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Mackens “Mack Da Menace†Semerzier (5-0-0) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (11-3-0)
Mackens Semerzier made his WEC debut at WEC 43 in October 2009, defeating Wagnney Fabiano by submission in the first round. Prior to coming to the WEC in 2009, Mackens Semerzier was a veteran of the Cagefest Xtreme promotion, where he defeated Justin Hickey and Jason Hillicker. Of his five professional MMA fights, Mackens Semerzier has only seen one go past the first round, which speaks to his finishing ability. Mackens Semerzier will be entering the fight riding a five fight undefeated streak, which has currently lasted over a year. Mackens Semerzier will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with four previous victories coming by submission. Deividas Taurosevicius made his WEC debut at WEC 43 in October 2009, defeating Javier Vasquez by split decision. Deividas Taurosevicius was a veteran of the International Fight League, where he defeated Zac George, Savant Young and Bart Palaszewski, while suffering a lone defeat to Ryan Schultz. Early in his MMA career, Deividas Taurosevicius had competed against UFC veterans Dan Lauzon and Frankie Edgar in separate MMA fights. Deividas Taurosevicius has only fought twice in the past two years, so a little bit of ring rust can be a factor in the fight. Deividas Taurosevicius will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eight professional MMA victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Mackens Semerzier
WEC Featherweight Division Fight
Mike Brown (22-5-0) vs. Anthony “Cheesecake†Morrison (15-7-0)
Mike Brown is the former WEC Featherweight Champion, who lost his title to Jose Aldo at WEC 44 in November 2009. Prior to the loss, Mike Brown had defeated Jeff Curran, Urijah Faber (twice) and Leonard Garcia in WEC competition. Mike Brown also has experience in the UFC, losing to Genki Sudo at UFC 47 over five years ago in 2004. The loss to Jose Aldo at WEC 44 snapped a ten fight winning streak for Mike Brown, which had lasted over three years. During that winning streak, Mike Brown had defeated longtime UFC and Elite XC veteran Yves Edwards at a Bodog Fight event. Mike Brown will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with twelve victories coming by way of submission. Anthony Morrison will be making his WEC debut in this fight, but he is a longtime veteran of the Combat Sports Challenge promotion. While in the Combat Sports Challenge promotion, Anthony Morrison had defeated Matt Andrews, Travis Worenscroft, Patrick Upton, Dan Swift, Anthony Biondo, Alvin Decker, Nelson Sobral and Jay Palmer, while suffering a defeat to Ricardo Tirlone. This fight will mark the third fight in three months for Anthony Morrison, and he will be entering the fight on a two fight winning streak. Anthony Morrison has already fought top MMA fighters like Micah Miller and Jim Miller before entering the WEC. Anthony Morrison will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with nine victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Mike Brown
WEC Lightweight Division Fight
Dave “The Fugitive†Jansen (14-0-0) vs. Kamal “Prince Of Persia†Shalorus (5-0-1)
Dave Jansen made his WEC debut at WEC 43 in October 2009, where he defeated Richard Crunkilton Jr., by unanimous decision. Dave Jansen recently had a successful run in the M-1 Challenge promotion, where he defeated Flavio Alvaro, Ui Cheol Nam and Amirkhan Mazihov. Dave Jansen is also a veteran of the Sport Fight promotion, where he defeated Matt Slosser, Dennis Parks, Jeremy Burnett, Tommy Truex and Sterling Ford. Dave Jansen is a fighter known for taking tons of fights a year, averaging five MMA fights a year since making his professional MMA debut in 2007. Dave Jansen will be entering the fight riding a fourteen fight undefeated streak which has lasted over three years. Dave Jansen will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eight prior victories coming by way of submission. Kamal Shalorus made his WEC debut at WEC 44 in November 2009, defeating Will Kerr by knockout. Kamal Shalorus is a veteran of the Supreme Warrior Challenge promotion, where he defeated Edwyn Jones and Justin Miller. Kamal Shalorus also spent time in the King Of Kombat promotion, where he holds a victory over Jeff Davis and fought Mikel Bronzoulis to a draw. Of his six professional MMA fights, Kamal Shalorus has only seen one go to a decision, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Kamal Shalorus will be entering the fight riding a five fight undefeated streak that has lasted over a year. Kamal Shalorus will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with four victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Dave Jansen
WEC Featherweight Division Fight
“The California Kid†Urijah Faber (22-3-0) vs. Raphael Assuncao (14-1-0)
Urijah Faber is a former WEC Featherweight Champion who lost the title to Mike Brown at WEC 36 in November 2008. In his other WEC fights, Urijah Faber has defeated Joe Pearson, Dominick Cruz, Chance Farrar, Jeff Curran and Jens Pulver, while suffering a defeat to Mike Brown in their rematch. The only other career loss suffered by Urijah Faber thus far came to UFC veteran Tyson Griffin at a Gladiator Challenge event in late 2005. This fight against Raphael Assuncao will mark the first time in over two years that Urijah Faber hasn’t fought either Mike Brown or Jens Pulver in WEC competition. Urijah Faber returns to the WEC after a six month layoff, due to hand injuries he suffered in his last fight against Mike Brown. Urijah Faber will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eleven victories coming by way of submission. Raphael Assuncao has currently gone undefeated in WEC competition, defeating both Jameel Massouh and Yves Jabouin. Prior to entering the WEC in early 2009, Raphael Assuncao had fought UFC veterans Jeff Curran and Joe Lauzon in past MMA fights. Raphael Assuncao had started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with an eight fight undefeated streak that had lasted over two years. Raphael Assuncao will be entering this fight riding a six fight winning streak that had lasted nearly three years. The lone loss thus far in the MMA career of Raphael Assuncao came to UFC/WEC veteran Jeff Curran at an Xtreme Fighting Organization event in 2006. Raphael Assuncao will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eight victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Urijah Faber
WEC Lightweight Title Unification Fight
Jamie “C-4†Varner (16-2-0) (WEC Lightweight Champion) vs. Ben “Smooth†Henderson (10-1-0) (WEC Interim Lightweight Champion)
Jamie Varner is the current WEC Lightweight Champion and has gone undefeated in WEC competition, holding victories over Sherron Leggett, Rob McCullough, Marcus Hicks and Donald Cerrone. Jamie Varner is coming of both hand and eye injuries suffered in the fight against Donald Cerrone, so his conditioning could be a factor in the fight. Jamie Varner does have some experience in the UFC, defeating Jason Gilliam and suffering a defeat to Hermes Franca. It has been nearly a year since Jamie Varner last had an MMA fight, so cage rust can become a factor in the fight. Jamie Varner will be entering the fight ring a five fight winning streak that has lasted well over three years. Jamie Varner will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with nine victories coming by way of submission. Ben Henderson is the current WEC Interim Lightweight Champion and is currently undefeated in WEC competition, with victories over Anthony Njokuani, Shane Roller and Donald Cerrone. Ben Henderson is a veteran of the Victory Fighting Championships promotion, where he defeated Allen Williams and Bryan Corley. Ben Henderson also fought in the Maximum Fighting Championships promotion, where he defeated Mike Maestas and Richard Tirlone. Ben Henderson will be entering the fight riding a nine fight winning streak which has currently lasted nearly three years. The lone loss in the career of Ben Henderson came against Chad Klingensmith at a Ring Of Fire event in late 2006. Ben Henderson will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with six victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Ben Henderson
(Note: I will be providing live coverage of WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson on PWInsiderXtra this Sunday Night January 10th at 9pm EST.)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
