COLUMBUS, Ohio – ProMMAnow.com is on the scene at Nationwide Arena this evening for “WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz.” Headlining the event is a bantamweight title fight with champion Brian Bowles defending his title for the first time against number one contender Dominick Cruz. Former bantamweight champion Miguel Torres tries to get back on track against Team Alpha Male’s Joseph Benavidez, Jens Pulver desperately needs a win against Javier Vazquez, and Projekt Label fighter Chad George makes his WEC debut against Scott Jorgensen. Live updates will begin at 7pm ET for the preliminary bouts and 10pm ET for the main card.

Quick Results:

• Ricardo Lamas def. Bendy Casimir by knockout (knee) Rd 1 (3:43)
• Fredson Paixao def. Courtney Buck by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (2:39)
• Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop declared split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)
• Anthony Pettis def. Danny Castillo by KO (head kick) Rd 1 2:17)
• Chad Mendes def. Erik Koch by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Scott Jorgensen def. Chad George by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1 (0:31)
• Bart Palaszewski def. Karen Darabedyan by submission (armbar) Rd 1 (4:40)
• L.C. Davis def. Deividas Taurosevicius by majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Javier Vazquez def. Jens Pulver by submission (armbar) Rd 1 (3:41)
• Joseph Benavidez def. Miguel Torres by submission (guillotine) Rd 2 (2:57)
• Dominick Cruz def. Brian Bowles by TKO  (unable to answer bell) Rd 2 (5:00)

Play-by-Play commentary:

Bendy Casimir vs. Ricardo Lamas

Fast paced fight – stand up battle. Casimir showed good takedown defense. At the end they separated briefly and Lamas came in with what looked like a switch kick but ended up as a flying knee that knocked out Casimir’s mouthpiece and immediately put him out. Lamas was able to land one more shot before ref pulled him off.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ricardo Lamas def. Bendy Casimir by knockout (knee) Rd 1 (3:43)

Courtney Buck vs. Fredson Paixao

Buck lands body kick. Lots of circling. Paixao landed big leg kick and took buck down. Took his back going for rear-naked choke with both hooks in. Buck defends but Paixao still has dominant position landing shots to the head and working for rear-naked choke. Finally sinks it in and Buck won’t tap. Goes to sleep.  Paixao win by rear-naked choke at 2:29 in round 1.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Fredson Paixao def. Courtney Buck by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (2:39)

Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop

Round 1 – Exchange of body and head kick attempts. Roop scores a takedown Garcia works for a guillotine looks deep but Roop gets out. Stand, more kicks from Roop but none do much damage. Garcia lands some big shots at the end of the round, and will probably win that one 10-9.

Round 2 – Kick exchanges. Garcia lands flying knee to body. Roop trying to keep distance land jabs. Roop scores a takedown. More guillotine attempts by Garcia but Roop escaped. Action stopped when it looked like Roop threw an illegal knee to the head on ground. Replay looks like it hit Garcia’s chest. Garcia lands some knees but Roop keeps connecting. Roop should take the round 10-9.

Round 3 – Good standup exchange roop takes him down has advantage on ground. Garcia gets up. Roop lands unintentional groin kick. Point deducted. No warning. Garcia connects on flying knee to body Roop scores a takedown. More shots exchanged. Garcia lands more power shots but Roop has the numbers. Would score it 10-9 for roop before the point deduction. Could be a draw.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop declared split draw (29-27, 27-29, 28-28)

Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Pettis

Round 1 – Lot of hesitation between Castillo and Pettis.  Periodic exchanges, a few big missed shots that has the crowing “oooooh’ing”. Pettis came in with a jab and when Castillo backed up Pettis fired off a head kick scoring the KO and ending the fight in the third minute of the first round.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Anthony Pettis def. Danny Castillo by KO (head kick) Rd 1 2:17)

Chad Mendes vs. Erik Koch

Round 1 – Not much action in the round. Lots of circling. Mendes will prob win on scoring a big takedown. Crowd seems frustrated.
Mendes 10-9 for round 1.

