WEC 52
Encyclopedia
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts
event held by World Extreme Cagefighting
on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
made his bantamweight
debut against Japanese
striker Takeya Mizugaki
at WEC 52
.
A bout between Bart Palaszewski
and Kamal Shalorus
was expected to take place at this event, but was moved to WEC 53
after Shalorus injured his hand. Shalorus won the rescheduled bout by split decision.
Brian Bowles was expected to face Wagnney Fabiano
at this event but was forced off the card with an injury and replaced by Joseph Benavidez
.
Eddie Wineland
was expected to face Damacio Page
at this event, but Wineland was forced out of the bout with a shoulder injury and replaced by Demetrious Johnson
.
Josh Grispi
was pulled from his fight with Erik Koch
, to be inserted into a UFC Featherweight title shot against Jose Aldo
at UFC 125
. Koch ended up fighting Francisco Rivera.
This was the last WEC event to feature fights in the featherweight division. No featherweight fighters competed on the final WEC card
the next month, and all fighters in the division were subsequently merged into the UFC.
With longtime Zuffa ring announcer Bruce Buffer
in Germany for UFC 122
, former WEC ring announcer Joe Martinez
made a return to handle announcing duties for this event.
The event drew an average of 570,000 viewers on Versus
.
. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the WEC and also do not include the WEC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Background
Urijah FaberUrijah Faber
Urijah Christopher Faber is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. Faber won the WEC featherweight championship at WEC 19 on March 17, 2006 and held the title for over two years until his loss to Mike Brown at WEC...
made his bantamweight
Bantamweight (MMA)
The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The King of the Cage bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lb...
debut against Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
striker Takeya Mizugaki
Takeya Mizugaki
Takeya Mizugaki is a Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of October 2011, Mizugaki is ranked the #10 bantamweight in the world by Sherdog....
at WEC 52
WEC 52
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
.
A bout between Bart Palaszewski
Bart Palaszewski
Bart K. Palaszewski is a Polish-American mixed martial artist. He fought for the Quad City Silverbacks of the now defunct International Fight League. Following the UFC/WEC merger, Palaszewski is now under contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
and Kamal Shalorus
Kamal Shalorus
Kamal Shalorus is an Iranian-British professional mixed martial artist. He currently fights in UFC's lightweight division.-Early life:Born in the city of Khalkhal in northern Iran, Shalorus began wrestling as a teenager in Iran before beginning training in Turkey and Russia at the age of 17...
was expected to take place at this event, but was moved to WEC 53
WEC 53
WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on December 16, 2010 at Jobing.com Arena in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. The event was the first time that Zuffa has hosted an event in Arizona...
after Shalorus injured his hand. Shalorus won the rescheduled bout by split decision.
Brian Bowles was expected to face Wagnney Fabiano
Wagnney Fabiano
|-|Loss|align=center|14-3| Joseph Benavidez|Submission |WEC 52||align=center|2|align=center|2:45|Las Vegas, Nevada, USA||-|Win|align=center|14-2| Frank Gomez|Decision |WEC 49||align=center|3|align=center|5:00...
at this event but was forced off the card with an injury and replaced by Joseph Benavidez
Joseph Benavidez
Joseph Rolando Benavidez is an American mixed martial artist. After fighting in smaller shows while working as a screen printer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, he joined up with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in 2007. He has since fought in Dream and most recently the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion...
.
Eddie Wineland
Eddie Wineland
Eddie Wineland is an American professional mixed martial artist from Highland, Indiana who fights in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Wineland is a former World Extreme Cagefighting Bantamweight Champion...
was expected to face Damacio Page
Damacio Page
Damacio James Page is an American mixed martial arts fighter and who currently competes in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
at this event, but Wineland was forced out of the bout with a shoulder injury and replaced by Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson (fighter)
Demetrious Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Johnson is ranked among the top ten bantamweights in the world by leading mixed martial arts publications...
.
