WEC
World Extreme Cagefighting 47 in Columbus, Ohio was such an online betting success for underdogs last weekend, fans are already calling for more. On a deep card featuring a bantamweight title match, MMA enthusiasts were thrilled by betting lines upsets in each of the top three fights, including a title change in the main event.
Rising star Domenick Cruz knocked the WEC bantamweight title right out of Brian Bowles after doctors were forced to stop the fight at the end of the second round. The fight was called when it was determined that Bowles, who had broken his hand on the first punch he landed in the opening round, could no longer continue. A clearly distressed Bowles repeatedly shook his hand in agony while attempting to dodge Cruz’s relentless attack. A handicapped Bowles performed about as well as he could have given the circumstances, before ultimately being forced to give up his title in his premier defense since gaining it at WEC 46 when he knocked out Miguel Angel Torres.
After spending nearly a year outside of the octagon in an effort to regain top form following his title loss to Bowles, Torres returned to MMA in peak condition for a WEC 47 fight against Joseph Benavidez. A heavy favorite to raise his arms at the end of his return, Torres struggled throughout the fight before eventually tapping to Benavidez in the second round. While the victory bumps Benavidez to the top of the contender order at the 135 pound class, the disappointing loss leaves Torres reeling following consecutive losses in fights he was favored to win.
Although he probably should not have been considered the bookmaker reviews favorite in light of his recent struggles in MMA, Jens Pulver was dropped in just the first round of his fight with Javier Vasquez. Vasquez took the former UFC lightweight champion to the ground on two occasions, and was able to submit “Lil Evil” with an arm bar on the second occasion.
The three upset wins marks a changing of the guard in the WEC to a newer, younger class of fighter.
UFC
Mixed Martial Arts enthusiasts are counting the days until next weekend’s sports gambling for UFC on Versus 1 in Colorado. The eleven-fight card features names such as Cheik Kongo, Gabriel Gonzaga, Junior Dos Santos, and is headlined by a main event featuring light heavyweights Brandon Vera and Jon Jones.
The event will be held on Sunday March 21, just six days before reigning champion George St. Pierre puts his UFC Welterweight title on the line against Dan Hardy in the headline match of UFC 111.
