WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki

I have tons of thoughts about the co-main event, and I will type them up when I get up tomorrow. Long day at work today and I don't have it in me to write my thoughts. Great card, though.

The thing that makes me sick is the lack of love for Javier Vazquez. The dude is probably one of the best Featherweights out there and one of the best jiu-jitsu guys in the sport. Being a second degree black belt is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. He came back from two controversial losses to submit Jens Pulver and Mackens Semerzier and looked great doing it. Mendes will do what LC Davis did, and hold down Vazquez and get a decision victory.

Javier has done MANY seminars over at Renzo Gracie's BJJ Gym that I was a part of. I have rolled with him on several occasions, so its a bit personal to me when people start doubting him. Now, I believe he will be taken down by Mendes, and it'll be hard to judge if Mendes gets top position. I only remember Javier submitting people from the bottom like twice, but his BJJ is so good I wouldn't be surprised if I see a submission from the bottom. It's gonna be a short night for Chad Mendes, I think. Late round 1 or early round 2 submission win for Javier. He's one of the best Featherweights in the world, and I hope he gets to fight Aldo sometime down the line.

I wish Faber all the luck in the world at this new weight class. I think Faber is a great fighter, but he lacks in a LOT of areas, which was seen in his fights with Brown and Aldo. He seems to stiffen up everytime he gets hit and sort-of tries to wait for the other guy to make a mistake, then strike. That's not always the best option. The one thing I do NOT like about Faber is his cornermen. In the Aldo fight, I remember them telling Faber to "Go crazy! You're winning! Knock him out!". WTF? He was getting dominated. He was NOT winning and he should NOT "Go crazy". But, I digress.

Faber should win this one, probably by decision or submission in the 3rd round. I hope the weigh cut won't be too much for him and he'll be able to dominate this weight class, since he won't ever be able to dominate Featherweight as long as Aldo is around.

Anyway, here's my predictions.

---

WEC ''FABER VS. MIZUGAKI'', 11/11/2010 (Versus)
Pearl at the Palms Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas NV

1. Featherweight bout: Yves Jabouin vs. Brandon Visher
2. Featherweight bout: Cub Swanson vs. Mackens Semerzier
3. Bantamweight bout: Clint Godfrey vs. Michael McDonald
4. Lightweight bout: Zach Micklewright vs. Dustin Poirier
5. Lightweight bout: Anthony Njokuani vs. Edward Faaloloto
6. Featherweight bout: Raphael Assunção vs. LC Davis
7. Bantamweight bout: Damacio Page vs. Demetrious Johnson
8. Bantamweight bout: Joseph Benavidez vs. Wagnney Fabiano
9. Featherweight bout: Erik Koch vs. Francisco Rivera
10. Featherweight bout: Chad Mendes vs. Javier Vazquez
11. Bantamweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki

I don't wanna bother with picks, but I will say that the only thing I won't miss with the WEC/UFC merger is that incredibly lame event theme they have.

In fact, UFC also needs to get out of the mid-90s with their goofy butt-metal intro's and get some more appropriate event themes.

Benavidez is one of the oddest looking guys I've seen. He's like an enlarged 7yr old or something.

Anyways, tough loss for Wagney. I didn't expect him to win, but I still never thought he'd get submitted. Joeseph has a brutal guillotine.

Can Erik Koch be any more white?