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
Joseph Benavidez vs. Rani Yahya (135 lbs)
Round 1: They circle for a bit then exchange. Yahya lands the first few strikes. They trade leg kicks. Benavidez lands a huge overhand that floors Rani. Benavidez pounces and referee Kim Winslow steps to stop the bout as Benavidez lands several punches on the ground.
Great win for Benavidez though a questionable stoppage. Benavidez establishes himself as a legit contender at bantamweight. Scott Jorgensen would be a choice opponent for his chance at a title shot.
Fight Grade: 3/5
Courtney Buck vs. Brandon Visher (145 lbs)
Round 1: An insane exchange starts out the round, with both fighters throwing everything but the kitchen sink. Buck drops Visher, who instantly recovers and responds with a slam. They struggle on the ground and Buck gets back up, then lands two huge knees to the head. Visher is unfazed and responds with a flurry that rocks Buck. Buck fires back then looks for a takedown. Visher sprawls and Buck looks for a guillotine but quickly ends up mounted. Visher pounds away from the top; Buck shakes him off but gives up his back in process. Visher lands several punches from the back as Buck is turtled up. Buck rolls over and eats a big punch followed by several hammerfists. He is knocked out by the end of the barrage. Amazing fight.
Fight Grade: 5/5
Chris Horodecki vs. Anthony Njokuani (155 lbs)
Round 1: Horodecki is the aggressor early, using combinations to back Njokuani up to the fence and clinch. Horodecki looks for a takedown but doesn’t succeed. They separate and trade for a bit, with Horodecki having a high strike output but not landing anything significant. Njokuani counters a takedown attempt with one of his own and briefly gains mount. Horodecki escapes to his feet then turns his back and runs to put some distance between them; Njokuani gives chase and lands a huge head kick from behind! Horodecki collapses and Njokuani follows up with punches to finish the job.
With another great win, Njokuani becomes one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.
Fight Grade: 5/5
Kyle Dietz vs. Brad Pickett (135 lbs)
Round 1: Dietz throws a high kick to start off the bout. Picket ducks under then comes up with a punch and accidentally grazes the eye of Dietz, causing a brief pause in action. They restart and Dietz goes back to throwing kicks; Picket catches one and pushes Dietz down. Dietz neutralizes Pickett’s offense from his guard. Picket stands up, eats an up-kick, then dives back down with a punch. Dietz scrambles and gets caught in a guillotine. He escapes and ends up on top but Pickett threatens an armbar from guard. Round 10-9 Pickett
Round 2: Dietz backs Pickett up with a flurry. Pickett fires back; they clinch and topple over with Pickett on top again. Pickett works elbows from guard. He briefly passes into half-guard but Dietz regains guard. Dietz scrambles again and Pickett goes back to the guillotine, then switches to a Peruvian necktie choke. Pickett rolls with it and forces Dietz to tap out.
Fight Grade: 4/5
Donald Cerrone vs. Ed Ratcliff (155 lbs)
Round 1: Cerrone rushes in and clinches with Ratcliff. Ratcliff puts Cerrone’s back on the fence and Cerrone attempts to pull guard; Ratcliff backs out and lets him stand. Ratcliff rocks Cerrone with a flurry. Cerrone keeps coming forward and is wobbled with a leg kick. Cerrone throws several leg and body kicks to keep Ratcliff at bay. They clinch and Cerrone throws knees to the body; one lands low and the referee Herb Dean breaks up the fight, giving Ratcliff time to recover. They restart and clinch again, and soon Ratcliff is felled by another knee to the groin. This time Dean deducts a points from Cerrone. The low blows seem to have taken some of the fight out of Ratcliff, and Cerrone dominates the remainder of the round, scoring a takedown near the end. Round 10-8 Ratcliff
Round 2: Cerrone attacks with low kicks. Ratcliff misses a superman punch. Ratcliff kicks Cerrone’s leg from underneath him but Donald pops right up. Cerrone is starting to take over the fight with kick and punch combinations. Ratcliff backs up and lands a good counter. Cerrone clinches and knees Ratcliff low again, resulting in another point deduction. Cerrone continues his attack and now Ratcliff is the one looking to clinch. Ratcliff takes Cerrone’s back standing but Donald brings him down with a kimura, then looks for a choke as the round ends. Round 9-9 draw
Round 3: Ratcliff misses with a flying knee attempt. Cerrone clinches and takes his back standing. Ratcliff spins around and eats a knee to the head. Cerrone gets a takedown and lands into mount; however Herb Dean instantly stands them up and warns Cerrone for grabbing the fence to achieve the takedown. Cerrone lands several kicks and scores another takedown. Cerrone has Ratcliff’s back, but gives it up and goes for a leglock instead. Ratcliff defends and gives up his back again in process. Cerrone locks in a rear naked choke, forcing Ratcliff to tap out.
Fight Grade: 4 3/5 1 point deduction for the fouls
Despite the bizarre main event and the lack of title fights, WEC as usual delivers an action-packed card.