Options: WEC 49 Edition

Jamie Varner

Option 1: Kamal Shalorus

I don’t really think this match is necessary, as anyone with eyes and a functioning brain understands that Varner beat Shalorus with or without a point being deducted from Shalorus in round two. However, if the WEC is bound and determined to have one of these two men fight for the WEC Lightweight title, they will need to fight to an honest conclusion. It would be extremely improbable that WEC President Reed Harris would come out and award Varner the next title shot because those of us not paid to judge the fight understand that Varner did, in fact, win, but I don’t think anyone would disagree were he to do so. Well, except for the Varner haters, of which there seems to be no shortage.

Option 2: Donald Cerrone

Varner is a man haunted by rematches. He’s looking for a rematch against WEC Lightweight champion Ben Henderson. He may well need a rematch against Shalorus in order to challenge Henderson again. If those two matches are off the table, a rematch against Cerrone seems as reasonable a match for Varner as any. As with his fight against Shalorus, Varner’s fight against Cerrone did not lack for controversy, as Varner earned a technical split decision when the bout went to the judges cards in the fifth round after Varner was unintentionally but illegally kneed in the head while on the ground. Cerrone, having just lost his rematch to Henderson, would remain at least one fight away from a third encounter with Henderson, but he would put himself firmly back in the contender’s mix in the WEC Lightweight division. Of course, Cerrone has longed for a rematch with Varner, who he cannot stand on a personal level, since the controversial decision was rendered against him. It’s no Quinton “Rampage” Jackson v. Rashad Evans, but it is a grudge match that would look very nice as a semi-main event on any WEC card.

Kamal Shalorus

Option 1: Jamie Varner

Again, this match need not happen. To everyone not named Cameron Quwek or Cecil Peoples, Varner won and therefore both fighters should go on to face other opponents. However, as the draw will stand on both fighters’ official records, it is at least plausible that the WEC may prefer to give Shalorus and Varner the opportunity to right the wrongs of the judges and give both men another opportunity to stake their claim as the top contender in the WEC’s Lightweight division.

Option 2: The winner of Shane Roller v. Anthony Pettis (WEC 50, August 18)

At the moment, and failing a rematch between Shalorus and Varner, the winner of Roller and Pettis will be the de facto top contender. That is, unless the WEC decides that neither Roller nor Pettis will have earned a title shot based on the result of their match alone. In that case, Shalorus could be asked to step in against the winner in order to define a strong top contender. Varner could very well fight the winner of Roller v. Pettis instead of Shalorus, but given that their is plenty of juice to be squeezed out of a rematch against Cerrone, it seems more likely that Shalorus would be available to fight the winner of the WEC 50 showdown.