Date: 08/03	7:55 PM
Views: 1,343

We'll be bringing you results from WEC 35 on Versus LIVE so keep hitting F5 or refresh for all the updates! The show starts in five minutes, but in the meantime I'm watching "The Contender: Muay Thai." While it's only one of the many disciplines that makes up MMA, it's still a pretty damn good warmup.

WEC 35 is ON THE AIR! We have three title fights tonight, each with the potential to go for 5 five minute rounds. Damacio Page, Brian Bowles, Marcus Hicks, Jamie Barner, Steve Cantwell and 'All American' Brian Stann are among some of the men on tonight's card along with 'The Natural' Carlos Condit. It's a packed card! We're at The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Todd Harris welcomes us to four great bouts on Versus including three title shots and passes to Frank Mir, who seems a little at a loss for words trying to put over Miura as Condit's challenger. In the lightweight division it's Jamie Varner being challenged by Marcus Hicks. In the light heavyweight division, Brian Stann takes on the challenge of Steve Cantwell. Mir calls him an excellent kickboxer and says we'll have one hell of a war, but first up is Brian Bowles versus Damacio Page after these commercial messages.

Todd tells us that both card and fists are flying in the casino tonight when we come back from break. Ah ha ha! After breaking down the rules and the ways to win we go to fight analysis for our first bout. Mir says he throws great strikes and has patient jiu-jitsu. Harris says Bowles is unassuming but methodical, and Mir says he doesn't have a pedigree in any one discipline but it well rounded in them all. Page: "I'm gonna go anywhere and be in his face." Bowles: "I'll catch him with a right cross, make him think twice about being aggressive."

* Brian Bowles v. Damacio Page

Bowles is three years older than Page at 25, but the other stats are virtually identical. Joe Martinez is in the cage to introduce our first fight of the night in the bantamweight division, scheduled for three rounds. Page's record is 10-3 and his weight is 135, and he's nicknamed 'The Angel of Death.' Bowles record is 5-0, he's a pound over the weight limit, and he hails from Athens, Georgia. Our referee in charge of this contest is Josh Rosenthal. He's out to give instructions and we're underway!

"Gentlemen are you ready, let's fight!" Bowles was clearly ready as he came out throwing bombs, trying to knock Page out early. 25 seconds in Bowles catches Page as he lunges forward and it goes to the ground. Mir and Harris are both so stunned by the rapid flurry of action they forgot to do commentary. They finally kick it in gear just about the time Page gets a warning for an elbow to the back of the head. Page tries to work his way back up along the cage, nearly gets caught in a guillotine, but he slips the hold and ends up on top of Bowles just past the 90 second mark. As the action stalls out Mir explains the technical jiu-jitsu battle they had on the ground, but Page decides he can't find an advantage there and opts to go back to the feet. Page nearly gets the muay thai plum on Bowles not once but twice. Page sticks his tongue out at Bowles, which is the international code for "you rocked me but I'm going to pretend it didn't hurt." A shoot attempt goes nowhere. Page tries to pick up Bowles for a wrestling slam and gets himself into a guillotine in the process! He can't even drop him, let alone tap, and Rosenthal has to make the save. All Page can do is scream "FUCK!"

The replay shows Page losing oxygen and collapsing, with Bowles landing on top of him with the guillotine still sunk in tight. They debate whether he was able to make half a tap but both Harris and Mir agree that Rosenthal did the right thing in stopping the fight - Page was clearly done. Note to amateur fighters - hanging your tongue out or smirking at your opponent to show you're not afraid fails 9 TIMES OUT OF 10. Instead of immediately giving us the announcement, WEC takes us to a commercial break, which includes a promo for UFC 87 on August 9th - natch. Okay here's Joe with the decision. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE END COMES 3:30 OF R1 DUE TO TAPOUT VIA GUILLOTINE CHOKE FOR THE WINNER AND STILL UNDEFEATED BRIAN BOWLES! Bowles puts over Page strong, saying he's a great opponent who hits like a truck. "He tried to take me down and he gave me his neck." That pretty much sums it up. Versus tells us to stay tuned for Tapout after the fights, but if it's a repeat of Wednesday's new episode I've been there and seen that - no need for a repeat. Up next, Jamie Varner defends his lightweight title for the first time against Marcus Hicks!

