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WEC Lightweight Division Fight
Shane Roller (4-1-0) vs. Mike Budnik (7-0-0)
After losing the first fight of his career to Jake Pruitt, Shane Roller has been on a four fight winning streak, with the last victory coming at WEC 35. In that four fight winning streak, Shane Roller has defeated Ryan Winthers, Erick Fernandez, Yoshihiro Kitaoka and Todd Moore. Out of his five professional fights, only one has gone past the first round, which was the loss to Jake Pruitt. Shane Roller is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with all four of his victories coming by knockout or submission. Mike Budnik is an undefeated fighter who has competed in the WEC, King Of The Cage and Extreme Fight League promotions. Mike Budnik made his WEC debut at WEC 35, where he defeated Greg McIntyre by submission in the third round. Of his seven professional victories, only one has gone to a decision, which speaks to Mike Budnik’s finishing abilities. Mike Budnik will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with four career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Mike Budnik
WEC Featherweight Division Fight
Hiroyuki “Street Fight Bancho” Takaya (9-5-1) vs. Cub Swanson (12-2-0)
Hiroyuki Takaya made his mark in MMA competing internationally in promotions like K-1 Hero’s and Shooto before coming to the WEC. In his WEC debut at WEC 32, Hiroyuki Takaya was defeated by top WEC Featherweight fighter Leonard Garcia by knockout in the first round. This fight against Cub Swanson will be Hiroyuki Takaya’s first fight in nearly a year, so conditioning could become a factor in this fight. Hiroyuki Takaya will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with six career victories coming by knockout. Cub Swanson has had an interesting run in the WEC, winning his first two fights over Tommy Lee and Micah Miller, before losing to Jens Pulver by submission in under a minute. Cub Swanson left the WEC after that fight to compete and defeat Donnie Walker at International Fighting & Boxing League 11. Besides competing in the WEC, Cub Swanson has also seen action in King Of The Cage, Total Combat and Beatdown In Bakersfield. Cub Swanson is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with ten career victories coming by knockout or submission.
My Prediction: Hiroyuki Takaya
WEC Lightweight Division Fight
Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski (29-11-0) vs. Alex Karalexis (9-3-0)
Bart Palaszewski was one of the top fighters to come out of the now defunct International Fight League, where he won eight fights and lost four fights. During his time in the IFL, Bart Palaszewski fought top fighters like Ryan Schultz, Chris Horodecki and Jim Miller. Bart Palaszewski last competed in the debut event for Adrenaline MMA, where he defeated Jeff Cox by knockout in the second round. This is a big fight for Bart Palaszewski, who could easily become a top contender for the WEC Lightweight Title that is currently held by Jamie Varner. Bart Palaszewski is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight goes, with twenty two victories coming by submission or knockout. Most MMA fans will remember Alex Karalexis as a cast member on the UFC Ultimate Fighter debut season. After his time in the UFC, Alex Karalexis moved to the WEC, where he defeated Thomas Denny, Olaf Alfonso and Josh Smith, before losing to Ed Ratcliff. It will be nearly a year since Alex Karalexis last competed, so conditioning could play a factor in this fight against Bart Palaszewski. Alex Karalexis will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Bart Palaszewski
WEC Featherweight Division Fight
Diego Nunes (11-0-0) vs. Cole Province (5-0-0)
Diego Nunes will be making his North American MMA debut in this fight after competing in Brazil for the past four years. Of his eleven professional MMA fights, only one of Diego Nunes’s fights have gone past the opening round, that fight was a victory over Jorge Santos Velho by knockout in the second round at Copa Gaucha: Fight Center 2. Diego Nunes is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with all eleven career victories coming by submission or knockout. Cole Province is another undefeated fighter who holds a victory over top fight Aaron Williams, whom he defeated at Masters Of The Cage 16. This will be the third fight of the year for Cole Province, who last competed in August and October of this year. Prior to coming to the WEC, Cole Province fought his last three fights in the Freestyle Cage Fighting promotion, where he defeated Jared Lopez, York Ash and Ed Wedding. Cole Province will be looking to put this fight on the ground, where he has attained all five of his career victories by submission.
My Prediction: Diego Nunes
WEC Welterweight Division Fight
Blas Avena (5-2-0) vs. Kevin Knabjan (10-3-1)
Blas Avena has spent the majority of his MMA career in the WEC, where he has fought five of seven career MMA fights. During his time in the WEC, Blas Avena has defeated Tiki Ghosn, Joe Benoit and Dave Terrell, while falling to Logan Clark and Hiromitsu Miura. Prior to coming to the WEC, Blas Avena competed in the Ultimate Combat Experience, where he defeated Benjamin Garcia and Jake Paul. Of his seven professional MMA fights, only one has gone past the first round, a loss to Logan Clark by knockout in round three at WEC 25. Blas Avena will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with three career victories coming by submission. Kevin Knabjan is a WEC veteran who has fought top fights like Brock Larson and Josh Rafferty in his MMA career. Kevin Knabjan is currently riding a four fight winning streak that has lasted more than a year with his last loss coming to Brock Larson at WEC 28 in June 2007. In another interesting note, none of Kevin Knabjan’s fourteen career fights have gone to a decision, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Kevin Knabjan is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with all ten career victories coming by knockout or submission.
My Prediction: Blas Avena
WEC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Mark Munoz (4-0-0) vs. Ricardo Barros (2-1-0)
This is an interesting fight in the WEC Light Heavyweight Division, because a victory will do little for either fighter, considering that the WEC Light Heavyweight Division was abolished earlier this year. Mark Munoz is an undefeated fighter who has competed once before in the WEC with a victory over Chuck Grigsby at WEC 34. Prior to coming to the WEC, Mark Munoz competed in the Palace Fighting Championships and Gladiator Challenge promotions. Mark Munoz will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a victory, with two victories coming by knockout. Ricardo Barros has had an interesting career in MMA, fighting his first two fights in 2000-2001, then returned to MMA after a seven year absence to defeat Eric Pribble by submission at Palace Fighting Championships 6. In his professional MMA debut fight, Ricardo Barros lost to top notch MMA fight Falaniko Vitale at Warriors Of The New Millennium 2. Ricardo Barros will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with his two previous victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Mark Munoz
WEC Welterweight Division Fight
Johny Hendricks (3-0-0) vs. Justin Haskins (4-1-0)
Johny Hendricks is an undefeated fighter who will be making his WEC debut, competing beforehand in the Masters Of The Cage, Extreme Fight League and High Roller Productions promotions. Those three victories for Johny Hendricks have come over Victor Ratcliff, Spencer Cowley and Richard Gamble. In his three professional fights, none have ended by way of decision, which speaks to the finishing abilities of Johny Hendricks. Johny Hendricks is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight goes, with his three career victories coming by submission or knockout. Justin Haskins is also making his WEC debut in this fight, already competing in the World Extreme Fighting and Battle Cage Xtreme promotions. Thus far in his career, Justin Haskins has defeated Reggie Pena, Don Wagner, Mike Medrano and Judah Ciervo, while suffering his lone loss to Mikey Gomez. Justin Haskins is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight goes, with three career victories coming by knockout or submission.
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
