WEC 53 Preview & Predictions: Chris Horodecki looking to make a statement

By Mike Johnston

MMA fans can wish a fond farewell to the WEC as it has produced some of the best fighters, knockouts, submissions and fights in MMA history. After this event, the UFC will envelop the WEC and most of its fighters. WEC 53 goes out on a high note, featuring two title fights and one young Canadian, Chris Horodecki, who looks to earn a win in the biggest fight thus far in his career. WEC 53 can be seen live in Canada on The Score starting at 9 p.m. EST. For more MMA news and notes followhttp://twitter.com/#%21/MikeyJ_MMA Here is a complete preview with predicitions of WEC 53:

• Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis (for lightweight title)

Henderson is entering this bout with supreme confidence even saying he believes he is the best lightweight in the world. His hands will be full against the dynamic, rising star Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis as they battle for the WEC belt and a chance to face the winner of UFC 125’s Edgar-Maynard for the UFC lightweight title. Henderson will use his wrestling to put Pettis on the ground and with good posture he’ll avoid Pettis’ dangerous triangle. Pettis is constantly improving and is unpredictable, albeit precise, on the feet. If he can avoid takedowns his chances increase. This fight could resemble the first bout between Henderson and Donald Cerrone in the sense that Pettis will be more active, but Henderson may gain dominant positions. In what will be the last ever World Extreme Cagefighting bout, look for Pettis to pull off the upset. Henderson is unrelenting though.
Pettis.

• Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen (for bantamweight title)

Reed Harris may as well sign the ‘Fight of the Night’ cheque right now because there is no way this fight turns out to be dull. Jorgensen is relentless, using his wrestling and tenacity to get the better of his opponents. If he doesn’t land a big shot, he sinks in a guillotine or grinds out a decision. He just finds a way to win. However, he is facing a whole different beast in Cruz, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters out there. Cruz has the best footwork in MMA and might be the quickest fighter currently in the WEC. With his crisp boxing, excellent wrestling and explosiveness during scrambles, he has been virtually unstoppable. Look for him to do to Jorgensen what he did to Joseph Benevidez twice.
Cruz.

• Chris Horodecki vs. Donald Cerrone

London, Ontario’s Chris Horodecki is ready for the biggest fight in his career as he takes on perennial contender ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. In his bout at WEC 45, Horodecki had trouble getting inside on Anthony Njokuani’s reach advantage and he may run into the same problem against Cerrone. As much as Canadian fans will cheer for Horodecki, he may be biting off more than he can chew at this stage of his young, promising career. If he can get by Cerrone, then Horodecki is undoubtedly one of the future contenders for the UFC lightweight belt. No matter how this fight turns out, Horodecki will likely earn a spot at UFC 131 in Toronto. This could be a barnburner, especially if it stays on the feet.
Cerrone.

• Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus

Two unsung lightweights face each other in what is a world-class matchup. Fans unfamiliar with Palaszewski and Shalorus will certainly get to know them, as they will likely be two of the better lightweights in the UFC next year. Shalorus has a serious strength, wrestling and power advantage, but Palaszewski has more polished MMA skills. Look for Shalorus to try for a knockout, but if he can’t penetrate Palaszewski’s range then he’ll mix in his world-class wrestling. Palaszewski needs to stay on the outside and win on points or surprise Shalorus with a submission. The Armenian should be a handful for any UFC lightweight once the merger is complete.
Shalorus.
PRELIMINARY CARD

• Danny Downes vs. Tiequan Zhang

In his WEC debut Downes gave Chris Horodecki a run for his money on just a few days notice at WEC 49 in Edmonton. Now after, having a full training camp to prepare, we should see the best Downes. Unfortunately for him, he takes on Zhang, a highly touted prospect with no losses on his record. Downes has said this fight is like Rocky 4, an American underdog taking on an undefeated fighter from a communist country. All levity aside, Zhang will have the more powerful strikes and the more dangerous submissions. Still, it’s never smart to count out Rocky.
Zhang.

• Shane Roller vs. Jamie Varner

Varner looks to bounce back from a decision loss to Donald Cerrone at WEC 51. Look for Varner to return to his old self in this bout, controlling the distance, sitting on his punches and looking for the knockout. Roller will counter that by implementing his strong grappling game. If he can get Varner on his back he’ll be happy. Still, Varner is too well rounded and should be able to keep this fight where he wants it, on the feet.
Varner.

• Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr

Both men bring wrestling backgrounds into the cage although Castillo uses his strikes and Kerr uses submissions to finish most their fights. Castillo should have a strength advantage and the advantage on the feet where Kerr is active off of his back. Castillo trains with Urajah Faber, Joseph Benevidez, Chad Mendes and all of Team Alpha Male, which could give him a competitive edge. The winner of this fight will likely get a shot in the UFC.
Castillo.

• Yuri Alcantara vs. Ricardo Lamas

Lamas is a WEC veteran with only one loss and Alcantara has been wrecking guys in his native Brazil. With a record of 20-3 and riding a ten fight win streak, Alcantara is a promising prospect. Lamas is a solid wrestler with fast hands and fierce kicks that has flown under the radar since his first and only career loss. The biggest question surrounding Alcantara is the level of competition he has faced. He could either be a blue chip prospect or he could be better on paper then he is in real life. If he gets by Lamas, keep an eye out for Alcantara in 2011.
Lamas.

• Ivan Menjivar vs. Brad Pickett

Fun fact- Menjivar was actually Georges St. Pierre’s first MMA opponent. Unfortunately for the Salvadoran-Canadian, that won’t help him as he is fighting one of the best bantamweights in the world, Brad Pickett. Menjivar took four years off from fighting, but returned in June, picking up a first round submission win at W-1: Judgement Day. Pickett is coming off a decision loss to Scott Jorgensen in a fight that would have earned him a title shot, so he will be fully motivated to get a win.
Pickett.

• Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone

Wineland is an excellent striker and Stone has a collegiate wrestling background, so the fight may come down to how good Wineland’s takedown defense is. Stone is 9-1 with nine stoppages, while Wineland was the first ever WEC bantamweight champion and is riding a three fight win streak. In his last bout he won KO of the night at WEC 49 in Edmonton and he said that he plans on feeding off of that momentum. If he can keep it on the feet he should be able to; if not, then it’s a totally different fight.
Wineland.

• Renan Barao vs. Chris Cariaso

Since losing his MMA debut Barao has an astounding record of 23 wins and one no-contest with 15 of his wins coming by stoppage. Cariaso is 10-1 and coming off a decisive win at WEC 49 in Edmonton. If he can keep the fight on the feet his chances are better, but Barao is someone to look out for at bantamweight. This should be a brawl on the feet and technical on the ground.
Barao.