Brian Bowles used a counter right hook late in the first round to defeat Miguel Angel Torres by TKO and win the WEC Bantamweight title in the main event of another exciting fight card from Zuffa’s promotion showcasing the lighter weight classes. Though Bowles entered as a highly respected, undefeated challenger his stoppage victory over Torres—a fighter who ranked high atop most ‘pound for pound’ best lists—has to be considered one of the major upsets of the year.Brian Bowles caught Miguel Angel Torres with a perfectly placed counter right hook to earn a TKO victory over a fighter many considered to be right at the top of the 'pound for pound' list (Photo: Zuffa, LLC)
One day after a UFC 101 card that was lackluster at best and disappointing at worst, MMA fans were hoping that the WEC would deliver an exciting event as they almost inevitably do. They weren’t disappointed, and there really wasn’t a bad fight on the card which featured several brutal knockouts along with tightly contested decisions.
The event will ultimately be remembered for the main event and the shocking upset of Torres, whom commentator Frank Mir had been championing as the ‘pound for pound’ best fighter in the sport of late. Torres certainly had the credentials—a fighter equally as dangerous on his feet as on the ground, he’d compiled a 37-1 record entering tonight’s contest. Since a 2003 decision loss to Ryan Ackerman, Torres had run off 17 straight victories including his most recent triumph by decision over a tough challenge from Japanese striking machine Takeya Mizugaki.
Bowles, originally from Charleston WV and now training out of the Hardcore Gym in Athens, GA, entered the cage accompanied by the music of Johnny Cash. This prompted WEC commentator Todd Harris to quip "It takes a special man to walk in to Johnny Cash". He wasn’t kidding, and Bowles quickly announced his presence with authority rocking Torres with an overhand right and scoring a takedown within the first minute. After a groundfighting sequence, the two fighters exchanged punches again and initially it looked like Torres was getting the best of things as he landed a multiple punch combination that sent Bowles backing up. Almost out of nowhere, however, Bowles countered with a perfectly placed short right hook that sent the champion to the canvas. He followed up with some nasty ‘ground and pound’ punches including a big left hand that knocked his opponent unconscious and forced the referee to wave off the fight.
In his postfight interview, Bowles was clearly pleased but not exactly surprised by the result. His comments indicated that he’d been very well prepared for Torres’ considerable skills and though he conceded that he’d been stung by the punching barrage waited for the opening to throw the right hook that ended the fight. Bowles displayed considerable class in victory, and Torres conducted himself in a matter befitting a champion as he accepted the defeat.
A rematch between Bowles and Torres is almost inevitable, but there’s plenty of talent in the WEC bantamweight division. The semifinal bout on the card pitted two of these competitors in what may have been an elimination match for #1 contender status as Dominick Cruz handed feisty Joseph Benavidez his first professional loss via unanimous decision. The unorthodox and insanely athletic Benevidez had a good deal of trouble with the superior height and reach of Cruz. Benavidez managed to give a good account of himself, but in the end the physical disparity along with Cruz’s repeated takedowns and sharp striking skills spelled the difference in this matchup.
Further muddling the picture in the bantamweight division was an earlier fight on the card, in which Takeya Mizugaki outlasted Jeff Curran to win a split decision victory. Mizugaki had trouble with the active guard of Curran, but scored takedowns in all three rounds. He did enough from the top position while fending off submission attempts to earn the verdict and to make his claim for #1 contender status.
Earlier in the evening, lightweights Danny Castillo and Ricardo Lamas fought a very evenly contested affair for a round and a half before Castillo ended the fight with a highlight reel overhand right that sent his opponent sprawling to the canvas. Lamas displayed amazing toughness and tried to get up after a shot that would have knocked most fighters unconscious, but was easy pickings for Castillo’s follow up assault that earned him a TKO victory.
In the opening contest of the live Versus TV broadcast, Leonard Garcia turned back a surprisingly tough challenge from Jameel Massouh to earn a split decision victory.
WEC returns on September 2nd from Youngstown, Ohio headlined by an Interim Lightweight title bout between Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson. The current champion, Jamie Varner, is still recovering from a hand injury and will meet the Cerrone/Henderson winner to unify the title when he is medically cleared to return to action.
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