WEC 52 Preview: We're almost dead

This is the second to last WEC show we'll ever see. Let that sink in a bit. The WEC has been the most consistently entertaining promotion and will truly be missed once the merge with the UFC is completed. The big question in my mind with these fights is will any of the losers get dropped or does Zuffa retain their contracts to maintain depth in the divisions? I'm hoping all these fighters get a chance to compete in the UFC but the final two WEC events may be sink or swim situations for a lot of fighters.

The two major fights on the non-televised portion of the card are Anthony Njokuani against Edward Faaloloto and Rafael Assuncao taking on L.C. Davis. Both of these fights in my opinion have the most importance of the undercard as performing well guarantees a trip to the UFC, especially in the Lightweight Bout between Njokuani and Faaloloto. There will be more leeway for featherweights like a Assuncao and Davis, but Njokuani and Faaloloto are fighting for a spot in an already dead UFC Lightweight divsion.

Njokuani is an enigma in my eyes. One fight he's looking to be the next big thing in the LW division and the next fight he's getting completely clowned. He has had three loses in the WEC, the first in his debut against current LW champ Ben Henderson where he was choked 42 seconds into the second round where both fighters were making their debut for the organization. He bounced back with THREE straight TKO stoppages over notable names Bart Palaszewski and Chris Horodecki. The Horodecki fight was seen as his coming out party when he kicked the baby faced fighter as he ran away from danger. Since that fight he's been on a losing streak, with both fights ending in the first, one against perennial contender Shane Roller who finished him by Rear Naked Choke and then being TKO'd by unknown Polish fighter Maciej Jewtuszko. This is Njokuani's fight to lose against a guy with LOL in his name who doesn't even have a wikipedia page. That says a lot since you can make your own wikipedia page. If the Nigerian-American doesn't win, I don't expect him to make the cross over to the UFC octogon.

Raphael Assuncao and L.C. Davis is an extremely interesting fight for a couple of reasons. Raphael has been on a two fight losing streak after being considered one of the best Featherweight fighters in the world for quite some time. He's a former American Top Team product but since leaving ATT has not lived up to his potential. L.C. Davis is a tough matchup for anyone with his wrestling base and if I'm a betting man, I say this turns into a grapplefest if Assuncao is unable to keep Davis at bay with his Muay Thai. This is another fight which could determine who makes it onto the UFC. A win would surely push L.C. into the USA Today/SB Nation top ten best featherweights and would assure that the skilled Assuncao doesn't receive a chance to fight for the UFC. A win for Assuncao would revitalize his career and stop the skid that he's currently on. He's a fun fighter who has it in him to be a FOTN type fighter, but only if he performs to his ability.

The main card begins with the returning Damacio Page taking on always dangerous Demetrious Johnson. We haven't seen Page for quite sometime as he's been rehabbing an injury. This fight was initially going to be Damacio Page against the first WEC Bantamweight Champion, Eddie Wineland, but an injury sustained in training has forced the once top ranked fighter off the card. Taking his place is Demetrious Johnson who is coming off a win against Nick Pace at WEC 51. The short turn around could pay dividends for Johnson as he won't have to deal with ring rust. He's 1-1 in the WEC with his loss coming against Brad Pickett at Aldo/Faber. I am a Damacio Page fan since his fight against Genki Sudo, which also was Sudo's retirement fight. He has a ton of heart and trains out of the Greg Jackson camp, but doesn't subscribe to the wrestle-fest strategy that many Jackson fighters keep. He's got big power and I expect a win for him. With that win he'll be catapulted into the top tier of the division to contend for a title shot.

Joseph Benavidez against Wagnney Fabiano is next. The odds on this being anything but a grapple fest are awful as both fighters are known for their high level ground games. Fabiano is the former IFL FW Champ, a title that was created when the organization wanted to have Chris Horodecki as the face of their lightweight division. Unfortunately, something about mice and men and Ryan Schultz screwed those plans up. Benavidez is coming off a Split Decision loss to Dominick Cruz, the current WEC Bantamweight Champ. The pressure is on Benavidez to make this bout exciting as Wagnney Fabiano's plodding BJJ game is worse than watching paint dry. Neither fighter is in danger of losing their jobs; however, a Fabiano win could propel him into the top of the division. To face a fighter like Brian Bowles or Miguel Torres.

Erik Koch, a Duke Roufus that's the Troufus, product was expected to face Josh Grispi, but the fight was scratched in favor of Grispi receiving a shot against Jose Aldo's UFC Featherweight Belt (that's really weird to type). Instead, Koch will be facing Francisco Rivera, a WEC newcomer. Rivera could be is coming in on short notice and could upset Koch. He has a bunch of tattoos and could be a young Danny Trejo stand-in if they ever decided to make Machete: The Younger Years. Basically he's mexican and has tattoos. I don't think Koch loses since he's got some pretty grappling and Roufus standup. If Rivera impresses, even in a loss, I'd expect him to receive another shot just because he stepped up on short notice.

While a lot of people are looking forward to the main event, I think the co-main could be the show stopper. Chad Mendes takes on Javier Vazquez in a bout I suspect is for the number one contender in the Featherweight Divsion. Both fighters have been impressive in their WEC careers and with the uncertainty of Jose Aldo's next opponent after Josh Grispi, if Mendes or Vazquez produce fireworks, I'd expect them to be booked for Jose Aldo's next challenge. I actually think both pose certain threats to the young Brazilian that we haven't seen yet. Mendes being a younger, more explosive version of Urijah Faber, and Vazquez having legitimate BJJ credentials under Carlson Gracie and Rodrigo Medieros. Any way you cut it, it leads to an interesting fight. I like Mendes in this fight but wouldn't be surprised if Javie can pull off a submission win.

AND FINALLY!!! THE MAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!! Urijah Faber taking on Takeya Mizugaki for the Mizugaki/Faber Champion...wait, there's not title on the line. Anyways, this is gonna be a fun fight. Mizugaki entered the WEC as the top Japanese Bantamweight to challenge Miguel Torres for his WEC Bantamweight title. Unfortunately, he came up short, but did take part in one of the most exciting WEC fights, earning Fight of the Night honors and a bonus check. Faber is the face of the WEC and making his long awaited Bantamweight debut. He's most likely going to receive a title shot if he wins which is horse shit but whatever right? He's the face of the organization and it's not like there are more deserving (there are) fighters (Damacio Page) for the belt right now. This is a tough fight and I hope that Mizugaki wins, just because of that mice and men saying again.

I hope you enjoy the second to last WEC show, it's gonna be fucking sweet. I'll have a post show write up tonight!