Following on the heels of the less-than-stellar UFC 101, MMA fans got another dose of action, with WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres defending his title against Brian Bowles in the main event of WEC 42. The fight card included several additional bantamweight bouts to help determine the next contender for the winner of the main event. The televised portion of the event began with Leonard Garcia looking to rebound from a knockout loss to the featherweight champion Mike Brown in his previous fight.
Leonard Garcia vs. Jameel Massouh (145 lbs)
Round 1: The first round is fairly even on the feet until Garcia scores a knockdown and follows Massouh to the ground trying to finish. Massouh recovers and gets back to his feet, then takes Garcia down. Massouh finishes the round with punches and elbows from half-guard as Garcia attempts submissions from the bottom. Round 10-9 Garcia
Round 2: Garcia is looking for a knockout punch, and Massouh takes it to the ground early. Garcia attempts a guillotine; Massouh escapes and passes into half guard. Massouh locks on a brabo choke. Garcia eventually frees himself from the hold, but it looks to have taken its toll as he is unsteady on the feet, and Massouh punishes Garcia with knees from clinch. Round 10-9 Massouh
Round 3: The third round takes place mostly on the feet, with Garcia swinging for the fences. Neither fighter has a significant advantage and both land a number of strikes, with Garcia edging out the round based on aggression. Round 10-9 Garcia
Leonard Garcia wins a split decision with the scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29
Fight grade: 3/5
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Jeff Curran (135 lbs)
Round 1: Curran looks for a takedown; Mizugaki sprawls and they are stalled against the fence. Mizugaki with elbows to the body. Curran keeps trying to drag Mizugaki down, Mizugaki counters with a throw. Currant attempts an armbar and Mizugaki escapes and remains on top. Round 10-9 Mizugaki.
Round 2: The fighters exchange, both landing strikes. Mizugaki clinches and throws Curran. Mizugaki works from the top. Curran attempts a triangle, then a guillotine. The round ends with Mizugaki attempting to break free of the choke. Round 10-9 Curran.
Round 3: After an initial exchange, Curran goes for a takedown and Mizugaki reverses and trips Curran. Mizugaki pounds Curran, but Curran has a very active guard, alternating triangle attempts with strikes from the bottom. Curran with another triangle attempt and it looks tight; he switches to an armbar then back to the triangle but the time runs out. Round 10-9 Curran.
Takeya Mizugaki wins a split decision with the scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29
Fight grade: 3/5
Ricardo Lamas vs. Danny Castillo (155 lbs)
Round 1: The first round is all standup, with Castillo repeatedly throwing punch combinations and Lamas responding with kicks. Lamas is landing thought not doing much damage, while most of Castillo’s strikes find air. Round 10-9 Lamas.
Round 2: Castillo mixes up his striking a bit, leading off with leg kicks. Both fighters attempt takedowns and neither succeeds, so they go back to trading on the feet. Castillo keeps throwing 1-2 combinations and finally lands a punch on the dot, dropping Lamas. Castillo continues punching away for a TKO finish.
Fight grade: 3/5
Joseph Benavidez vs. Dominick Cruz (135 lbs)
Round 1: Benavidez comes out aggressive and gets caught early with a punch that momentarily drops him. Benavidez attempts a takedown but Cruz ends up on top and stands back up. Cruz with a takedown of his own, passes guard but Benavidez escapes. Benavidez’s speed and aggression are negated by the size and strength disadvantage. Round 10-9 Cruz.
Round 2: Benavidez charges in landing combinations; Cruz fires back with a flurry that backs Benavidez away. Cruz pursues with punches and knees. Benavidez goes for a takedown and ends up on his back again. Cruz out-lands Benavidez for most of the round, scoring another takedown towards the end. Round 10-9 Cruz.
Round 3: Benavidez is trying to overcome the reach disadvantage with kicks. Cruz takes Benavidez down with a trip. Cruz is alternating standup with takedowns, and Benavidez looks hurt towards the end of the round as Cruz takes his back and looks for a choke, then ends the round with a flurry of strikes. Round 10-9 Cruz.
Dominick Cruz wins a unanimous decision with the scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28
Fight grade: 4/5
Champion Miguel Torres vs. Brian Bowles (135 lbs title bout)
Round 1: After some initial circling, Bowles draws first blood rocking Torres with a hook. Torres recovers quickly and goes into attack mode, backing Bowles up against the cage with a combination. Bowles takes Torres down and Miguel immediately attempts an armbar. Bowles backs out and gets blasted with up-kicks. They exchange on the feet and Torres rocks Bowles, then chases him across the cage throwing wild punches. Bowles covers up and fires back, knocking down Torres with a counter. Bowles pounces on Torres; Miguel tries for an armbar but he is dazed and getting pounded. One of Bowles’ punches renders Torres unconscious, and he lands two more before the referee steps in, making Brian Bowles the new WEC bantamweight champion.
Fight grade: 5/5
As usual, WEC exceeded expectations and wiped out the disappointment of the previous night’s UFC event.
Event grade: 4/5