WEC 48: Aldo vs Faber flashed across Pay Per View sets all over the country on April 24, 2010 for the first time.  It showcased the power and the action that is World Extreme Cagefighting to the hard core UFC fans.  It’s success proves that the little guys will provide us with entertainment that is worth paying for.  Unfortunately for us cheapskates, they may have done their jobs too well.  I think seeing the action in these fights will bring up the paydays for these hard working “everymen.”  I like these bouts because they feature the Regular Joe type frames that are walking our streets.  You could see yourself stepping into one of these fights and doing battle.  Of course, you and I would get owned by these guys but it isn’t altogether inconceivable…  I’m glad that Manny Gamburyan did well.  I’ve always thought that he was robbed of much MMA love ever since he lost to Nate Diaz in The Ultimate Fighter 5.  Maybe now the MMA gods will take notice and give him a shot in the big leagues.

Uriah Faber didn’t do too well this bout.  Is it because he’s pushing 30 and at this size that really means that he’s losing a step to the youngsters?  It could be.  Aldo had him in check with his sound kicking technique.  Faber is by no means washed up yet but if he lands on his face a few more times a la  Jens Pulver, it may be time to go into surfing or coaching.  Heavyweights can last well into their 40s because it usually takes brute strength to win their battles while lightweights rely on their blistering speed and flexibility.  You don’t have that in your 30′s and beyond like the 20 year old punks.

So, Yay! and Boo! to a successful WEC or whatever this was 48 because we may not see as many freebie main events in the future or even a WEC.  It’s possible that Dana White and Zuffa will reabsorb the little freaks back into UFC.  We’ll see.  For now, here are your results:

No Wanna See You Card:

* Bantamweight bout:  Takeya Mizugaki vs. Rani Yahya
Mizugaki fooled the judges and beat up Yahya via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 29–28).

Drunk on the Couch or Pub Spike TV Fights:

* Featherweight bout:  Leonard Garcia vs.  Chan Sung Jung
Garcia fooled the judges and beat up Jung via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).

* Lightweight bout:  Alex Karalexis vs.  Anthony Pettis
Pettis choked the fight out of Karalexis via submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:35 in round 2.

* Featherweight bout:  Chad Mendes vs.  Anthony Morrison
Mendes choked the fight out of Morrison via submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:13 of Round 1.

Main PPV and/or Drunk at the Pub Fights:

* Featherweight Championship bout:  Jose Aldo (c) vs.  Urijah Faber
Aldo fooled the judges and beat up Faber via unanimous decision (49–45, 49–45, 50–45) to retain the WEC Featherweight Championship.

* Lightweight Championship bout:  Ben Henderson (c) vs.  Donald Cerrone
Henderson choked the fight out of Cerrone via submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:57 of round 1 to retain the WEC Lightweight Championship.

* Featherweight bout:  Brandon Visher vs.  Tyler Toner
Toner put the hurt on Visher via TKO (Elbows) at 2:36 of Round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Mike Brown vs. Manvel Gamburyan
Gamburyan layed the smack down on Brown via KO (Punches) at 2:22 of round 1.

* Bantamweight bout: Brad Pickett vs.  Demetrious Johnson
Pickett fooled the judges and beat up Johnson via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).

* Lightweight bout: Anthony Njokuani vs.  Shane Roller
Roller choked the fight out of Njokuani via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:21 in round 1.

* Bantamweight bout:  Antonio Banuelos vs.  Scott Jorgensen
Jorgensen fooled the judges and beat up Banuelos via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

The Sports Zone!

That might leave a little mark…  Miguel Torres isn’t looking like himself these days and may never again!  I guess it’s kind of a “red badge of courage” thing for fighters to get nasty cuts.  Guys with pretty faces just don’t make it in the pro ranks.  I guess that’s why I never got to the big show…  Anyway, WEC 47 delivered it’s usual high quality fights from the little guys.  I think Torres will bounce back but he needs to get a grip on whatever is making him lose.  I think the rest of the competition has figured him out.  Jens needs to go ahead and retire from fighting already.  He is an AWESOME coach and I think his stable of fighters will dominate for years to come.  His stint on the Ultimate Fighter proved as much.  Still, if Little Evil gets it together and puts some more wins on his record at WEC, it wouldn’t be unwelcome.  Go Jens GO!  Here are your results:

No Wanna SeeYa, Not Even For Free Card

* Featherweight bout:  Chad Mendes vs.  Erik Koch
Mendes fooled the judges and beat up Koch via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight bout:  Leonard Garcia vs.  George Roop
Garcia and Roop flailed around but couldn’t get a win. The judges made it a draw by scoring it 29-27 (Garcia) 29-27 (Roop) and 28-28. A   point was taken away from Roop for a clean shot to the gonads of Garcia.  OUCH!

