WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 takes place this evening at the Pearl Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. Headlining the card is a bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz, who is defending his title against Joseph Benavidez. Having first fought in August 2009 at WEC 42 for a shot at Brian Bowles’s title, Benavidez now gets the title shot Cruz took away from him in their first bout.

WEC 50 airs live on Versus starting at 8:00 p.m. CT. ProMMAnow.com will provide live results and offer our own play-by-play commentary on each round of each fight, so join us right here for tonight’s event.

WEC 50 quick results:

MAIN CARD (Televised)

  • Dominick Cruz def. Joseph Benavidez by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46)
  • Anthony Pettis def. Shane Roller by submission (triangle choke) Rd 3 (4:51)
  • Chad Mendes def. Cub Swanson by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Scott Jorgensen def. Brad Pickett by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Bart Palaszewski def. Zachary Micklewright by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (0:31)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Not Televised)

  • Maciej Jewtuszko def. Anthony Njokuani by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (1:36)
  • Javier Vazquez def. Mackens Semerzier by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 2 (1:32)
  • Ricardo Lamas def. Dave Jansen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bryan Caraway def. Fredson Paixao by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
  • Danny Castillo def. Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

WEC 50 play-by-play:

Bart Palaszewski vs. Zachary Micklewright

Round 1 – Mr. Palaszewski will henceforth be known as Bart, and Mr. Micklewright will be known as Zach. Bart sporting a red mohawk. Leg kick from Bart. Another one. Another one. Another one. Zach lands a left and a right. Low kick again from Bart. Zach rocks Bart momentarily with a punch, wobbled him for a split second, then they clinch. Bart has a body lock, Zach landing some knees to the thighs. Ref separates them. Nice left from Bart. Leg kick exchange. Zach walking Bart down. Leg kick from Zach. Leg kick Zach. Zach with a nice combo. Leg kick from Zach then a right hand. Front kick Zach. Bart lands a kick to the groin. Zach gets a time out. Right hand from Bart, Zach eats it. Bart counter-punching, lands a nice combo that wobbles Zach a bit. Inside leg kick from Zach. Good back and forth round, with both guys landing some decent shots and showing solid striking. Close round. I give the edge to Micklewright 10-9.

Round 2 – Bart lands a left hand that rocks Zach. He then throws a flurry of punches as Zach covers up with his back against the cage. Bart throws a nice body kick that lands, causing Zach to drop his hands and that’s when Bart lands a crushing right hand that drops Micklewright. He finishes him off with some shots and the ref stops it early in round two.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Bart Palaszewski def. Zachary Micklewright by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (0:31)

Scott Jorgensen vs. Brad Pickett

Round 1 – Straight left jab from Pickett, then drops Pickett with a right. Jorgensen is up, gets his leg caught trying to kick. Pickett lets it go and clinches. They separate and start swinging. Pickett walking Jorgensen down, Jorgensen gets the takedown but Pickett hops right up. Left hook from Pickett. Then an uppercut. Jorgensen knocks Pickett’s mouthpiece out and drops him briefly. Pickett grabs it and puts it in while backing up. Pickett lands a nice shot and rocks Jorgensen. Jorgensen shoots, gets the takedown. Pickett with a guillotine attempt, but Jorgensen escapes, gets side control and starts landing some nice elbows to the forehead. Pickett gets up. Nice left counter from Jorgensen. Flying knee from Pickett. Nice left from Jorgensen. Great back and forth action with both guys landing great shots. Knee to the head by Jorgensen. Damn close round. I’ll give the round to Pickett 10-9 just as a toss up.

Round 2 – Nice right from Pickett scores. Jorgensen shoots but gets stuffed. Leg kick from Jorgensen. Pickett with some nice combos, but Jorgensen staying just out of range, or covering up. Jorgensen scores with a sweet combo. Lans another shot and Pickett fires back landing several nice shots. Pickett’s mouth piece fell out and the ref lets him put it back in. Pickett shoots, gets stuffed, so he puts a knee in Jorgensen’s groin. Jorgensen shoots, gets stuffed. Jorgensen lands a nice combo, Pickett fires back and connects. Pickett shoots, but Jorgensen ends up on top inside Pickett’s guard. Jorgenesen lands a couple elbows. Jorgensen postures up, moves to side control but Pickett gets to his feet. Nice left from Jorgensen just before the bell. Great fight! Jorgensen gets the round 10-9.

Round 3 – Pickett scores with a left and a right. Jorgensen scores with his own combo. Jorgensen shoots, gets it and ends up in Pickett’s guard. Jorgensen starts landing elbows. Pickett  hanging on to Scott’s head. Jorgensen postures up. Pickett gets to his feet. Nice right from both guys. Jorgensen shoots, gets a single leg and turns the corner putting Pickett on his back. Pickett seems to have slowed just a bit maybe. Jorgensen inside his guard. Jorgensen moves to side control, puts some big knees to Pickett’s back. Jorgensen controlling the action now still in side control. Pickett tries to get up but gets suplexed. He reverses and ends up on top in Jorgensen’s guard, throws an elbow as the bell sounds. I have Jorgensen winning that round 10-9 and the fight 29-28.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Scott Jorgensen def. Brad Pickett by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

NOTES: This could definitely be fight of the night. Great performance from both guys, they left it all on the line.

