. In the end, two judges correctly scored the bout 49-46 for Varner - though only the first four rounds were supposed to be judged - but one bizarrely gave the fight to Cerrone with a score of 48-47. Varner takes the Split Technical Decision to retain the title.
Winner: Jamie Varner by Technical Decision - Split (49-46, 49-46, 47-48) at 1:46 of round five. He improves to 16-2-0, 2 NC and remains the WEC Lightweight Champion.
"The California Kid" Urijah Faber vs Jens "Lil' Evil" Pulver
In a rematch that never should have taken place, Faber didn't let the fight go to the judges a second time, as he hurt Pulver with a body shot early in round one and quickly finished the fight with a modified guillotine choke.Pulver caught an early head kick attempt from Faber and threw him to the mat, but Faber reversed and the fighters briefly clinched. Pulver pressed forward with punches, but Faber pushed him against the cage. Faber landed a left hook to the body that had Pulver wincing in pain as he backed away, and Faber pounced with kicks, knees and punches. He then locked on a modified side guillotine choke and Pulver was forced to quickly submit.
After the fight, Pulver, whose days in the sport are clearly numbered, stated that he would not yet retire and still had fight left in him. Faber will presumably be given a chance to regain the WEC Featherweight Championship in his next fight.
Winner: Urijah Faber by Submission (Modified Guillotine Choke) at 1:33 of round one. He improves to 22-2-0.
Danillo "Indio" Villefort vs Mike "The Beast" Campbell
Campbell came out strong with quick kicks and a takedown, but Villefort eventually took Campbell's back and landed a series of unanswered punches that forced the referee to stop the fight late in round one.Campbell scored with numerous kicks to the body early in round one, then pressed forward for a takedown. Villefort attempted to lock on a triangle choke, but Campbell picked him up and slammed him to the mat. Villefort locked up rubber guard again, then looked for an omoplata, but Campbell escaped. Villefort transitioned to a heel hook and a kneebar, but Campbell rolled and managed to avoid danger. The fighters traded strikes and Campbell scored another takedown. Villefort attempted an armbar, then used a kneebar to reverse to side-control. He took Campbell's back, but Campbell stood up and ducked a head kick. Villefort threw him right back down to the mat and moved to mount, then took Campbell's back again. After a series of unanswered punches, the referee stopped the fight.
Winner: Danillo Villefort by TKO (Punches) at 3:53 of round one. He improves to 9-2-0.
Jose "Junior" Aldo vs Rolando Perez
Living up to the hype that continues to follow him, Aldo dropped Perez with a vicious knee late in round one and finished the fight with a series of punches that left Perez unconscious.After the fighters traded punches, Aldo opened up with a series of hard kicks to the lead leg of Perez. Both fighters landed kicks to the legs, but Aldo's clearly had more force and impact. Aldo landed a head kick and a jumping knee, but Perez fired back with a one-two. A leg kick landed for Aldo, but Perez replied with a head kick. Perez continued to have no defence for the leg kicks, but he scored with two quick combinations. Aldo landed a combination of his own, but Perez held strong. Aldo began to work his jab, then landed an overhand right. Perez, cut on the nose, continued to throw leg kicks, but they had little effect. Perez dove forward for a takedown and Aldo countered with a perfectly-timed knee to the face. He followed up with a barrage of punches before the referee jumped in to save Perez.
Winner: Jose Aldo by KO (Knee & Punches) at 4:15 of round one. He improves to 13-1-0.
Scott "Young Gun" Jorgensen vs Frank Gomez
Quickly taking the fight to the ground, Jorgensen wasted no time in locking on a pair of guillotine chokes, and Gomez was unable to escape from the second.Following a brief striking exchange, Jorgensen scored a takedown and immediately locked on a guillotine choke. Gomez initially escaped the choke and looked to get back to his feet, but Jorgensen retained front control and locked on another guillotine from a standing position as Gomez fell to his knees. This time, Gomez could not escape the choke and was forced to submit.
Winner: Scott Jorgensen by Submission (Standing Guillotine Choke) at 1:09 of round one. He improves to 6-2-0.
Undercard Fights:
Benson "Smooth" Henderson defeated Anthony Njokuani by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:42 of round two. He improves to 8-1-0 with the win.Edgar Garcia defeated Hiromitsu Miura by KO (Punches) at 1:18 of round one. He improves to 7-0-0 with the win.
Dominic Cruz defeated Ian McCall by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-1-0 with the win.
Jesse Lennox defeated Blas Avena by KO (Knee & Punches) at 0:41 of round two. He improves to 10-1-0 with the win.
Charlie Valencia defeated Seth "2 Quik" Dikun by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 10-5-0 with the win.
The unfortunate ending of the main event aside, WEC 38 reaffirmed once again that the WEC is one of the top promotions in the world, and that trend is sure to continue at WEC 39 in March.