* Featherweight bout:  Fredson Paixao vs.  Courtney Buck
Paixao choked the fight out of Buck via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:39 of round 1.

* Lightweight bout:  Ricardo Lamas vs. France Bendy Casimir
Lamas layed the smack down on Casimir via KO (knee) at 3:43 of round 1.

Main Free As In Natty ICE Beer Card

* Bantamweight Championship bout:  Brian Bowles vs.  Dominick Cruz
Cruz rained the pain on Bowles via TKO (injury) at 5:00 of round 2 to become the new WEC Bantamweight Champion.

* Bantamweight bout:  Miguel Torres vs.  Joseph Benavidez
Benavidez choked the fight out of Torres via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:57 of round 2.

* Featherweight bout:  Jens Pulver vs.  Javier Vazquez
Vazquez choked the fight out of Pulver via submission (armbar) at 3:41 of round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Deividas Taurosevičius vs.  LC Davis
Davis fooled the judges and beat up Taurosevičius via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29).

* Lightweight bout:  Bart Palaszewski vs. Armenia Karen Darabedyan
Palaszewski choked the fight out of Darabedyan via submission (armbar) at 4:40 of round 1.

* Bantamweight bout:  Scott Jorgensen vs.  Chad George
Jorgensen choked the fight out of George via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:31 of round 1.

* Lightweight bout:  Danny Castillo vs.  Anthony Pettis
Pettis layed the smack down on Castillo via KO (strikes) at 2:17 of round 1.

* Lightweight Championship unification bout:  Jamie Varner vs.  Ben Henderson
Henderson defeated Varner via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:41 of Round 3 to become the undisputed WEC Lightweight Champion.

* Featherweight bout:  Urijah Faber vs.  Raphael Assuncao
Faber defeated Assuncao via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:49 of Round 3.

* Lightweight bout:  Dave Jansen vs. Kamal Shalorus
Shalorus defeated Jansen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

* Featherweight bout:  Mike Brown vs.  Anthony Morrison
Brown defeated Morrison via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:54 of Round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Mackens Semerzier vs. Deividas Taurosevičius
Taurosevičius defeated Semerzier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Preliminary Card

* Bantamweight bout:  Charlie Valencia vs.  Akitoshi Tamura
Valencia defeated Tamura via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

* Bantamweight bout:  Wagnney Fabiano vs.  Clint Godfrey
Fabiano defeated Godfrey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight bout:  Mark Hominick vs.  Bryan Caraway
Hominick defeated Caraway via submission (triangle) at 3:48 of Round 1. This bout, although preliminary, was aired on the live broadcast.

* Bantamweight bout:  Eddie Wineland vs.  George Roop
Wineland defeated Roop via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 20-27).

* Bantamweight bout:  Coty Wheeler vs.  Will Campuzano
Campuzano defeated Wheeler via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).

* Lightweight bout:  Donald Cerrone vs.  Ed Ratcliff
Cerrone defeated Ratcliff via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:47 of Round 3.

* Lightweight bout: Nigeria Anthony Njokuani vs.  Chris Horodecki
Njokuani defeated Horodecki via TKO (strikes) at 3:33 of Round 1.

* Bantamweight bout:  Joseph Benavidez vs.  Rani Yahya
Benavidez defeated Yahya via TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of Round 1.

* Bantamweight bout:  Takeya Mizugaki vs.  Scott Jorgensen
Jorgensen defeated Mizugaki via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Undercard

* Lightweight bout: Poland Bart Palaszewski vs.  Anthony Pettis
Palaszewski defeated Pettis via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout:  Muhsin Corbbrey vs.  Zach Micklewright
Micklewright defeated Corbbrey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Bantamweight bout:  John Hosman vs.  Chad George
George defeated Hosman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight bout:  Brandon Visher vs.  Courtney Buck
Visher defeated Buck via KO (punches) at 4:45 of Round 1. This bout, although preliminary, was aired on the live broadcast after Benavidez/Yahya.