We're back at the Hard Rock, and Todd puts over a bar called Wasted Space in the venue as "the alternative to mainstream rock clubs." Miguel Torres and Rashad Evans are in the crowd tonight, as is Cain Velasquez and Urijah Faber.

* Jamie Varner {C} v. Marcus Hicks (WEC Lightweight Championship)

Hicks is put over as an awesome boxer and menacing fighter. Varner is put over as a great striker, a guy who knocked out 'Razor' Rob McCullough. Varner: "Hicks has never fought a guy like me, who has fought the caliber of opponents I have." Hicks: "Once he feels my punching power, he's not gonna want to stand with me any more. If it goes to the ground, psychologically he's already beat." Varner: "On the ground I know what he's got. What else has he submitted guys with other than a choke!" The smack talking is over, it's fight time. Hicks is coming out to a guitar rock remix of 2Pac's "Hail Mary." It almost reminds me of those Jay-Z & Linkin Park mashups, in a good way. Herb Dean checks over the grease and the gloves before clearing Hicks to step into the cage. Varner's music declares him "a baller and shotcaller" as he makes his way down to cageside in a hoodie. You can really tell how small The Joint is because his walk from the back to the ring takes no time whatsoever, it's not the long lingering jaunt UFC fighters have, slapping hands with (or ignoring) fight fans along the way.

Varner is 23, Hicks 32. Varner 5'8", Hicks one inch shorter. Both weighed in at 155 but Varner has an 8" reach advantage. Martinez tells us this is the first of three title fights tonight (no shit) and introduces the challenger in the blue corner first. His record is 8-0 and he hails from Dallas, Texas - Marcus 'The Wrecking Ball' Hicks! In the red corner, a boxer and wrestler with a record of 14-2 with 1 no contest, fighting out of Tempe, Arizona the reigning and defending lightweight champion Jamie Varner! Our referee in charge is Steve Mazzagatti.

"Bring it on, c'mon!" Both men feel each other out for the first 10 seconds before Hicks tries to get in hooks for a takedown and 30 seconds in he's already gotten him to the ground twice. Hicks tries to sink a guillotine but Varner pops out of it 40 seconds in. Hicks goes for another slam almost a minute in but Varner pops right back up to his feet. Hicks tries to get a single leg but gives it up. Varner throws a high kick, a body kick, and stuns Hicks with two stiff knees right in the plum. Hicks seems a little wobbly on his feet as they break apart, Varner starts rocking him with rights. Hicks tries to wrap himself around a leg to save himself, but Varner creates distance and rocks him with the knees again. HE'S OUT ON HIS FEET! 2:52 after more strikes to the chin Hicks knees finally buckle and crumble, and Mazzagatti has seen enough and calls the fight. Once again instead of giving us the obvious decision they're going to a commercial break first. Honestly for 2:08 you almost couldn't pack more action than we got in that fight. WOW.

Here's Joe! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE FIGHT COMES TO AN END 2:08 INTO ROUND ONE, YOUR WINNER BY TKO VICTORY AND STILL THE WEC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD - JAMIE VARNER! Varner puts over Hicks as incredibly strong and says he didn't know he had the fight won until Mazzagatti pulled him away. "God dang, he didn't want to go down!" He puts over Arizona Combat Sports and Premier Fighter, and says he looks forward to a rematch with Razor Rob at some point in the future. Condit v. Miura is previewed, as well as Stann v. Cantwell. We've got a bonus fight though - Brock Larson v. Carlo Prater, and that's coming up NEXT!

* Brock Larson v. Carlo Prater

Both men are put over as top contenders in the welterweight division as the fight is introduced. Usual smack talk from each man, with Prater saying Larson will be a coward and eat a knee in the process, and Larson saying it will be a short fight with him on top. The stats are so damn identical the only real difference is a one inch reach advantage for Prater at 72". Prater fights out of the blue corner and has a 23-6-1 record. Larson fights out of the red corner and has a 24-2 record. The former hails from Brasilia, Brazil and the latter hails from Brainerd, Minnesota. Steve Mazzagatti is our referee in charge. "Now bring it on, c'mon!"

