With all of the hype surrounding the Affliction: Day of Reckoning card taking place this weekend, it’s easy for some to forget that WEC 38 will be taking center stage Sunday night.  Airing live on Versus Sunday, January 25th, the card will feature a title fight as WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner (15-2-2) steps back into the cage to defend his title for the second time, facing fast rising star Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (9-0-1).

The undefeated Cerrone’s ascent has been rapid following his appearance on the TapOut reality show.  As an already accomplished and undefeated kick boxer, Cerrone has quickly added a well rounded submission game to his standup arsenal and is just as dangerous on the ground grappling as he is standing.

Varner has been impressive in his WEC showings, taking the lightweight belt from Rob McCullough in dramatic fashion, and quickly dispatching a tough and game Marcus Hicks in his first title defense bout.

This is a match up that will have fans on the edge of their seats come Sunday night.  Varner is a very good wrestler, but has won his last three fights by TKO, displaying a very dangerous right hand that can end a fight with one clean shot.

In addition to the lightweight title match up, Urijah Faber (21-2-0) will be looking to rebound following his dissapointing loss to Mike Brown, costing him his Featherweight belt in the process.  Faber who seemed unbeatable going into the Mike Brown bout, stayed true to his game and was looking for a flashy no look elbow when he was dropped and finished by Brown.

Faber was unapologetic following the loss and let everybody know that he wouldn’t be changing his style anytime soon.  He still refers to Mike Brown’s belt as “my belt”, and with a win will likely be next up for Mike Brown providing Brown can get past a resurgent and dangerous Leonard Garcia.

Urijah will be facing Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver (22-10-1) for the second time in less than a year.  Pulver has dropped 4 of his last 5 fights, and has reportedly changed a lot of things in his training camp coming into this fight with Faber.  Pulver desperately needs a victory to get back on track, and it will be interesting to see if he can get in a rhythm this time around with his stand up game and his deadly left hand.

Also on the card will be Hiromitsu Miura (9-5) who impressed everybody with his performance against WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit at WEC 35 last year.  Miura gave Condit all he wanted before being stopped by TKO in the 4th round of their title match.  After his performance against Condit, it’s hard to believe he will be relegated to the undercard versus the the undefeated Edgar Garcia (6-0).

Here is a look at the entire fight card:

Jamie Varner Vs. Donald Cerrone: Lightweight Championship
Name: Jamie Varner
Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 15-2-2
VS
Name: Donald Cerrone
Height: 6′ 0″ (183 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 9-0-1

Urijah Faber Vs. Jens Pulver
Name: Urijah Faber
Height: 5′ 6″ (168 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 21-2-0
VS
Name: Jens Pulver
Height: 5′ 7″ (170 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 22-10-1

Danillo Villefort Vs. Mike Campbell
Name: Danillo Villefort
Height: 6′ 1″ (185 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 8-2-0
VS
Name: Mike Campbell
Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 6-0-0

Jose Aldo Vs. Rolando Perez
Name: Jose Aldo
Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 12-1-0
VS
Name: Rolando Perez
Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 4-1-1

Ben Henderson Vs. Anthony Njokuani
Name: Ben Henderson
Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 7-1-0
VS
Name: Anthony Njokuani
Height: 6′ 0″ (183 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 10-1-0

May not be broadcast:
Edgar Garcia Vs. Hiromitsu Miura
Name: Edgar Garcia
Height: 5′ 11″ (180 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 6-0-0
VS
Name: Hiromitsu Miura
Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 9-5-0

Dominick Cruz Vs. Ian McCall
Name: Dominick Cruz
Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 11-1-0
VS
Name: Ian McCall
Height: 5′ 5″ (165 cm)
Weight: 135 (61 kg)
Record: 6-1-0

Scott Jorgensen Vs. Frank Gomez
Name: Scott Jorgensen
Height: 5′ 4″ (163 cm)
Weight: 135 (61 kg)
Record: 5-2-0
VS
Name: Frank Gomez
Height: 5′ 10″ (178 cm)
Weight: 135 (61 kg)
Record: 6-0-0

Blas Avena Vs. Jesse Lennox
Name: Blas Avena
Height: 6′ 0″ (183 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 6-2-0
VS
Name: Jesse Lennox
Height: 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Weight: 170 (77 kg)
Record: 13-1-0

Charlie Valencia Vs. Seth Dikun
Name: Charlie Valencia
Height: 5′ 3″ (160 cm)
Weight: 135 (61 kg)
Record: 9-5-0
VS
Name: Seth Dikun
Height: 5′ 10″ (178 cm)
Weight: 135 (61 kg)
Record: 6-2-0

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