WEC 43
Encyclopedia
WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts
event held by World Extreme Cagefighting
on October 10, 2009 at the AT&T Center
in San Antonio, Texas
.
. However, due to headliner Ben Henderson
having eye surgery, the event was later rescheduled.
The main event
was expected to be WEC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Jamie Varner
and challenger Donald Cerrone
. This was to be a rematch of their bout at WEC 38
which ended in a controversial technical split decision, but Varner was deemed medically unable to return to competition. Instead, the WEC had Cerrone face Ben Henderson
, for the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship, with the winner fighting Varner in a title unification bout when he would be medically cleared.
A previously announced bout between Alex Karalexis
and Anthony Pettis
has been cancelled due to an injury suffered by Karalexis while training. The fight was rescheduled for WEC 48
, where Pettis won via submission.
Mark Hominick
was expected to face Deividas Taurosevičius
at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Javier Vazquez
.
Erik Koch
was expected to face Wagnney Fabiano
at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Mackens Semerzier
.
The event drew an estimated 419,000 viewers on Versus
.
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 October 10, 2009 at the AT&T Center
AT&T Center
AT&T Center is an indoor arena, located in San Antonio, Texas, USA. It seats 18,581, for basketball , 13,800, for ice hockey and 19,000, for concerts or religious gatherings and contains 2,018 club seats, 50 luxury suites and 32 bathrooms .It was completed in 2002, as the SBC...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
Background
The event was scheduled to take place on September 2, 2009 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. However, due to headliner Ben Henderson
Ben Henderson (fighter)
Benson Henderson is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Henderson, a former WEC Lightweight Champion, is known for his aggressive style and his ability to escape from deep submission attempts...
having eye surgery, the event was later rescheduled.
The main event
Main Event
Main Event is Australia's only pay-per-view channel. It transmits through Foxtel, Optus Television and Austar, which jointly own the channel...
was expected to be WEC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Jamie Varner
Jamie Varner
James Christopher Varner is a mixed martial artist who fought for World Extreme Cagefighting. He is a former WEC Lightweight champion.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
and challenger Donald Cerrone
Donald Cerrone
Donald Anthony Cerrone is an American mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer who fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently competes as a lightweight in the UFC...
. This was to be a rematch of their bout at WEC 38
WEC 38
WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on January 25, 2009. It aired live on the Versus Network....
which ended in a controversial technical split decision, but Varner was deemed medically unable to return to competition. Instead, the WEC had Cerrone face Ben Henderson
Ben Henderson (fighter)
Benson Henderson is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Henderson, a former WEC Lightweight Champion, is known for his aggressive style and his ability to escape from deep submission attempts...
, for the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship, with the winner fighting Varner in a title unification bout when he would be medically cleared.
A previously announced bout between Alex Karalexis
Alex Karalexis
Alex Karalexis is an American mixed martial artist of Greek descent. He has a professional record of 10 wins and 6 losses...
and Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Pettis has made a name for himself mainly fighting in his home state of Wisconsin. He is a former fighter for the World Extreme Cagefighting , where he was the...
has been cancelled due to an injury suffered by Karalexis while training. The fight was rescheduled for WEC 48
WEC 48
UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber, also referred to as WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California...
, where Pettis won via submission.
Mark Hominick
Mark Hominick
Mark Hominick is a Canadian mixed martial artist, former TKO Featherweight Champion, and current UFC fighter. Hominick is currently ranked as the #4 featherweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly.-Mixed martial arts career:...
was expected to face Deividas Taurosevičius
Deividas Taurosevičius
Deividas Taurosevičius is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist.-Career:Taurosevičius started his professional MMA career in 2002, primarily competing on cards in Massachusetts and New Jersey...
at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Javier Vazquez
Javier 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....
.
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...
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 the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Mackens Semerzier
Mackens Semerzier
Mackens Semerzier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Semerzier has mostly fought in Virginia...
.
The event drew an estimated 419,000 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:
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....
vs.
Deividas TaurosevičiusDeividas TaurosevičiusDeividas Taurosevičius is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist.-Career:Taurosevičius started his professional MMA career in 2002, primarily competing on cards in Massachusetts and New Jersey...
- Taurosevicius defeated Vazquez via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
- Bantamweight bout:
Charlie ValenciaCharlie ValenciaCarlos Enrique Valencia is an American mixed martial artist . He has fought for the WEC and UFC in their bantamweight divisions..-Early life:...
vs. Coty WheelerCoty WheelerCoty Wheeler is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He lost his fight to Charlie Valencia at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009.Wheeler lost to Will Campuzano via unanimous decision on January 10, 2010 at WEC 46...
- Bantamweight bout:
- Valencia defeated Wheeler via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).
- Bantamweight bout: Eddie WinelandEddie WinelandEddie 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...
vs. Manny TapiaManny TapiaManny Tapia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter from Chino, California who trains out of Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California...
- Bantamweight bout:
- Wineland defeated Tapia via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
- Featherweight bout:
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...
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:
- Semerzier defeated Fabiano via submission (triangle choke) at 2:14 of round 1. This bout was aired on the live broadcast.
- Bantamweight bout: Scott JorgensenScott JorgensenScott Roger Jorgensen is an American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Bantamweight division and is a member of the Twisted Genetiks Fight Team based out of Boise, Idaho. He is considered a perennial top 5 ranked bantamweight fighter...
vs. Noah Thomas
- Bantamweight bout:
- Jorgensen defeated Thomas via KO (punches) at 3:13 of round 1. This bout was aired on the live broadcast.
- 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. Muhsin CorbbreyMuhsin CorbbreyMuhsin Corbbrey is an American mixed martial artist and former professional boxer. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin, a black dan in Judo, and is a Shidokan World Champion. He competes in the Lightweight division...
- Lightweight bout:
- Njokuani defeated Corbbrey via TKO (punches) at 1:42 of round 2.
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.
Will CampuzanoWill CampuzanoWilliam Campuzano is a Mexican American professional mixed martial artist from Mount Pleasant, Texas. He currently fights in the bantamweight division.-Early career:...
- Page defeated Campuzano via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:02 of round 1.
- Featherweight bout: Rafael AssuncaoRafael AssuncaoRaphael Assunção is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who currently competes in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship....
vs.
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:...
- Featherweight bout:
- Assuncao defeated Jabouin via split decision (30–27, 27–30, 29–28).
- Lightweight bout: Richard CrunkiltonRichard CrunkiltonRichard Allen Crunkilton is an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the Lightweight division. He defeated Sergio Gomez on March 26, 2008 at WEC 33. He was scheduled to face Donald Cerrone at WEC 34, but was forced off the card with an injury. Crunkilton was forced to withdraw from his...
vs. Dave JansenDave JansenDavid Hendrik Jansen is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He defeated Richard Crunkilton via unanimous decision at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009....
- Lightweight bout:
- Jansen defeated Crunkilton via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).
- Interim Lightweight Championship bout: Donald CerroneDonald CerroneDonald Anthony Cerrone is an American mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer who fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently competes as a lightweight in the UFC...
vs. Benson HendersonBen Henderson (fighter)Benson Henderson is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Henderson, a former WEC Lightweight Champion, is known for his aggressive style and his ability to escape from deep submission attempts...
- Interim Lightweight Championship bout:
- Henderson defeated Cerrone via unanimous decision (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) to become the WEC Interim Lightweight Champion.
Bonus Awards
Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses, with the Fight of the Night earners having their bonuses doubled to $20,000 each.- Fight of the Night: Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson
- Knockout of the Night: Anthony Njokuani
- Submission of the Night: Mackens Semerzier