Faber is back…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(after being humbled, Urijah Faber was all business Sunday)
A little thing happened when trying to write this Monday. All the sudden, Oklahoma has become ice central.
Bad, icy conditions are ripping through the state. But with some down time, thought I would hit you up for some thoughts from World Extreme Cagefighting.
Is Urijah Faber back or is Jens Pulver done? Faber, with a beautifully placed left hand to the body, dispensed of Lil Evil in less than two minutes.
Commentator Frank Mir thought Pulver may have been trying to set a trap. But I’ve watched enough boxing to know that when you get caught with the perfect body shot, it’s game, set, match for the other guy.
Faber went in for the kill and locked in a guillotine choke for the official win. Something about the California Kid I can’t get enough of.
He’s now 22-2 and desperately wants another shot at champion Mike Brown, who was in attendance.
In the main event, saw a great pitched-battle between Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone for the championship.
It was a cryin’ shame the fight ended on an accidental illegal knee to Varner’s head by Cerrone when Varner was still on the ground early in the fifth round.
Varner was awarded a split-decision win with scores of 49-46 (twice) and 47-48. I was in line with the dissenting vote. I scored it for Cerrone.
This was a fun bout and one of the few WEC matches I’ve seen that felt like it was big time (if that makes any sense).
Varner did a phenomenal job of attacking Cerrone’s guard and busting him up. It looked like Cerrone was going to head the way of Hasim Rahman with a subdural hematoma. But the swelling didn’t get nearly that bad.
Cerrone, for his credit, remained poised throughout. He never landed his roundhouse kick flush, but he got Varner’s attention.
By the fourth and fifth rounds, felt there was a swing where it was Cerrone dictating everything and Varner just holding on and hoping he had done enough.
Granted, Varner was still fighting, but he was on the defense and Cerrone even scored a takedown of his own in the fifth.
And what was with Cerrone taking his hand and grabbing his own foot in the guard? I couldn’t figure it out. Neither could the commentators.
Excellent fight that cries out for a rematch. Both said they’d be willing. But Varner said he broke his hand. If so, the wait may be a little longer than any of us would like.
In boxing news, a rumored Final Four has me beyond giddy. There is talk of the Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton winner fighting the winner of a proposed June bout between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather. Winners battle it out in Nov. or Dec. and the easy claim to Fighter of the Year.
All up to Mayweather now. After what would be two years off, does he just want to rush in and fight Mosley? Interesting, but at least it seems like HBO is trying to do the right things here early in 2009.
Later this week look for your UFC 94 preview with Georges St. Pierre against B.J. Penn.
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