Round 2 – Round 2 was almost entirely on the ground. Mendes scored a takedown and kept Koch down the whole time.  Landing some shots trying to change position. Could never really get out of Koch’s guard or half guard. Koch tried the rubber guard a few times but couldn’t do much with it. 10-9 Mendes.

Round 3 – Pretty much same in round three. Action stopped to check out a cut on Mendes that he got from a knee and then stopped from unintentional eye poke from Mendes to Koch. Other than that much of the same. Takedowns by Mendes and some ground n’ pound.  Mendes 10-9.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Chad Mendes def. Erik Koch by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Scott Jorgensen vs. Chad George

Round 1 – George shot in and Jorgenson immediately went for a guillotine. They stood,  Jorgenson still had guillotine George tapped but passed out before Jorgenson could let go. Jorgenson wins via standing guillotine in round 1 at :31.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Scott Jorgensen def. Chad George by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1 (0:31)

Bart Palaszewski vs. Karen Darabedyan

Round 1 – Inside leg kick by Bart. Karen lands a combination of punches then takes Bart to the ground. Bart looks for a submission and Karen is in his full guard. Bart postures up and rains down the blows. Bart lands an up kick from his back but Karen continues the assault. With just seconds left in the round Bart locks in an armbar, stretches it out, and forces the tapout from Darabedyan. Slick comeback for Palaszewski.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Bart Palaszewski def. Karen Darabedyan by submission (armbar) Rd 1 (4:40)

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. L.C. Davis

Round 1 – Taurosevicius with the leg kick is the first to score. L.C. returns the favor. They clinch up and L.C. puts him against the cage. The fighters exchange knees. Taurosevicius reverses the position and puts L.C. against the cage, but then L.C. reverses it back. Still clinched, until the ref has seen enough and separates them. Leg kick inside from Taurosevicius. L.C. scores with a jab. Davis clinches and presses Taurosevicius to the cage. Taurosevicius turns L.C. around and tries to take him to the ground. Davis defends and the clinch game continues. Taurosevicius working hard for the takedown but no dice. ProMMAnow gives the round to Davis 10-9.

Round 2 – After a few exchanges Taurosevicius shoots in but Davis defending well, finally… he gets it and has Davis with his back to the cage. Davis is back to his feet and took no punishment. Taurosevicius working hard from the clinch, seems to land a groin shot but the ref lets it go. Davis using foot stomps. Davis complains about another groin shot but ref tells him he didn’t see it. Davis lands a punch. They clinch up again, Taurosevicius looking for the takedown, but Davis defends and it goes back to the clinch. ProMMAnow scores that round 10-9 for Taurosevicius.

Round 3 – Both guys coming out as if on a mission. They exchange shots but end up back in the clinch. Taurosevicius working the knees and dirty boxing from the clinch. Davis backs out and they square off. Taurosevicius charges in swinging, Davis drops levels and clinches up. They get separated by the ref after some time. Davis gets the takedown. The ref stands them up with 40 seconds to go. It’s a close fight, this could decide it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: L.C. Davis def. Deividas Taurosevicius by majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez

Round 1 – This is an absolute must win for Pulver (of course we said that about his last bout). It’s pretty cool they have given him the chance to come back again on the main card. However, they can’t keep bringing him back if he continues to lose. Pulver didn’t touch gloves. Javier comes in and eats a shot. Pulver locks in a guillotine as Javier shoots. Joavier is free and Jens is back on his feet, lets him stand up. Javier takes Jens’ back , Pulver reverses and is on top in Javier’s full guard. Elbow by Jens, then he stands up, kicks Javier’s legs and Javier trips Jens and gets on top of him, transitions to side mount, then gets a crucifix and starts pounding away. Jens escapes the crucifix but Javier takes his back, Havier now has full mount. Javier locks in an armbar and Jens is forced to tap out. Jens’ arm is definitely hurt and he is slow getting up. Good win for Vazquez. Another sad night for Pulver. Five losses in a row now for the former UFC lightweight champion. I wonder how Cub Swanson feels?