Cub Swanson vs. Chad Mendes

Round 1 – Cub has the honor of being the last person Jens Pulver defeated. Mendes has Faber in his corner. Mendes gets Swanson to the ground and has side control. Mendes uses some shoulder strikes a la Trigg. Ref calls for work. Knee to belly for Mendes but Cub gets out. Mendes raises up to drop an elbow and Cub tries to get free but Mendes regains control. Ref stands them up. Mendes with a leg kick then a counter right. Cub runs in with a wild punch and misses. Cub with his hands down on the outside, he throws a leg kick, gets it caught and puts right back down. But he gets up this time. Swanson swings with a big overhand right but misses. He’s trying to pick his shot, flying knee and gets put right on his back. Mendes gets the round 10-9.

Round 2 – Nice leg kick from Mendes, then gets an easy double leg. Cub tries to get up, and gets it. Cub’s hands are so low. Nice left for Cub, then a right. Cub with a leg kick and lands a right hand. Mendes lands a right. Leg kick from Cub. Nice counter right by Mendes. Body shot from Cub. Cub lands a couple shots but gets slammed on his back. Looks like Cub got poked in his eye. Mendes passes to half guard but Cub regains full guard. Cub holding on, he tries to get up but Mendes puts him back down. Mendes is very strong and thick. Swanson is lanky. Mendes controlling but doing no damage. Cub is defending well, trying to get up, looks for a kimura but can’t get it. Cub gets to his feet, lands a knee on the way up. I’ll give it to Mendes although he didn’t do much but control Cub.

Round 3 – Mendes comes out with a smile. Cub throws a big punch but Mendes puts him right on his back. Cub gets his back against the cage, looking to get up. Cub pounding on Mendes’ face as he gets up. Leg kick from Cub. Cub with a leg kick and comes in swinging and Mendes drives right in and puts him right back down on the mat where he can control him. Mendes looking for full mount, in half guard at the moment.  He gets full mount for a moment but Cub regains full guard. Mendes grinding him down, lands an elbow. Cub gets up, throws a big dumb flying knee and gets put right back down. He gets up though, lands a leg kick. Lands a punch, and an uppercut. Cub with a leg kick. Mendes shoots and takes Cub down hard with 15 seconds to go. Cub boxes his ears via Chael Sonnen. Mendes gets the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 as I see it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Chad Mendes def. Cub Swanson by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Shane Roller vs. Anthony Pettis

Round 1 – Roller defending the takedown. Pettis gets it but Roller bounces right up. Roller looking for the single leg but Pettis tags him with a nice punch. Jumping kick by Petts. Roller with a overhand right, then clinches, goes for the takedown but Pettis gets away and up. Pettis lands on the end of a combo, flying knee, then clinches, pushes Roller into the cage. Roller pushes back, lands a combo. Roller lands a couple shots, backing Pettis up. Pettis with a windmill kick, connects on the back of Roller’s head solid. Roller seems rocked just briefly but regains comes right back and gets the clinch. Pettis does some sort of spinning 360 degree kick but just barely skims Roller’s head. I give that round to Roller 10-9.

Round 2 – Pettis catches a kick and lands a counter punch. Roller looking for a single leg but Pettis is free and lands a big leg kick, another even bigger leg kick. Pettis stops the takedowan and ends up on top inside Roller’s full guard. Roller hanging on as Pettis softens him up with body shots. Roller hoping for the stand up it seems. Ref calls for work. Pettis doing just enough at the moment with body shots. Roller looks for a submission and that gets Pettis to let him up. Roller comes in swinging, lands a nice shot, rocks him and backs Pettis up against the cage. Pettis with a knee to the body. Roller gets a takedown and lands in full mount with a minute to go in the round. Pettis uses the cage to do a back somersault out of full mount and ends up on top in side control himself. He stands up throws a spinning hook kick, Roller ducks in time and the bell sounds. I give the round to Roller 10-9.

Round 3 – Roller hunting Pettis. Lands a nice left hand, picks Pettis up carries him to the middle of the cage and slams him down. Pettis uses a kimura to get Roller off but Roller regains control. Pettis looks for a triangle, has wrist control, lands a nice clean up kick. roller dives in with a punch. Pettis goes for a triangle but Roller escapes. Roller dives in with a punch, Pettis looks for subs, he gets up and Roller is very slow to get up. Pettis backs up looks to be setting something up. Roller swings and misses. Big leg kick and a right hand from Pettis. Pettis gets the takedown with a 1:20 to go. Pettis lands a nice punch and Roller gets up. Roller is very tired, puts his hands on his legs. Big leg kick from Pettis. Pettis goes for a takedown, Roller locks in the guillotine. Pettis rolls out.. Roller dives in with a punch. Pettis locks on a triangle with only ten seconds to go and Roller taps out. Holy shit that was an beautiful finish. Pettis was going to lose this fight and pulled it out much like Anderson Silva did at UFC 117!  Great comeback from Pettis!!