* Bantamweight bout: England Brad Pickett vs.  Kyle Dietz
Pickett defeated Dietz via submission (Peruvian necktie) at 4:36 of Round 2. This bout, although preliminary, was aired on the live broadcast after Njokuani/Horodecki.

* Featherweight bout:  Jameel Massouh vs.  Erik Koch
Koch defeated Massouh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight Championship bout:  Mike Brown (c) vs.  Jose Aldo
Aldo defeated Brown via TKO (strikes) at 1:20 of round 2 to become the new WEC Featherweight Champion.

* Featherweight bout: Armenia Manvel Gamburyan vs.  Leonard Garcia
Gamburyan defeated Garcia via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout:  Rob McCullough vs. Karen Darabedyan
Darabedyan defeated McCullough via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout:  Danny Castillo vs.  Shane Roller
Roller defeated Castillo via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:32 of round 3.

* Lightweight bout: Kamal Shalorus vs.  Will Kerr
Shalorus defeated Kerr via TKO (strikes) at 1:26 of round 1.

Undercard

* Featherweight bout:  Diego Nunes vs.  LC Davis
Davis defeated Nunes via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).

* Featherweight bout:  Cub Swanson vs.  John Franchi
Swanson defeated Franchi via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:50 of round 3.

* Bantamweight bout:  Antonio Banuelos vs.  Kenji Osawa
Banuelos defeated Osawa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout:  Ricardo Lamas vs.  James Krause
Lamas defeated Krause via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Bantamweight bout:  Seth Dikun vs.  Frank Gomez
Gomez defeated Dikun via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

* Interim Lightweight Championship bout:  Donald Cerrone vs.  Ben Henderson
Henderson defeated Cerrone via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) to become the WEC Interim Lightweight Champion.

* Lightweight bout:  Richard Crunkilton vs.  Dave Jansen
Jansen defeated Crunkilton via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

* Featherweight bout:  Rafael Assuncao vs.  Yves Jabouin
Assuncao defeated Jabouin via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28).

* Bantamweight bout:  Damacio Page vs.  Will Campuzano
Page defeated Campuzano via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:02 of round 1.

Undercard

* Lightweight bout: Nigeria Anthony Njokuani vs.  Muhsin Corbbrey
Njokuani defeated Corbbrey via KO (punches) at 1:42 of round 2.

* Bantamweight bout:  Scott Jorgensen vs.  Noah Thomas
Jorgensen defeated Thomas via KO (punches) at 3:13 of round 1. This bout, although preliminary, was aired on the live broadcast.

* Featherweight bout:  Wagnney Fabiano vs.  Mackens Semerzier
Semerzier defeated Fabiano via submission (triangle choke) at 2:14 of round 1. This bout, although preliminary, was aired on the live broadcast.

* Bantamweight bout:  Eddie Wineland vs.  Manny Tapia
Wineland defeated Tapia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Bantamweight bout:  Charlie Valencia vs.  Coty Wheeler
Valencia defeated Wheeler via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

* Featherweight bout:  Javier Vazquez vs. Lithuania Deividas Taurosevičius
Taurosevicius defeated Vazquez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

* Bantamweight bout:  Joseph Benavidez vs.  Dominick Cruz
Cruz defeated Benavidez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

* Lightweight bout:  Ricardo Lamas vs.  Danny Castillo
Castillo defeated Lamas via TKO (strikes) at 4:15 of round 2.

* Bantamweight bout:  Jeff Curran vs.  Takeya Mizugaki
Mizugaki defeated Curran via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

* Featherweight bout:  Leonard Garcia vs.  Jameel Massouh
Garcia defeated Massouh via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Undercard

* Featherweight bout:  Fredson Paixao vs.  Cole Province
Province defeated Paixao via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Result changed to ‘No Contest’ after Province tested positive for banned substances in post-fight drug test.

* Catchweight 159lb bout:  Marcus Hicks vs.  Shane Roller
Roller defeated Hicks via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout:  Ed Ratcliff vs.  Phil Cardella
Ratcliff defeated Cardella via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

* Bantamweight bout:  Rani Yahya vs.  John Hosman
Yahya defeated Hosman via submission (north-south choke) at 2:08 of round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Diego Nunes vs.  Rafael Dias
Nunes defeated Dias via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight bout:  Javier Vazquez vs.  L.C. Davis
Davis defeated Vazquez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

* Featherweight Championship bout:  Mike Brown vs.  Urijah Faber
Brown defeated Faber via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to retain the WEC Featherweight Championship.

