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WEC Bantamweight Division Fight
Rani Yahya (11-4-0) vs. Yoshiro Maeda (23-5-2)
Rani Yahya is a WEC veteran, having fought two previous times in the WEC against Mark Hominick and former WEC Bantamweight Champion Chase Beebe. Prior to coming to the WEC, Rani Yahya fought in K-1 and won the TNT Vale Tudo 2 Tournament, defeating Luciano Santos, Muzila Muzila and Fabio Alves in one evening. Rani Yahya will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with ten career victories coming by way of submission. Yoshiro Maeda is returning to the WEC after losing his WEC Bantamweight Title opportunity to Miguel Torres at WEC 34. Prior to coming to the WEC in February 2008, Yoshiro Maeda primarily fought in Japan in such promotions as Pancrase, PRIDE and DEEP. Unlike Rani Yahya, Yoshiro Maeda will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a victory, with fourteen career victories coming by knockout..
My Prediction: Yoshiro Maeda
WEC Lightweight Division Fight
Danny Castillo (5-1-1) vs. Rafael Dias (11-4-1)
Prior to suffering the only loss of his career to Donald Cerrone at WEC 34, Danny Castillo was on a five fight undefeated streak. Danny Castillo is a veteran of the Gladiator Challenge, Palace Fighting Championship and Cage Combat Fighting Championships promotions and only one of his six past fights have gone past the opening round. Danny Castillo will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with four career victories coming by submission. Rafael Dias is a veteran of the now deceased International Fight League and other promotions like the Absolute Fighting Championships and Bodog Fight. The biggest fight in Rafael Dias’s career took place at Bodog Fight: Vancouver, where he lost to UFC veteran Per Eklund by unanimous decision. Rafael Dias will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with seven victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Rafael Dias
WEC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Carmelo “The Fury” Marrero (9-2-0) vs. Steve “The Hooligan” Steinbeiss (4-1-0)
This fight between Carmelo Marrero and Steve Steinbeiss will be forever remembered in WEC history as the final WEC Light Heavyweight Division fight. Carmelo Marrero is a UFC veteran who has taken on Cheick Kongo, Gabriel Gonzaga and Wilson Gouveia in the promotion. Carmelo Marrero has also fought MMA veteran Sherman Pendergrast and has spent time in the International Fight League. Carmelo Marrero will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with four career victories coming by submission. Steve Steinbeiss started off his MMA career with his first three career fights occurring in the Bodog Fight promotion, where he lost to UFC veteran Bill Mahood. After Bodog Fight closed down, Steve Steinbeiss fought in the Lets Get It On and Rock & Sock promotions. Steve Steinbeiss will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a victory, with three career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Carmelo Marrero
WEC Featherweight Division Fight
Jose Aldo (11-1-0) vs. Jonathan Brookins (8-2-0)
Jose Aldo is undefeated in WEC competition, with his previous WEC victory coming against Alexandre Franca Nogueira at WEC 34. Prior to coming to the WEC, Jose Aldo competed in international MMA events in promotions like Shooto and Jungle Fight. Jose Aldo is currently riding a four fight winning streak, with his last loss coming to Luciano Azevedo at Jungle Fight 5. Jose Aldo will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a victory, with six career victories coming by knockout. Jonathan Brookins is a veteran of the Combat Fighting Championships promotion and started off his career with a four fight undefeated streak that nearly lasted a year. Jonathan Brookins has yet to be knocked out or submitted, with both of his career losses coming by decision. Jonathan Brookins will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with five career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Jose Aldo
WEC Middleweight Division Fight
David Avellan (2-0-0) vs. Aaron Simpson (3-0-0)
This fight won’t do much in terms of WEC Middleweight Division rankings due to the division being abolished, but it could go a long way in terms of a fighter making it into the UFC. David Avellan is a fighter who has competed in both the Absolute Fighting Championships and Bodog Fight promotions. It has been more than a year since David Avellan last fought, so conditioning could play a factor in this fight. David Avellan is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with both of his victories coming by knockout and submission. Aaron Simpson is becoming quite the fighter in his young MMA career, with all of his victories coming by knockout. Thus far in his career, Aaron Simpson has defeated Tim Coulson, Scott Dingman and Travis Degraw, all by knockout. Prior to his last fight in May of 2008, the last two fights involving Aaron Simpson ended in the opening round.
My Prediction: Aaron Simpson
WEC Lightweight Division Fight
“Razor” Rob McCullough (16-4-0) vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (8-0-0)
Rob McCullough is the former WEC Lightweight Champion, who lost the title to Jamie Varner at WEC 32 and has stated that he wants a rematch if he defeated Donald Cerrone. Rob McCullough is a very experienced fighter who has fought the likes of Nam Phan, Kit Cope, Richard Crunkilton and current WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner. Rob McCullough will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a victory, with nine career victories coming by knockout. Donald Cerrone is an undefeated fighter who has already competed twice in the WEC against Kenneth Alexander and Danny Castillo. Prior to entering the WEC, Donald Cerrone primarily competed in the Ring Of Fire promotion, where he competed in five separate events. Of his eight professional fights, none of them have gone to decision and only two of eight fights have gone past the opening round. Donald Cerrone will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with all eight professional victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Donald Cerrone
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
