WEC 52: "Faber vs. Mizugaki" is all set for tonight (Nov. 11) at "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Versus televised event will feature former featherweight champion Urijah Faber making his 135-pound debut against "one of the division's toughest in Japanese striking sensation Takeya Mizugaki."
Late replacement and former bantamweight title contender Joseph Benavidez will be featured in the co main event, battling "grappling ace" Wagnney Fabiano.
Of course, MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of WEC 52: "Faber vs. Mizugaki" below, beginning with the Versus telecast at 9 p.m. ET. We'll also deliver quick results of all the action from the preliminary card earlier in the evening.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the event to share their thoughts on the action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 10) before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after "Faber vs. Mizugaki."
Without further delay, see below for the latest WEC 52 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action!)
WEC 52: "FABER VS. MIZUGAKI" QUICK RESULTS:
Urijah Faber defeats Takeya Mizugaki via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:50 of round one
Joseph Benavidez defeats Wagnney Fabiano via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:45 of round two
Erik Koch defeats Francisco Rivera via technical knockout (strikes) at 1:36 of round one
Chad Mendes defeats Javier Vazquez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Demetrius Johnson defeats Damacio Page via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:27 of round three
Dustin Poirier defeats Zack Micklewright via technical knockout (strikes) at 0:53 of round one
Michael McDonald defeats Clint Godfrey via submission (armbar) at 2:42 of round one
Cub Swanson defeats Mackens Semerzier via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Raphael Assuncao defeats L.C. Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Anthony Njokuani defeats Edward Faaloloto via technical knockout (strikes) at 4:54 of round two
Yves Jabouin defeats Brandon Visher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
WEC 52: "FABER VS. MIZUGAKI" PLAY-BY-PLAY LIVE MAIN CARD COMMENTARY:
James here!
135 lbs.: Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Round one: Faber takes the center. No gloves touch. He misses with a punch and then eats one. He shoves Mizugaki backward. Both fighters miss with punches. Now Urijah connects with a hard left. Another nice exchange with both fighters landing. Nice counter punch from Mizugaki. Into the clinch after another exchange. Mizugaki working punches to the body. Faber reverses position and pins Mizugaki against the fence. Nice exchange and then back into the clinch. Faber is latched onto him here. Body punches from both. Another big exchange and then back into the clinch. Both fighters connected there. Right hand from Faber. Mizugaki now reverses and puts Faber's back into the fence. They separate now and Urijah swings for the fences but misses. Big exchange again with Mizugaki landing. Hard body shot lands for Faber. Mizugaki connects with a right hand and Faber shoots in for the takedown. Mizugaki defending well against the fence. Faber tries for a guillotine and now he has Mizugaki's back. Mizugaki is standing, but Faber is on his back with a body lock. He falls to the mat now with Faber continuing to work for the choke. He's under now and Mizugaki is trying to hold on. He's sleeping and the referee stops the fight. Great finish for Faber. That came out of nowhere.
Final result: Urijah Faber defeats Takeya Mizugaki via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:50 of round one
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135 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. Wagnney Fabiano
Round one: Benavidez circles and ignores Fabiano's attempt to touch gloves. Nice combination from Benavidez. Nice exchange and Fabiano tries to follow up with a high kick. He misses. Benavidez goes upstairs now with a kick that gets blocked. Kick to the body from Fabiano. Nice one-two from Benavidez. Upstairs again with a kick from Benavidez. Fabiano with a slow right hand. Now Benavidez catches a kick and lands a punch. Fabiano whiffs on a head kick now and he falls to the mat. Benavidez capitalizes with a few punches. Nice combination from Benavidez. He tried another high kick at the end, but it was blocked again. Hard kick to the body from Benavidez. He's really working his kicks in this fight. Now a body kick lands for Fabiano. Nice counter punch from Benavidez. Big combination from Benavidez with Fabiano pinned against the fence. To the body again for Fabiano. Now Benavidez closes the distance looking for a takedown. Fabiano shrugs it off. Nice punches from Benavidez. Another kick. He misses with another. Two punch combo from Benavidez. Kick attempt from Fabiano and a nice exchange at the bell. 10-9 Benavidez.
Round two: Benavidez lands right away with a counter punch. Nice kick now from Benavidez. Another low kick lands and takes Fabiano's legs out from under him. Benavidez standing over him and he lands a big right. Fabiano back to his feet and now he has a single leg takedown. He gets it, but Benavidez has a guillotine. Fabiano escapes somehow and Benavidez moves to the top position in half guard. Now north south. Guillotine try again from Benavidez. It's tight, but Fabiano is holding on. He looks okay and now he transitions and takes the top position. Benavidez with half guard. Now Fabiano takes side control. Benavidez powers back to his feet and lands a nice right hand. Benavidez setting up the guillotine again and now he has it. He pulls guard and squeezes. Fabiano has no choice and he taps out. Benavidez with a great submission win over a very talented jiu jitsu guy.