Josh Grispi
Josh Grispi
Josh Richard Grispi is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC featherweight division.-Background:Grispi started mixed martial arts training when he was 13. It was suggested to him by his dad as an outlet when he got kicked out of a paintball facility after repeated scuffles with...
was pulled from his fight with Erik Koch
Erik Koch
Erik Koch is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Personal Life:Koch enrolled in Taekwondo classes at the ripe age of four peaking his interest in MMA...
, to be inserted into a UFC Featherweight title shot against Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo
José Aldo is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is the first and current UFC Featherweight Champion...
at UFC 125
UFC 125
UFC 125: Resolution was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 1, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
. Koch ended up fighting Francisco Rivera.
This was the last WEC event to feature fights in the featherweight division. No featherweight fighters competed on the final WEC card
WEC 53
WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on December 16, 2010 at Jobing.com Arena in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. The event was the first time that Zuffa has hosted an event in Arizona...
the next month, and all fighters in the division were subsequently merged into the UFC.
With longtime Zuffa ring announcer Bruce Buffer
Bruce Buffer
Bruce Anthony Buffer is the main octagon announcer for Zuffa main events. On UFC broadcasts, he is introduced as the "Veteran Voice of the Octagon." He is the half brother of the well-known boxing and wrestling ring announcer Michael Buffer, and is President and CEO of their company "The Buffer...
in Germany for UFC 122
UFC 122
UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 13, 2010 at König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. This event aired on the same day, via tape delay, on Spike TV in the U.S....
, former WEC ring announcer Joe Martinez
Joe A. Martinez
Joseph Anthony Martinez is the ring announcer for Golden Boy Promotions, "Solo Boxeo-Tecate" on Telefutura. Joe A. Martinez is a Communications graduate of California State University, Fullerton....
made a return to handle announcing duties for this event.
The event drew an average of 570,000 viewers on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
.
Preliminary Card
- Featherweight bout:
Yves JabouinYves JabouinYves Jabouin is a Haitian-Canadian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC.-Mixed martial arts career:...
vs.
Brandon VisherBrandon VisherBrandon Visher is an Hawaiian mixed martial artist. Visher was born and raised on the Island of Maui along with his siblings Jalen Visher and Chandalyn Visher. He is a graduate of King Kekaulike High School, class of 2002. He was also apart of King Kekaulike's wrestling team. Visher currently...
- Jabouin defeated Visher via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
- Featherweight bout: Cub SwansonCub SwansonKevin Luke Swanson is an American mixed martial artist . He is currently signed as a featherweight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-World Extreme Cagefighting:...
vs. Mackens SemerzierMackens SemerzierMackens Semerzier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Semerzier has mostly fought in Virginia...
- Featherweight bout:
- Swanson defeated Semerzier via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28). This bout aired on the live broadcast following the Koch vs. Rivera bout.
- Bantamweight bout: Clint GodfreyClint GodfreyClint Godfrey is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights in WEC's bantamweight division.Godfrey was defeated in his WEC debut against former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 46...
vs. Michael McDonaldMichael McDonald (fighter)Michael McDonald is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, McDonald fought mostly in regional promotions in his home state of California before signing with Zuffa in 2010.-Background:McDonald started training...
- Bantamweight bout:
- McDonald defeated Godfrey via submission (armbar) at 2:42 of Round 1.
- Lightweight bout: Zach MicklewrightZach MicklewrightZachary Dean Micklewright is an American mixed martial artist who is also in the United States Marine Corps. He currently fights in WEC's lightweight division...
vs. Dustin PoirierDustin PoirierDustin Poirier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, currently competing as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Lightweight bout:
- Poirier defeated Micklewright via TKO (punches) at 0:53 of Round 1.
- Lightweight bout:
Anthony NjokuaniAnthony NjokuaniAnthony Obinnia Njokuani is a Nigerian mixed martial artist who currently fights as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early life:...
vs. Edward Faaloloto
- Lightweight bout:
- Njokuani defeated Faaloloto via TKO (elbow) at 4:54 of Round 2.
