Headlining the WEC’s first and only pay-per-view event, Aldo defended his newly won featherweight crown against Faber in Sacramento, California. It was a highly anticipated bout that climaxed a night of incredible PPV fights.
For five rounds, Aldo thoroughly dismantled Faber with vicious striking on the way to a unanimous decision victory. The most severe damage was reserved for Faber’s leg, a victim of seemingly hundreds of leg kicks from the explosive Aldo.
3. Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung: WEC 48 (4/24/2010)
The fight between Leonard Garcia and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung was the epitome of an action packed bout. As the lead-in for the first WEC pay per view, it was the featherweight version of the 2005 classic between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar from the first Ultimate Fighter finale. Garcia and Jung stood in the pocket and threw bombs with reckless abandon for three full rounds with neither fighter slowing down.
From a technical standpoint, it was an incredibly sloppy fight, but still an exciting fifteen minutes. It was under consideration for 2010’s fight of the year as well.
2. Miguel Torres vs. Yoshiro Maeda: WEC 34 (6/1/2008)
After dominating the Midwest circuit for eight consecutive years, Torres defeated Chase Beebe to become WEC bantamweight champion in 2008. His first title defense against Japan’s Yoshiro Maeda is what truly put Torres on the map.
Torres pushed the pace and was extremely aggressive throughout the entire fight but the challenger refused to fade. Maeda kept moving forward, giving it his all in his attempt to claim the company’s top prize. The fight was dubbed a TKO victory for Torres due to a doctor’s stoppage in what should be considered the best televised bantamweight fight in the division’s history.
Cerrone vs. Henderson - WEC 43
1. Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson: WEC 43 (10/10/2009)
When then-lightweight champ Jamie Varner was out with an injury, Cerrone and Ben Henderson competed for the interim title in what can only be defined as a complete mixed martial arts battle. It had everything: action-packed striking, beautiful transitions and excellent jiu-jitsu ground work. There was nary a dull moment for 25 minutes.
The fact that these two fighters in particular are now part of the ultra stacked UFC lightweight division can only mean that we are in store for some incredible bouts in 2011. Henderson picked up the decision in this fight, and now finds himself just a few days away from defending his crown against dangerous contender Anthony Pettis.
Honorable mentions: Carlos Condit vs. Hiromitsu Miura, Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki, John Polakowski vs. Olaf Alfonso, Cub Swanson vs. Mackens Semerzier, Manny Gamburyan vs. Mike Brown