Final result: Joseph Benavidez defeats Wagnney Fabiano via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:45 of round two
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145 lbs.: Chad Mendes vs. Javier Vazquez
Round one: Vazquez showing his jab. Mendes gets a high kick blocked. Now Mendes comes forward with punches and backs Vazquez into the fence. Vazquez shoots for a takedown and Mendes tosses him to the mat. Mendes standing over him and he kicks to the legs. Vazquez back to his feet and he lands a leg kick. Another leg kick, but Mendes times it this time and gets a takedown. Vazquez with full guard. Rubber guard now. Nice punches and elbows from the bottom for Vazquez. Mendes powers to his feet and slams Vazguez back to the floor. Full guard for Vazquez. Mendes with good punches. Rubber guard again. Mendes with great control from the top, though. Vazquez working submissions off his back, but Mendes is powering out of everything. More hard punches from Mendes. The round ends there with Mendes on top. 10-9 Mendes.
Round two: Nice leg kick from Mendes to open up the action. He fakes a shot and then explodes with a beautiful flying knee. Vazquez eats it and pulls guard. Mendes on top. Vazquez working the rubber guard again and landing punches. Mendes picks him up and slams him into the mat. Mendes with good top control. He's mixing in punches to the body. Now he unloads with three or four to the head. Vazquez trying to stay busy from the bottom. He continues to go back to the rubber guard. Mendes postures and lands a punch. He stands and eats an upkick. Now he kicks Vazquez's legs. Vazquez kicking to the knee. Mendes does a summersault into guard, but Vazquez tries to capitalize and take the top. Mendes isn't having it and he takes his position back in Vazquez's full guard. Nice elbow from Mendes. Vazquez is losing this fight on his back. Now Herb Dean wants a stand up. Mendes misses with a high kick. The round ends there. Another 10-9 for Mendes.
Round three: Punches from Mendes right away in the center. Vazquez with a leg kick. Nice right hand from Mendes. Vazquez stalking and now Mendes takes him down. Vazquez with full guard. He's landing a good amount of punches from his back. Mendes stands and avoids an upkick. Vazquez gets back to his feet. He gets a high kick blocked. Now Mendes connects with a hard kick upstairs. Vazquez felt that one. Mendes is all over him and scores with another takedown. He's in half guard landing elbows. Herb Dean wants another standup. Hard right hand lands from Mendes. Mendes chases him down and lands on top of him again. 90 seconds remaining. Vazquez is cut near his eye. Mendes is drilling Vazquez to the body. Now he postures and lands to the head with several punches and elbows. Vazquez back to rubber guard. Mendes stands and punches his way back into guard. More punches from Mendes to end the round. He's going to win this decision.
Final result: Chad Mendes defeats Javier Vazquez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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145 lbs.: Erik Koch vs. Francisco Rivera
Round one: Koch takes the center. He tries a high kick that gets blocked. Now a leg kick. Now he goes hard to the body with a kick. Nice jab from Koch. Another. He's doing a nice job using his distance. Leg kick again. Rivera blocks a high kick and counters to the legs. Jab again from Koch. Now Koch connects with the high kick and Rivera tumbles to the mat. Koch pounces and easily finishes him off. Great showing from Erik Koch.
Final result: Erik Koch defeats Francisco Rivera via technical knockout (strikes) at 1:36 of round one
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135 lbs.: Damacio Page vs. Demetrius Johnson
Round one: Gloves touch and we're underway with the first fight of the night. Johnson circling. He connects with a nice counter left. Damacio gets a high kick blocked. Now he chases Johnson down and lands a good knee before they clinch. Page tries a hip toss and Johnson lands on top of him. North south now for Johnson. Damacio stands and escapes. Now he's teeing off with punches against the fence. Johnson circles away. Page scores now with a nice takedown. He has side control. Johnson working hard to get back to his feet. Damacio is doing a good job of controlling him. Johnson staying busy with elbows from his back. Page working some knees to the body. Full mount for Damacio. Johnson does a great job to get half guard back. Now he gets to his feet and Page is looking for a guillotine. Damacio tosses Johnson back to the mat and he takes the top position. Johnson stands quickly and scores with a double leg takedown. Page back to his feet easily. Huge slam from Page puts Johnson on his back again. Page in side control. Johnson gets full guard. The round ends there. 10-9 Page.
Round two: Johnson tries a high kick. Damacio blocks it and charges forward. Johnson circles away. Nice exchange with big punches from Page. Into the clinch. Johnson defending the takedown nicely. Now Page scores with the takedown. Against the cage and Johnson escapes back to his feet. Low kick from Johnson is low and the referee calls for a pause. The replay looked pretty nasty. He's okay after a brief rest and we're back underway. Johnson circling and now he connects with a leg kick. Another leg kick. Another. Now he times a very nice takedown and lands in Page's guard. Elbows from Page on the bottom. Johnson staying busy with ground strikes as well. Johnson passes to half guard. Now he stands and takes Page's back. Page gets to his feet. They're still clinched. Johnson with another beautiful double leg takedown. Johnson looking to pass. Page tries to escape, but Johnson is all over him. Nice ground and pound from Johnson in this round. Page has no answer from his back. Johnson takes a brief mount. Page holds on and the round ends there. 10-9 Johnson.
Round three: Page with a leg kick. Johnson answers. Nice exchange and Johnson lands with a combination that sends Page to the mat. Johnson is all over him now with elbows. Page looks tired and he's not doing much but holding on. Johnson with good control here. Page is trying hard to get up, but Johnson won't let him breath. Johnson to side control. Now to north south. Johnson trying a guillotine. He has it and Damacio has to tap out. Fantastic win for Demetrius Johnson.
Final result: Demetrius Johnson defeats Damacio Page via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:27 of round three
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