Returning to Las Vegas, WEC 45 had a lackluster lineup by the usual WEC standards: no title matches or clear #1 contender bouts – just a series of bouts in the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions, headlined by Donald ‘The Cowboy’ Cerrone taking on Ed ‘9mm’ Ratcliff.  Here’s how it went down:

Scott Jorgensen  vs. Takeya Mizugaki (135 lbs)

Round 1: Mizugaki leads off with punches and Jorgensen counters with a right hook, dropping Mizugaki.  Jorgensen follows to the ground and looks for a guillotine.  Mizugaki defends and works back to his feet.  Mizugaki lands a combination to the body.  They clinch and Mizugaki throws knees; Jorgensen catches one and throws Mizugaki down.  Takeya instantly gets back up and goes back to trading punches until Jorgensen knocks him down for the second time.  Jorgensen jumps into Takeya’s guard and throws punches from the top but Mizugaki scrambles, gives up his back then escapes.   Round 10-9 Jorgensen

Round 2: Mizugaki comes out swinging again.  Jorgensen shoots and gets a takedown.  Jorgensen passes guard but Mizugaki escapes and stands up.  They trade punches then clinch against the cage.  Action slows down and referee breaks them up.  Mizugaki flurries and gets taken down again though quickly makes his way back to the feet.  Another exchange and another takedown for Jorgensen, this time Mizugaki pops up even more quickly. Round 10-9 Jorgensen

Round 3: They exchange for the first half of the round with both fighters landing.  Jorgensen scores another takedown and Mizugaki is right back up again, then responds with a trip takedown of his own.   Mizugaki passes into side control, briefly gets a crucifix but Jorgensen rolls and escapes.  Mizugaki takes him down again and punches from the top as the round ends.  Round 10-9 Mizugaki

Scott Jorgensen wins a unanimous decision with the scores of 29-28 from all judges.

Fight Grade: 4/5

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UFC 107 took place in Memphis, TN – the home of Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, who was supposed to take on Rashad Evans in the main or co-main event.  As it were, ‘Rampage’ decided to take some time off from fighting and we ended up with the lightweight champion BJ Penn defending his title against Diego Sanchez in the main event, with a clash of heavyweights Frank Mir and Cheik Kongo getting the second billing.

Stefan Struve vs. Paul Buentello (HW)

Round 1: Struve leads with a high kick that misses.  Buentello responds with a combination.  Buentello catches a mid kick and Struve pulls guard, but Buentello backs out of it.  Struve stands up and lands a huge uppercut then trips Paul down and lands into mount.  Buentello gives up his back and Struve locks in a body triangle.  Struve lands a few punches from the back then patiently works for a choke.  Buentello defends well.  Buentello eventually escapes and ends up on top guard, and they trade elbows as the round ends. Round 10-9 Struve

Round 2: Struve kicks, misses, and falls.  Buentello lets him stand up.  Struve pushes Buentello up against the fence.  Buentello lands punches to the body and head.  Struve dives down for a leg lock but Buentello evades.  Struve is back up and launches a flying knee but gets swatted out of mid-air by Buentello’s counter.  Struve is dazed but Buentello wants no part of ground game and lets him back up again.   Struve clinches then unloads a flurry on Buentello against the cage.  Buentello responds in kind and the last minute of the round is an absolute slugfest with both fighters trading punches with no regard for defense.  Round 10-9 Buentello

Round 3: Struve continues with the leg kicks and knees to the body.  Buentello responds with jabs and punch combinations but is getting picked apart by leg kicks.  Buentello looks unsteady on his legs as Struve finds a rhythm, alternating leg kicks with occasional punches and knees.   With less that a minute left, Buentello drops an off-balance Struve with a punch but lets him up again.  Struve looks tired and Buentello unloads with a flurry to finish out the round.  Round 10-10 draw

Stefan Struve wins a majority decision with the scores of 29-28, 29-28,28-28

Aftermath: This turned out to be an unexpectedly exciting fight.  Stefan Struve earns the third consecutive win after losing his UFC debut to Junior dos Santos.  The 6’11” Struve is certain to be a force in the years to come, but for now should get another couple of tune-up fights before jumping into title contention.  Michael Russow would be a good next fight for Struve.

Paul Buentello comfortably returns to the gatekeeper position in the heavyweight division, after being absent from the UFC for a couple of years.  I’d like to see him take on ‘TUF’ Season 10 winner Roy Nelson next.

Fight Grade: 4.5/5

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Another season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ is in the books, and as usual the finale is broadcast live from Las Vegas.  The final matchup for ‘TUF 10: Rashad vs. Rampage’ ended up being Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson vs. Brendan Schaub (both fighters were members of Team Rashad on the show).  The card was headlined by a light-heavyweight bout between Matt Hamill and Jon Jones, and featured all of the TUF 10 cast members who won at least one fight on the show, not to mention Kimbo ‘Kevin Ferguson’ Slice.  Here’s how it all went down:

Marcus Jones vs. Matt Mitrione (HW)

Round 1: Jones wastes no time taking Mitrione down.  Jones lands in side control and attempts to improve his position further but Mitrione is able to get back to his feet.  Jones eats a knee moving in to clinch.  Jones pushes Mitrione against the fence.  Mitrione changes levels for a takedown as Jones grabs hold of a guillotine choke and pulls guard.  The choke is not locked in and Mitrione is able to back out and stand up.  Jones with another takedown and Mitrione escapes again.  Jones looks tired and eats a big combination but is able to get yet another takedown as the round ends.  Round 10-9 Jones

Round 2: Jones comes out with a sloppy kick.  Mitrione lands two right hands, dropping Jones.  Jones is out.

Aftermath: Marcus Jones possess impressive grappling skills for a man his size, and could work on his striking and conditioning, but there is no training for his chin.  At his age, Jones is not likely to become a UFC-level fighter.

Matt Mitrione shows some potential but is very raw.  He needs to be developed slowly, and should next fight another TUF 10 cast-mate, like Brendan Schaub or Jon Madsen.

Fight Grade: 3/5

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