WEC 40
| WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki | ||||
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | World Extreme Cagefighting | |||
| Date | April 5, 2009 | |||
| Venue | UIC Pavilion | |||
| City | Chicago, Illinois | |||
| Attendance | 5,257 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on April 5, 2009 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.[1] The event aired live on the Versus Network.
Background[edit]
This was the first WEC event to exclusively feature fights in the lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight weight classes. The organization's heavier weight classes had been folded into the UFC over the previous four months. World Extreme Cagefighting would maintain this weight class structure for the remainder of the promotion's existence.
WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres was to defend his title against Brian Bowles at this event, but Bowles was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a back injury, and was replaced by WEC newcomer Takeya Mizugaki.[2] The Torres/Bowles bout was rescheduled for WEC 42 that August, where Bowles won the title by knockout.
Early reports suggested that Wagnney Fabiano could face former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber at this event, though he was later confirmed to be facing Fredson Paixao instead.[3]
Anthony Pettis was scheduled to make his WEC debut at this event against Anthony Njokuani, but was forced from the card with a broken hand and was replaced by Bart Palaszewski.
Cole Province was originally slated to face Rafael Dias at this event, but bowed out due to an injury and was replaced by Mike Budnik.[4]
A featherweight bout between Cub Swanson and Diego Nunes was once scheduled for this card, but was cancelled after Nunes suffered a hand injury three days prior to the event.[5]
The event drew an estimated 470,000 viewers on Versus.[6]
Results[edit]
| Main card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight | Miguel Torres (c) | def | Takeya Mizugaki | Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) | 5 | 5:00 | [a] |
| Bantamweight | Joseph Benavidez | def | Jeff Curran | Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Benson Henderson | def | Shane Roller | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Featherweight | Raphael Assunção | def | Jameel Massouh | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Preliminary card | |||||||
| Lightweight | Anthony Njokuani | def | Bart Palaszewski | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:27 | [b] |
| Bantamweight | Dominick Cruz | def | Ivan Lopez | Technical Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 | 3:24 | [c] |
| Featherweight | Wagnney Fabiano | def | Fredson Paixao | Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Rani Yahya | def | Eddie Wineland | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:07 | [d] |
| Bantamweight | Akitoshi Tamura | def | Manny Tapia | Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Rafael Dias | def | Mike Budnik | Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
- ^ For the WEC Bantamweight Championship.
- ^ This bout was featured on the main broadcast.
- ^ Cruz landed an illegal knee to the head of Lopez while he was on the ground at 3:24 of round 3. Since Lopez was unable to continue, the bout was stopped and went to the scorecards.[7]
- ^ This bout was featured on the main broadcast.
Bonus Awards[edit]
Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses.[8]
- Fight of the Night:
Miguel Torres vs. 
Takeya Mizugaki - Knockout of the Night:
Anthony Njokuani - Submission of the Night:
Rani Yahya
See also[edit]
- World Extreme Cagefighting
- List of World Extreme Cagefighting champions
- List of WEC events
- 2009 in WEC
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Morgan, John (February 10, 2009). "WEC 40 to be held in Chicago; headlined by Torres vs. Bowles". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "- BOWLES OUT; MIZUGAKI TO FACE TORRES AT WEC 40 - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more". www.mmaweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Wagnney Fabiano to meet Fredson Paixao, not Urijah Faber, at WEC 40 | MMAjunkie.com". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-13.
- ^ "Mike Budnik replaces Cole Province at "WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki" | MMAjunkie.com". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-30.
- ^ "With Nunes hurt, Swanson's WEC 40 fight off, love for deep dish pizza on | MMAjunkie.com". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-06.
- ^ "WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki | MMA Event".
- ^ "Fabiano rolls, Njokuani topples Palaszewski in WEC 40 prelims | MMAjunkie.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- ^ "WEC 40: Torres, Mizugaki, Njokuani and Yahya earn $10K bonuses". mmajunkie.com. 2009-04-06.