Larson and Prater dance for the first 20 before Prater misses with a high kick aimed at Larson's chin. Larson STUNS Prater with a HUGE LEFT HANDED BOMB and Prater crumbles. Larson immediately pounces on him and rains down the blows until Mazzagatti saves Prater, who had no defense on the ground whatsoever for the punishment Larson was dishing out. The official decision, as if it really needs any explanation, comes after these commercial messages! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE END COMES 37 SECONDS INTO ROUND 1 FOR YOUR WINNER BY KNOCKOUT VICTORY - BROCK LARSON! Todd Harris steps in for the interview. "I want to be the best in the world, but Condit's on a bit of a run, so whoever holds that belt at the end of the night I hope I'm first in line. I fainted a little bit, threw that left, and hell it worked out." Hell yes it did! Up next, Brian Stann is challenged by Steve Cantwell for the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship. First these commercial messages!

Coming up in September... CAN ANYBODY BEAT URIJAH FABER? That question will be answered by Mike Brown. Also the Chael Sonnen vs. Paulo Filho controversy will finally be settled. September 10th, 9 PM EST! Harris joins Urijah Faber in the crowd and asks him about the "instant classic" on June 1st of Faber v. Pulver. "We had a bad battle man. It was awesome! Mike Brown's been around for a long time, fought in Japan, he's 19-4 and he's beaten a lot of good guys. He's strong, a little bigger than I am, but I'm looking to impose my will and come home with the belt. I know I have a lot of fans in Florida, I've been out to South Beach several times and it's right up my alley, I look forward to making a name for WEC in Florida. No Fear is having a sweepstakes and somebody gets to come train for a day with me, all expenses paid." Harris asks if Faber will go easy on the winner: "Depends on who it is!" We see Miura warming up backstage for his fight with Condit, but it's Stann v. Cantwell first after this break!

* Brian Stann {C} v. Steve Cantwell (WEC Light Heavyweight Championship)

This is a rematch of a fight in which Stann dominated Cantwell with sheer striking power. Stann hasn't had a fight in WEC go the distance since, including when he won the light heavyweight title. "THE ATTACK BEGINS." Stann: "He didn't learn from the last time, the fight will end the same way. I'm prepared to beat him in any arena." Cantwell: "I'm ready to make him look bad. I have what it takes to wear that belt with pride." Stann: "We'll find out once and tonight for all and I'll put him behind me forever."

The challenger Cantwell was born in Long Beach, California is out first (so much drama in the LBC). Stann doesn't even have a hometown, he's listed as born at an airbase in Japan. Cantwell's strengths are listed as BJJ and striking, whereas Stann's are listed as strength and KO power. Tale of the tape is nearly identical, although Cantwell is two inches over six feet and Stann is only one. Joe Martinez is in the cage to introduce the co-main, sponsored by Bud Light, No Fear and Tapout. Cantwell is in the blue corner and has a 5-1 record, and fights out of Las Vegas (meaning he gets a small but nice hometown pop). Stann is in the red corner and he's a perfect 6-0 and fights out of Scranton, PA. Herb Dean is our referee in charge. "Touch gloves, let's make it official." Here we go!

Both men dance on their feet for 15 before we get a flurry of strikes by each man. Mir says Cantwell needs to be playing angles and not trading shots with Stann. 50 seconds in and no major damage by either man thus far. This looks more like boxing than MMA thus far. 90 seconds in and I think I've seen just one leg kick. Cantwell shoots in after a flurry of strikes at 3:15 but it doesn't look like he's getting Stann to the ground off of it. There is a small cut on the right cheek of Stann though that's starting to bleed more as Herb Dean calls for action as we pass the halfway point of the round. The two men break apart, clinch, and break apart again. Cantwell manages to connect with a left in the standup and Mir says Cantwell is clearly out to prove him wrong. They clinch up and we get another stalemate on the cage with 90 left in R1. 70 seconds left and we're dancing again. Mir says Stann is being too one-dimensional and needs to go for something other than headshots on the feet. Cantwell misses with a superman punch and falls down, which gives Stann the opportunity to pounce on him with strikes while avoiding upkicks. Stann is in control as R1 comes to an end, but I'd actually give that round 10-9 to Cantwell.