* Featherweight bout:  Jose Aldo vs.  Cub Swanson
Aldo defeated Swanson via TKO (flying knee and punches) at 0:08 of round 1.

* Lightweight bout:  Donald Cerrone vs.  James Krause
Cerrone defeated Krause via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:38 of round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Jens Pulver vs.  Josh Grispi
Grispi defeated Pulver via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:33 of round 1.

Undercard Bouts

* Featherweight bout: Armenia Manvel Gamburyan vs.  John Franchi
Gamburyan defeated Franchi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Bantamweight Bout:  Rafael Rebello vs.  Kyle Dietz
Rebello defeated Dietz via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:55 of round 1.

* Lightweight bout:  Mike Campbell vs.  Anthony Pettis
Pettis defeated Campbell via submission (triangle choke) at 1:49 of round 1. Preliminary bout, but was featured on the broadcast.

* Bantamweight Bout:  Scott Jorgensen vs.  Antonio Banuelos
Banuelos defeated Jorgensen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Preliminary bout, but was featured on the broadcast.

* Bantamweight Bout:  Frank Gomez vs.  Noah Thomas
Gomez defeated Thomas via submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:12 of round 2.

* Bantamweight Bout:  Rolando Perez vs.  Seth Dikun
Dikun defeated Perez via submission (flying triangle choke) at 2:30 of round 1. Preliminary bout, but was featured on the broadcast.

* Bantamweight Championship bout:  Miguel Torres vs.  Takeya Mizugaki
Torres defeated Mizugaki via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to retain the WEC Bantamweight title.

* Bantamweight bout:  Jeff Curran vs.  Joseph Benavidez
Benavidez defeated Curran via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

* Lightweight bout:  Shane Roller vs.  Ben Henderson
Henderson defeated Roller via TKO (punches) at 1:41 of round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Rafael Assuncao vs.  Jameel Massouh
Assuncao defeated Massouh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Undercard Bouts

* Lightweight bout: Poland Bart Palaszewski vs. Nigeria Anthony Njokuani
Njokuani defeated Palaszewski via TKO (punches) at 0:27 of round 2.

* Bantamweight bout:  Dominick Cruz vs.  Ivan Lopez
Cruz defeated Lopez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

* Featherweight bout:  Wagnney Fabiano vs.  Fredson Paixao
Fabiano defeated Paixao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

* Bantamweight bout:  Rani Yahya vs.  Eddie Wineland
Yahya defeated Wineland via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:07 of round 1.

* Bantamweight bout:  Manny Tapia vs.  Akitoshi Tamura
Tamura defeated Tapia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

* Featherweight bout:  Rafael Dias vs.  Mike Budnik
Dias defeated Budnik via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

* Featherweight Championship bout:  Mike Brown vs.  Leonard Garcia
Brown defeated Garcia via submission (arm triangle choke) at 1:57 of round 1 to retain the WEC Featherweight Championship.

* Lightweight bout:  Rob McCullough vs.  Marcus Hicks
McCullough defeated Hicks via majority decision (29-29, 30-27, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout: Bart Palaszewski vs.  Ricardo Lamas
Lamas defeated Palaszewski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

* Featherweight bout:  Jose Aldo vs.  Chris Mickle
Aldo defeated Mickle via TKO (strikes) at 1:39 of round 1.

* Lightweight bout:  Danny Castillo vs.  Phil Cardella
Castillo defeated Cardella via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

Undercard Bouts

* Bantamweight bout:  Marcos Galvao vs.  Damacio Page
Page defeated Galvao via KO (punches) at 0:18 of round 1. This was the only preliminary bout shown on the broadcast.

* Welterweight bout:  Johny Hendricks vs.  Alex Serdyukov
Hendricks defeated Serdyukov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

* Bantamweight bout:  Kenji Osawa vs.  Rafael Rebello
Osawa defeated Rebello via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30).

* Lightweight bout:  Alex Karalexis vs.  Greg McIntyre
Karalexis defeated McIntyre via TKO (punches) at 4:19 of round 1.

* Featherweight bout:  Mike Budnik vs.  John Franchi
Franchi defeated Budnik via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

* Welterweight bout:  Justin Haskins vs.  Mike Pierce
Pierce defeated Haskins via TKO (punches) at 3:39 of round 3.