Jens gave a very heartfelt speech after the fight that had the crowd on their feet. He wouldn’t say he was retiring but said, “I love ya’ll too much to keep putting you through this.” He also gave a very special thanks to Dana White for giving him second and third chances. Reed Harris hugged him afterward.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Javier Vazquez def. Jens Pulver by submission (armbar) Rd 1 (3:41)

Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez

Round 1 – Benavidez is about a foot shorter than Torres it looks like. Miguel is circling. Benavidez misses with a leg kick. Lands a jab on Torres. Leg kick scores for Torres. Leg kick by Benavidez. Benavidez scores with a right. Torres lands a jab. Benavidez catches a kick and drops Torres with a punch. Benavidez moves in and clinches up Torres. Benavidez throws Torres to his back. Torres goes for an armbar and Benavidez moves to side control. Benavidez looks for a guillotine, he’s warned by the ref for hitting the back of the head. Torres has half guard. Benavidez controlling from the top, lands an elbow and Torres has full guard. ProMMAnow scores the round 10-9 for Benavidez.

Round 2 – Leg kick by Benavidez. Torres launches a head kick but it’s blocked. Big body shot by Benavidez. Torres lands a jab and Benavidez lands a leg kick. Benavidez gets a big takedown and cuts Torres with an elbow. He’s bleeding badly. Benavidez sees the blood, and maybe he does not want to win like that who knows, but he locks on a guillotine and taps out Miguel Torres. WOW! Huge win for Joseph Benavidez. Torres was covered in blood in about ten seconds.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Joseph Benavidez def. Miguel Torres by submission (guillotine) Rd 2 (2:57)

Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz

Round 1 – Here we go folks. That Bantamweight Title spot is so hard to keep. Leg kick by Cruz. Another one and Bowles lands a right. Another right by Bowles and Cruz scores with a hot. Cruz swings and misses, lands a leg kick and Bowles fires back. Cruz ducks a punch. Nice right by Cruz but Bowles fires back and lands. Cruz rocks Bowles with a right hand. Cruz’s footwork is crazy, he’s all over the place. Leg kick by Cruz. Bowles waiting  for Cruz to come in. Bowles fires off a few punches, misses, and Cruz puts him on his back. Cruz backs out and stands up. Leg kick by Cruz. Bowles fires a right and Cruz lands a head kick. ProMMAnow scores it 10-9 for Cruz.

Round 2 – Fred Astaire, I mean Dominick Cruz was dancing all over that damn ring in the first round. Nice leg kick by Cruz lands. He’s back on that dance  again, Bowles scores with a right. Inside leg kick by Cruz. Bowles catches his kick and Cruz fires a big right to his head. Cruz drops Bowles with a kick and has his nose busted up too. Bowles fires off a right that scores. Cruz lands a huge leg kick on the end of his combo. Bowles lands a groin shot on Cruz. Ref calls time out. Nice right by Cruz, Bowles scores with a counter left, and Cruz fires back. Cruz shoots and puts Bowles on his back near the end of the round. ProMMAnow scores it 10-9 for Cruz.

So far, Cruz looks like the HUNGRIER fighter. — Stop the presses. Evidently Bowles could not (or would not) answer the bell for round three. After the fight he said he broke his hand with the first punch of the fight and  he could not concentrate on the fight. Cruz made him quit in my opinion. I can only think of Urijah Faber finishing five rounds with TWO BROKEN HANDS and fighting his heart out with elbows and kicks. Oh well, Bowles is young and he’s an awesome fighter. He’ll be back. It’s crazy how competitive the WEC bantamweight division is. If you are the champ in the WEC you are the best in the world that’s all there is to it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Dominick Cruz def. Brian Bowles by TKO  (unable to answer bell) Rd 2 (5:00)