WEC 47 Preview

Scott Jorgensen vs. Chad George

The Bottom Line: There is no good reason for Jorgensen to be on the undercard, and he’s going to drive that point home across George’s chin. Anyone familiar with the pro-wrestling scene knows about the concept of the squash match. That’s what this is. Watch for Jorgensen to unleash one of his vicious clinch combinations late in the first round for a TKO.

Chad Mendes vs. Erik Koch

The Bottom Line: Two of the featherweight division’s top prospects clash in a fight that could decide the next big thing in the WEC’s premier division. Both are quality wrestlers, but Mendes is just flat out better and Koch doesn’t have the guard game to make up the difference. A frustrating fight for Koch ends with a unanimous decision loss while Mendes gets to play the role of resident superstar in training.

Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Pettis

The Breakdown: Likely the best fight on the undercard, Danny Castillo and Anthony Pettis are going to put on a full-scale recreation of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” inside the cage. While Castillo is the better wrestler and has some pop in his fists, his willingness to get into a wild fight will be his undoing. Pettis is not only the more versatile striker but a talented submission artist as well. The difference in submission skill will be the straw that breaks Castillo’s arm, as he gets caught in an armbar in the third round of a crackling fight.

Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop

The Breakdown: There isn’t any way to pretty this fight up. Roop fancies himself a striker, but he lacks power and doesn’t have a good plan B for when his plan A goes wrong. And it will go wrong against Garcia, who will get the win.

Fredson Paixao vs. Courtney Buck

The Breakdown: This fight depends on Buck’s ability to literally get buck before Paixao snatches a limb or an airway and claims it for his own purposes. Not a fun game to play since Paixao is a criminally underrated grappler and Buck’s submission defense has never gone through the wringer that Paixao has in store for him. Some early success for Buck will fall to pieces as Paixao gets him down and has him tapping out in short order.

Ricardo Lamas vs. Bendy Casimir

The Bottom Line: The good news for Casimir is that after nearly a decade in the game he’s finally getting a shot at the big leagues. The bad news is that he’s almost certainly going to lose. There is no good answer for how Casimir is going to stop Lamas from working his smothering top control to a decision, and that’s what this fight is going to be all about. Casimir will put on a good show of it, but he’s not going to win: Lamas’ wrestling will get him an academic decision nod.