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Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2) vs. Jeff “Big Frog†Curran (29-11-1)
Takeya Mizugaki made his WEC debut in unusual circumstances, as the challenger to WEC Featherweight Champion Miguel Torres at WEC 40. Before making his WEC debut at WEC 40, Takeya Mizugaki competed overseas in promotions like Shooto and GCM Cage Force. The loss to Miguel Torres at WEC 40 snapped a five fight winning streak for Takeya Mizugaki, which lasted over a year. While competing in the GCM Cage Force promotion, Takeya Mizugaki went undefeated in the promotion and only had one fight enter the third round. Takeya Mizugaki will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with four victories coming by knockout. Jeff Curran has had a failure of a run in the WEC thus far, with victories coming over Bao Quach and Stephen Leadbetter, while suffering defeats to Urijah Faber, Mike Brown and Joseph Benavidez. Jeff Curran also had brief runs in the UFC and PRIDE, where he fought former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra and Hatsu Hioki. This fight is a must win for Jeff Curran, who has lost three of his last four WEC fights and hasn’t had an MMA victory in two years. Jeff Curran will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eighteen victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Takeya Mizugaki
WEC Lightweight Division Fight
Ricardo Lamas (6-0-0) vs. Danny Castillo (7-1-0)
Ricardo Lamas is an undefeated fighter who made his WEC debut at WEC 39 as a late replacement fighter, then defeating Bart Palaszewski by unanimous decision. Prior to competing in the WEC, Ricardo Lamas competed in the Warriors Collide promotion, where he defeated James Birdsley and Gabe Miranda. Ricardo Lamas made his professional MMA debut in 2008, fighting five times that year and winning all five of those fights. Ricardo Lamas will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with two victories coming by way of submission. Danny Castillo has had a decent run thus far in WEC competition, with victories over Phil Cardella and Rafael Dias, with a lone loss coming to Donald Cerrone. Danny Castillo also competed in the Gladiator Challenge and Cage Combat Fighting Championships promotions, where he fought Billy Terry, Gigo Jara, Noah Shinable and Isaiah Hill. Of his eight professional fights, only one of them has gone to a decision, which speaks to Danny Castillo’s finishing abilities. Danny Castillo will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with four victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Ricardo Lamas
WEC Bantamweight Division Fight
Joseph Benavidez (10-0-0) vs. Dominick Cruz (13-1-0)
Joseph Benavidez is an undefeated fighter who has fought twice before in the WEC, defeating Danny Martinez and Jeff Curran. Joseph Benavidez also fought overseas in the DREAM promotion, defeating Junya Kudo by submission. Joseph Benavidez also spent some time in the Palace Fighting Championships promotion, defeating Jason Georgianna and Maurice Eazel. A victory for Joseph Benavidez in this fight could make him the top contender to the WEC Bantamweight Title. Joseph Benavidez will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with six victories coming by way of submission. Dominick Cruz is a fighter who has had a successful run in the WEC with victories over Charlie Valencia, Ian McCall and Ivan Lopez, with a loss coming against Urijah Faber. The loss to Urijah Faber at WEC 26 snapped a nine fight undefeated streak for Dominick Cruz that lasted two years. Dominick Cruz also spent a lot of time in the Total Combat and Rage In The Cage promotions, where he went undefeated in nine fights at both promotions. Dominick Cruz will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with five prior victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Joseph Benavidez
WEC Bantamweight Title Fight
Miguel Torres (37-1-0) *Champion* vs. Brian Bowles (7-0-0)
Miguel Torres is widely considered by most people within the MMA world to be one of the greatest MMA fighters in the sport. Miguel Torres has been undefeated thus far in the WEC with victories over Jeff Bedard, Chase Beebe, Yoshiro Maeda, Manny Tapia and Takeya Mizugaki. Miguel Torres started off his MMA career in impressive fashion with a twenty fight undefeated streak that lasted over three years. Following his lone loss to Ryan Ackerman, Miguel Torres has currently been on a seventeen fight winning streak that lasted over five years. Miguel Torres will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with twenty two victories coming by way of submission. Brian Bowles is an undefeated fighter who has fought more than half of his career fights in the WEC promotion. While in the WEC, Brian Bowles has achieved victories over Charlie Valencia, Marcos Galvao, Damacio Page and Will Ribeiro. Brian Bowles has also spent a little time in the Wild Bill’s Fight Night promotion, where he defeated Tim Honeycutt and Charles Nutt. Of his seven career fights, only one has gone to a decision for Brian Bowles, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Brian Bowles will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with five previous victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Miguel Torres
(Note: I will be doing live coverage of WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles right here on PWInsiderXtra.com on Sunday August 9th at 9pm EST.)
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