Time for R2! We see Cantwell highlights from R1 including him landing a big knee in the clinch. Cantwell is certainly looking like a kickboxer as R2 starts, and he seems to be winning over the live crowd as well. An accidental low kick by Stann temporarily causes a stop to the fight. Cantwell signals he's ready to continue and Herb Dean restarts the fight at 4:20. Stann tries to come in on Cantwell and can't find anything. Cantwell keeps sticking and moving with strikes and even tries for a right head kick that misses. We're past 90 seconds now. Cantwell lands a nice combo of bodyshot and a big right and gets Stann up against the fence, but Dean calls for more work and warns to watch the kicks and knees clinched up. They break apart at 2:40. Cantwell tries to shoot for a takedown and doesn't get it, then pushes Stann up against the fence again. Cantwell unloads with knees and a flurry of punches, and Stann seems to be covering up a lot. Cantwell fires a kick that stuns the champion and Stann is just trying to survive now at 1:10. He seems wobbly on his fight and Cantwell finally rocks him and sends him to the canvas at 57 seconds. Stann Flair flops on his way down and doesn't offer any defense to shots to the head, which was all the ref needed to see. NEW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! We'll make it official after these messages.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE END COMES 4:01 INTO R2, WINNER BY TKO, HE AVENGES DEFEAT AND IS THE NEW WEC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD - STEVE 'THE ROBOT' CANTWELL! Cantwell gives the glory to God and thanks the fans in attendance. "My nerves got to me a little bit, I was a little too pumped up, but I knew I was going to win tonight no doubt about it. I'm going to continue to chew up 205 pounders all day. I respect Stann a lot, he's better than most, but anybody who wants this belt come and get it!" Stann is interviewed next. "He brought technique, he was more accurate with strikes, he took me out at my own game. Steve congratulations. To all my supporters and fans I'm sorry I let you down. I'm a baby in this sport, I have so much to learn, I have not fulfilled my potential yet and I'm going to make sure tonight was the best thing that ever happened to me." Classy post-fight interview. We get another bonus fight after this break - Micah Miller vs. Josh Grispi.

* Micah Miller v. Josh Grispi

Grispi is only 19 and Miller is only 21. Damn these kids are young in MMA! Martinez says this is three rounds of featherweight action. Grispi is in the blue corner and has an 11-1 record, and he stands 5'11". That's pretty tall for only weighing 145! Shit what am I talking about, Miller is six feet even and 145. He's also 11-1. Are these guys fucking clones of each other or what! Herb Dean is our referee in charge.

"You ready to fight - you ready - let's do it!" Grispi is in the black and Miller is in the red. Miller goes down to the ground and is looking for his opponent to jump into guard or eat an upkick, but he does neither and forces the stand up. 30 seconds gone by. Grispi ROCKS Miller with a big right and pounces on him. THE FIGHT IS STOPPED. Miller is confused as Herb Dean comes over to explain the fight's over, and the crowd is booing. It didn't look like Miller was defending himself on the ground when he got rocked, but it didn't look like he was out for more than a flash KO and he was IMMEDIATELY back on his feet when Dean waved it off. Mir still says if you're not defending intelligently right after you get rocked, you have to air on the side of caution. The official decision is up next!

FIGHT FANS THE END COMES AT 50 SECONDS INTO ROUND ONE FOR YOUR WINNER BY TKO JOSH 'THE FLUKE' GRISPI! Grispi: "I hit him, he spun around, fell down, I hit him again on the ground he went out. I went to hit him a third time, Dean stepped in, and right as he did he woke up." Harris puts over Grispi's 12 wins and asks what he wants. "I don't care. I love to fight, I'm willing to fight anybody!" Condit v. Miura in our final title fight of the night is up next!