- Featherweight bout:
Raphael Assunção vs. LC DavisLC DavisLa Carvas Rashad Davis is an American mixed martial artist. He has competed in the IFL promotion, Affliction Entertainment and is currently signed with WEC.-Amateur wrestling:Davis attended Missouri Valley College while earning a...
- Featherweight bout:
- Assunção defeated Davis via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Main card
- Bantamweight bout: Damacio PageDamacio PageDamacio James Page is an American mixed martial arts fighter and who currently competes in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Demetrious JohnsonDemetrious Johnson (fighter)Demetrious Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Johnson is ranked among the top ten bantamweights in the world by leading mixed martial arts publications...
- Johnson defeated Page via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:27 of round 3.
- Bantamweight bout: Joseph BenavidezJoseph BenavidezJoseph Rolando Benavidez is an American mixed martial artist. After fighting in smaller shows while working as a screen printer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, he joined up with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in 2007. He has since fought in Dream and most recently the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion...
vs. Wagnney FabianoWagnney Fabiano|-|Loss|align=center|14-3| Joseph Benavidez|Submission |WEC 52||align=center|2|align=center|2:45|Las Vegas, Nevada, USA||-|Win|align=center|14-2| Frank Gomez|Decision |WEC 49||align=center|3|align=center|5:00...
- Bantamweight bout:
- Benavidez defeated Fabiano via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:45 of round 2.
- Featherweight bout: Erik KochErik KochErik Koch is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Personal Life:Koch enrolled in Taekwondo classes at the ripe age of four peaking his interest in MMA...
vs. Francisco Rivera
- Featherweight bout:
- Koch defeated Rivera via TKO (strikes) at 1:36 of round 1.
- Featherweight bout: Chad MendesChad MendesChad Edward Mendes is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-High school:Mendes finished 8th in the state of California , wrestling for Hanford High School. In 2002, he finished 5th at 114 lbs. and in 2003, he finished third at 121 lbs...
vs.
Javier VazquezJavier Vazquez (fighter)Javier Vazquez is an Cuban-American mixed martial artist currently fighting for The UFC's featherweight division. He was previously fighting for the WEC before the UFC merged the promotions in 2010. He is the son-in-law of Rorion Gracie....
- Featherweight bout:
- Mendes defeated Vazquez via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
- Bantamweight bout: Urijah FaberUrijah FaberUrijah Christopher Faber is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. Faber won the WEC featherweight championship at WEC 19 on March 17, 2006 and held the title for over two years until his loss to Mike Brown at WEC...
vs.
Takeya MizugakiTakeya MizugakiTakeya Mizugaki is a Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of October 2011, Mizugaki is ranked the #10 bantamweight in the world by Sherdog....
- Bantamweight bout:
- Faber defeated Mizugaki via technical submission (rear naked choke) at 4:50 of round 1.
Bonus Awards
Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses.- Fight of the Night: Cub Swanson vs. Mackens Semerzier
- Knockout of the Night: Erik Koch
- Submission of the Night: Urijah Faber
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic CommissionNevada Athletic Commission
The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of Nevada, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, kickboxers, mixed martial arts fighters, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers...
. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the WEC and also do not include the WEC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.
- Urijah Faber: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus) def. Takeya Mizugaki: $10,000
- Chad Mendes: $17,000 ($8,500 win bonus) def. Javier Vazquez: $11,000
- Erik Koch: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Francisco Rivera: $4,000
- Joseph Benavidez: $35,000 ($17,500 win bonus) def. Wagnney Fabiano: $19,000
- Demetrious Johnson: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Damacio Page: $9,000
- Raphael Assunção: $26,000 ($13,000 win bonus) def. LC Davis: $11,000
- Anthony Njokuani: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) def. Eddie Faaloloto: $3,500
- Dustin Poirier: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Zach Micklewright: $3,000
- Michael McDonald: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Clint Godfrey: $3,000
- Cub Swanson: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus) def. Mackens Semerzier: $4,000
- Yves Jabouin: $5,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Visher: $4,000