OFFICIAL RESULT: Anthony Pettis def. Shane Roller by submission (triangle choke) Rd 3 (4:51)

NOTES: We just saw Matt Hughes in a pretty bad motorcycle commercial.

Dominick Cruz vs. Joseph Benavidez

Round 1 – It’s Joseph “Lil’ Sexy” Benavidez… Cruz is already on his foot work game. Counter right from Benavidez. Cruz clinches, lands a couple knees to the body. They exchange knees. Leg kick from Cruz but he pays for it with a couple punches from Benavidez. Benavidez lands a couple shots after Cruz comes in for his leg kick. Cruz using his awkward footwork, you never know where he’s going to come from. Benavidez connects with a nice counter right as he read his footwork coming in. Cruz gets the takedown. Benavidez has butterflies. Benavidez lands some nice elbows from his back. Cruz lands a few body shots and a punch before the bell. 10-9 for Cruz.

Round 2 – Nice counter right from Benavidez. Leg kick from Cruz but Benavidez times it with a nice right. Leg kick from Benavidez. Cruz trying to time his footwork to move in, but Benavidez has sort of figured him out a bit. Benavidez is bleeding on his forehead. Benavidez stuffs a takedown, then lands a jumping roundhouse to the head. Benavidez looking to time his shots as Cruz dances. Benavidez gets a single but Cruz gets free. Leg kick from Cruz, counter right from Benavidez. Benavidez lands a low kick but slips to the ground. He’s up. Benavidez with a front kick to the body. Cruz lands a right, lands a beautiful flying knee and Benavidez just eats it. Cruz gets the takedown but Benavidez attacks his neck, causing Cruz to stand up and let him go. Close round. I’m going to give it to Benavidez 10-9.

Round 3 – Hammer fist to Cruz’s back from Benavidez. Leg kick from Benavidez. Cruz with a left jab. Benavidez trying to hit Cruz, but can’t time it. He clinches, pushes Cruz against the cage, Cruz gets free. Cruz with a knee to the body from the clinch. Benavidez has a single, looking for the takedown. Cruz gets out and goes back to dancing. Cruz lands a jab and Benavidez lands a low kick, then a high kick. Knee to the head from Benavidez. Cruz clinches, Benavidez gets free. Takedown by Cruz as Benavidez kicks. Gotta give the round to Cruz with the takedown sealing it 10-9.

Round 4 – Championship rounds. Cruz gets the takedown right away, gets side control. Benavidez gets full guard. Cruz controlling. Benavidez warned twice for holding the fence. Cruz grining . Benavidez escapes, gets hold of a single. Cruz hanging on and gets to his feet. Cruz with underhooks against the fence. Knee to the head by Benavidez. Cruz bleeding from that knee. Bleeding pretty badly on the bridge of his nose. Cruz gets the takedown. Benavidez goes for a guillotine but Cruz slips out and has side control. Benavidez gets butterflies. Cruz takes his back but little man goes out the back door and to his feet. Cruz with a very bloody face smiles and gets the round 10-9. Replay shows that knee was very significant to Cruz’s face.

Round 5 – Huge cut on Cruz’s nose but Stitch gives him “One More Round”. Cruz goes for the takedown, Benavidez stuffs it. Cruz lands a jab and moves, still using that footwork, lands a counter punch. Benavidez shoots, they clinch but Cruz gets free. Cruz checks a leg kick. Jumping knee by Cruz but Benavidez ducks it. Body straight kick from Benavidez. Cruz returns the front kick. The pace has not slowed a bit. Leg kick from Benavidez. Spinning back fist connects by Benavidez. Cruz lands a straight right. Knee to the body by Cruz. Ninety seconds left. Benavidez swings with a combo but can’t find Cruz. Thirty seconds left and they start swinging. It’s back and forth, Cruz ducks a kick and gets the takedown. Both guys are fighting, one from the top, one from the bottom and that’s it. Cruz gets the round as I see it 10-9 and the fight 49-46.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Dominick Cruz def. Joseph Benavidez by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46)

19 thoughts on “WEC 50 results, play-by-play”
  1. Dude, I know the camera adds about 10 pounds, but Bonnar’s head looked like it couldn’t even make 205

  2. I didn’t think it was an early stoppage if you’re talking about Palaszewski I assume. That was an amazing comeback by Pettis.

  3. thought it could’ve gone 3-2 either way depending how you look at a couple of rounds, but figured cruz by 3-2. and yes, I thought of that before they read the decision. just a coincidence!

  4. actually the message boards are lit up with people thinking there was no way cruz lost that fight. guess I watch fights differently than other people. a couple of those rounds were really close and you could’ve made an argument for either guy. plus, I don’t think you automatically steal a round just because you land a takedown at the last second. why helwani and torres seem shocked is beyond me.

  5. Dominick “Fred Astaire” Cruz. Bonnar would have mind control over me if it wasn’t for his hair… that ruins it every time.

  6. you can’t always look at these fights completely logical. sometimes you have to think of how the judges will see them. and if you’re in vegas, you’re pretty used to how the judges are going to score. the problem comes say, when they go to phoenix for the first time…

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