* Carlos Condit {C} vs. Hiromitsu Miura (WEC Welterweight Championship)

I don't have the feeling Condit is going to lose after having successfully defended his title in vicious fashion several times, but we've already had one champ getting knocked off tonight to remind us anything's possible in the fight game. Mir says Condit is not a guy you normally want to go up against, but notes that 'The Last Samurai' Miura knocked out Blas Avena in his last fight to get this title shot. Harris once again notes this is a 5 five minute round fight as we hear "THE ATTACK BEGINS" and go to the video package. Condit: "He has no business contending for my belt. My plan is to go in there and embarrass him." Miura through translator: "I'll go in the clinch with him and trade blows. My knees are just as strong. I have many weapons in my arsenal and I'll show WEC fans what a knockout is." Condit: "He's a tough guy and I'm sure he deserves to be here but I'm gonna show him he doesn't want to be in that cage with me." Miura is out first, giving fans dap on his way to the ring. Condit is no less pumped up as he comes out to Rage Against the Machine, well prepared to make his third title defense. Condit's sporting a bit of a beard for this fight! Miura was one pound under 170, Condit was only a half pound under. Miura has a 71.5" reach, Condit has 4.5 more. Joe's here for the official introductions of THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING. Welterweight title is on the line, presented by Bud Light and Harley Davidson, and sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Officials, judges, doctors, timekeepers and judges are all introduced. Miura is in the blue corner, stands 5'9", and has a 9-4 record. 'The Last Samurai' fights out of Tokyo, Japan. Condit is in the red corner. He stands 6'2" and has a 22-4 record. He fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and is the reigning and defending champ. Josh Rosenthal is our referee in charge. Here we go!

Condit and Miura circle cautiously for 19 before Condit throws a high kick, a low leg kick, and finally connects with a couple of body kicks. Miura responds by trying to come in with a big right. 50 seconds gone by and another low leg kick by Condit. Miura comes in and Condit gets a couple of headshots. Miura tries a judo throw and Condit defends it perfectly. The crowd's chanting "CARLOS! CARLOS!" Miura with a left hook and leg kick of his own. Judo throw takedown succeeds on the second try and gets Condit in side control at 3:15. Miura doesn't like his positioning and lets Condit get back to his feet. Miura eats a big straight right but Miura sweeps and nearly takes him down. Mir notes this strategy is effective because even if he doesn't keep Condit down he's not eating any knees by sweeping him down. Big right by Condit floors Miura with two minutes left in the round. Miura may be in trouble! Condit has the body trapped and is rocking him with right hands and left elbows until Miura gets some tight body control. Mir says Miura COULD explode up and get out, but when he pushes off Condit rides and stays on top, then rolls for an armbar, but Miura slips out of it! Both go to their feet and Miura gets another judo throw and ends up on top of Condit. Great first round!

R2 is just starting as we come back from break. Condit is coming forward strongly with kicks and punches. It's hard to tell if Miura slipped or got hit, but either way Condit ends up in his closed guard 30 seconds in. Miura eats some elbows as the crowd pops for 'The Natural.' Condit stands up and is trying to control the legs but does eat one upkick in the process, so he spins around to avoid and passes the butterfly guard by leaping in the air to get to half guard, working towards side control. We get a promo for Brown v. Faber on September 10th before the clock pops back up to reveal there's 3:04 left in R2. We get a ref warning for inactivity as Condit looks to pass, but Miura continues to defend well as Condit keeps trying to flatten him out. Condit finally transitions to full mount, Miura rolls and gives up his back, and Condit immediately grabs the arm and tries to get the armbar. Miura pulls out! Now Miura is on top of Condit. Wow. This is a KICK-ASS FIGHT. I say this time and again about WEC but if you're not watching you don't know what you're missing. Rosenthal decides things have stalled on the ground and stands them up with 50 seconds left. Miura misses a judo throw attempt and Condit takes his back briefly, then ends up in full guard with 15 to go. He's on top punching the ribs and putting elbows to the head as we go to R3!

