WEC 51 served up some fine fights high up in Colorado this Thursday. In the evening’s main event, José Aldo defended his featherweight title for a second time and showed yet again that he is the best in the world in his division. Another action-packed affair was the rematch between Donald Cerrone and Jamie Varner, as was Miguel Torres’s return to winning form.
Check out the results and analysis:
José Aldo vs Manny Gamburyan
In his second title defense, José Aldo was, literally, precision. The first round against Manny Gamburyan was one of study. Towards the end of the round, the Brazilian found the way to his opponent through leg kicks. But it was with a spot-on uppercut in the second round that the champion initiated the knockout – his seventh in the WEC –, causing Gamburyan to land on all fours, from where Aldo pummeled his opponent until Herb Dean intervened.
Donald Cerrone vs Jamie Varner
The rivalry that surfaced in 2009, when Jamie Varner won a controversial decision of Donald Cerrone, boiled over in the cage when the two met again. Cerrone had the upper hand over the three rounds, mixing punches with kicks and landing solid takedowns. Varner’s bleeding face clearly revealed the punishment he took. In the end, Cerrone rightfully took the unanimous decision win.
Miguel Torres vs Charlie Valenca
Former bantamweight champion Miguel Torres made his name by going seventeen fights without a loss. However, the Carlson Gracie pupil had lost in his last two appearances. After administering the first round well, Torres nearly knocked Valencia out in the final seconds. In the second, there was no escape for Valencia, when he was dropped and saw his opponent take his back and sink a rear-naked choke. Miguel Torres’s triumph came 2:25 min into round two.
George Roop vs Chan Sung Jung
Korea’s Chan Sung Jung had an evenly matched first round against George Roop. The fight seemed to be taking the same route in the second and Sung Jung had a positive moment in his striking. But it all came crashing down when Roop combined a series of strikes with a resounding left kick to the head that dropped his opponent to the ground unconscious.
Mark Hominick vs Leonard Garcia
Mark Hominick did well to vary his strikes, mixing up crosses, jabs and straights. A lot of these strikes found their mark on Leonard Garcia, who threw some good kicks, but most of his strikes didn’t connect. In the end, Hominick’s better physical conditioning was clear, but he still only earned a split decision.
In the preliminary fights, former featherweight champion Mike Brown found winning form again, against Cole Province. The win came via TKO just 1:18 min into the fight. Diego Nunes fought, too. Now training at Nova União, Nunes beat Tyler Toner by unanimous decision and notched the fifteenth win on his record, which counts only one loss.
All the results:
WEC 51
Broomfield, Clorado, EUA
Dia 30 de setembro de 2010
José Aldo defeated Manny Gamburyan via TKO at 1:32 min of R2
Donald Cerrone defeated Jamie Varner via unanimous decision
Miguel Torres submitted Carlos Valencia with a rear-naked choke at 2:25 min R2
George Roop defeated Chan Sung Jung via KO at 1:30 min of R2
Mark Hominick defeated Leonard Garcia via unanimous decision
Tiequan Zhang submitted Pablo Garza via guillotine at 2:26 min of R1
Mike Brown defeated Cole Province via TKO at 1:18 min of R1
Chris Horodecki defeated Ed Ratcliff via split decision
Diego Nunes defeated Tyler Toner via unanimous decision
Antonio Banuelos defeated Chad George via unanimous decision
Demetrious Johnson defeated Nick Pace via unanimous decision