We're back for R3 and Condit is coming out aggressive just like he did for R2. Condit goes for a single leg, doesn't get it, but transitions from there into a guillotine choke when Miura rolls. Knowing he doesn't have position he gives it up but Miura is now on the ground with Condit in full mount. Condit may be looking for an armbar on the left but he can do damage from mount whether he does or not and if Miura rolls to escape he'll give up his back again. Miura is eating elbows, and Harris says even if they don't look sexy they hurt like hell. Miura explodes out of nowhere just past two minutes and suddenly it's reversal of fortunes with Miura looking for a schoolboy mount, dropping left haymakers in Condit's guard. Rosenthal tells them to advance position with just two minutes left. Condit gets to his feet but he was taking MAJOR damage before he did so. Condit managed to get a shot in, dazed as he was, and knock Miura backwards to the canvas, and Condit takes his back with 75 seconds left. Miura rolls and Condit is in the full mount, and seems totally gassed with a minute left. It's ground and pound baby! The fight is almost stopped before Miura gives up his back, and Miura keeps trying to lower his chin to keep Condit from sinking in a choke. The strategy works and he's going to survive - we're going to round four!!!!

"Gentlemen, let's fight!" No commercial break this time and thank goodness, because we nearly came back late every other time they took one. A spinning roundhouse kick by Condit misses. Miura hits him with a big right! The fight goes to the ground and Condit goes for the legs, which was perfect survival strategy, and it pays off with a double leg takedown. Miura is trying to pop back up after the first minute, gets a sweep, and ends up on top of Condit with his Samurai Sword trunks pointed straight at the camera. 90 seconds gone. Miura is going for the schoolboy punches but Condit works a kneebar. Rosenthal warns Miura about grabbing the fence to escape. Two minutes gone by and Rosenthal calls for them to advance position, then calls for a clean break 2:15 in. Miura and Condit slug it out briefly and Condit takes him back down to the ground. Someone in the crowd screams "TAKE THE ARM CARLOS" and that's exactly what he's trying to do. Miura sweeps him again with 90 seconds left and then starts to rain down punches, but Condit closes the guard to avoid taking more damage or getting it stopped. Rosenthal gives a warning about shots to the back of the head. Miura backs away and Condit tries to throw upkicks. Condit gets a knee on Miura when he misses with a punch, Condit starts rocking him with strikes, and with 15 seconds left Rosenthal calls it!. On the replay we see the knee hitting the chin, Miura totally gassing out on the ground and unable to defend, turtling up, and he's not even gotten up yet as Condit comes over to put on a t-shirt. Condit is gassed too but had a LITTLE more left than his challenger. THIS WAS A WAR.

JOE MARTINEZ: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THIS FIGHT COMES TO AN END AT 4:43 OF ROUND 4, GIVE A HAND TO THESE TWO WELTERWEIGHTS FOR THE WAR IN THE CAGE, YOUR WINNER BY TKO VICTORY AND STILL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD - 'THE NATURAL BORN KILLER' CARLOS CONDIT! An exhausted Condit says he'll come away from this fight better physically, mentally, spiritually and dedicates the fight to his grandmother who just passed away a few days ago. That's it for the live fights. As Mir and Harris run down the action we saw live here's the undercard results courtesy of Sherdog.com.

* Scott Jorgensen vs. Kenji Osawa
All three ringside judges score the fight 30-27 for the WINNER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION: SCOTT JORGENSEN.

* Mike Budnik vs. Greg McIntyre
McIntyre taps out to a triangle choke 3:21 of the third round. WINNER VIA SUBMISSION: MIKE BUDNIK.

* Shane Roller vs. Todd Moore
Moore gets caught in a guillotine choke and taps at 3:00 of the first. WINNER VIA SUBMISSION: SHANE ROLLER.

* Blas Avena vs. Dave Terrel
Avena and Terrel trade bombs but Avena wins out and drops him with 1:07 to go in R1. WINNER VIA TKO: BLAS AVENA.