TKO Xtreme

Tonight I will be going live at 9 PM ET with a play by play of tonight’s WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann.

WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann

Main Card:

Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker
Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks
Steve Cantwell vs. Tim McKenzie
Hiromitsu Miura vs. Blas Avena

Preliminary Fights:

John Alessio vs. Brock Larson
Sergio Gomez vs. Rich Crunkilton
Ryan Stonitsch vs. Alex Serdyukov
Chris Manuel vs. Kenji Osawa
Logan Clark vs. Scott Harper

Media Links:

MMA Junkie: Frank Trigg’s Fight Breakdown: A Quick WEC Preview
Sherdog: Marshall, Stann Ready to Fill Main Event Void
The Fight Network: Tunnel Vision

Since we’re on the topic of the WEC, today it was officially announced that the WEC would be heading to the ARCO Arena on Sunday, June 1st. Headlining the card will be a featherweight bout between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. Also on the card will be Miguel Torres defending his title against Manny Tapia.

We’re live folks! First up is a light heavyweight bout featuring Tim McKenzie and Steve Cantwell. The winner is hoping to score a title shot against the winner of Marshall-Stann.

Tim McKenzie vs. Steve Cantwell

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch as McKenzie comes out with a big inside leg kick early. Another good inside leg kick as Cantwell sits back. Cantwell then charges forward and lands a glancing head kick which causes McKenzie to shoot in looking for the takedown. Cantwell ends up putting McKenzie on his back. McKenzie is able to land some hard knees from the bottom before they stand back up. Once on the feet Cantwell lands another hard head kick follow by some hard knees that put McKenzie on the canvas. Cantwell pounces and lands some bombs from the top before mounting McKenzie. While in the mount, Cantwell lands some shots before taking McKenzie’s back and forcing him to tap out.

Winner: Steve Cantwell - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Up next is a lightweight bout featuring Ed “9mm” Ratcliff (6-0) and (7-0).

WEC is now promotion their upcoming show on Sunday, June 1 featuring Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver with Bug Light as the sponsor. Craig Hummer, former UFC commentator, has a sit down with Jens Pulver who stated he’s excited and fully expects to win his upcoming bout with Faber.

Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks

Round 1: Hicks comes out quick and throws a two shot combo that misses. Both fighters feeling each other out with jabs. Hicks gets in an overhand left that rocks Ratcliff. Ratcliff stumbles back and Hicks latches on a guillotine. Ratcliff is able to escape before another guillotine is latched on. Ratcliff escapes again and eats some hard overhand shots. Hicks takes Ratcliff down and goes for the guillotine again eventually securing the tap.

Winner: Marcus Hicks - Submission (Guillotine Choke)

If you were listening to Frank Mir’s commentary you would have thought the fight was finished after the initial guillotine attempts as Mir yelled “He’s done” both times only to have Ratcliff escape moments later.

Hummer is covering the post-fight interviews and doing an excellent job. Mir previously did both post-fight interviews and color commentary but clearly he is better suited sitting ringside doing the color commentating.

Up next is a lightweight bout between Rich “Cleat” Crunkilton (16-2) and Sergio Gomez (7-1).

Rich Crunkilton vs. Sergio Gomez

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch. Gomez quickly moves in looking to toss his jab but Crunkilton changes levels and puts Gomez on his back. Crunkilton quickly moves to half guard. Crunkilton gets in an excellent elbow before Gomez makes his way back up to his feet. While working the wizard, Crunkilton eats a hard knee from Gomez. Crunkilton pins Gomez against the cage and lands two hard knees that open a cut on the head of Gomez. Crunkilton gets Gomez back on the canvas and moves to side control. Crunkilton locks in a D’Arce choke that looks to have Gomez in trouble but luckily he escapes and stands back up. Gomez fires off a head kick followed by a hard combo. Gomez landing some good shots as Crunkilton tries to cover up. Crunkilton gets in close and secures a single. They scramble on the canvas and Gomez is able to get back up. Both fighters exchange shots while clinching along the cage. Both fighters separate and as they do Crunkilton fires off a leg kick that Gomez catches. Gomez fires off 3-4 shots while holding Crunkilton’s leg. Crunkilton is able to wrestle Gomez to the canvas as the round comes to a close.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Tough round to score, I gave it to Crunkilton due to the fact that he scores 3-4 takedowns along with a nice submission attempt. Crunkilton was also able to open a cut on his opponent. With that said, Gomez did an beautiful job late in the round making it a close round.

Round 2: Crunkilton throws a body kick early but Gomez quickly answers with some shots. Crunkilton goes for a single but as he holds the leg, Gomez is able to land some hard punches before Crunkilton takes him to the canvas. Crunkilton quickly takes Gomez’s back while against the cage. Gomez escapes the attempt and latches on a guillotine. Crunkilton escapes by picking Gomez up and slamming him to the canvas. Crunkilton lands two hard elbows but as he does he is warned by Herb Dean to avoid the back of the head. More hard shots from Crunkilton as he works from the top. Crunkilton attempts to roll for an armbar followed by a kneebar. Gomez escapes and gets top position. He lands some good shots and traps Crunkilton’s arm. Crunkilton escapes and then rolls for a D’Arce. It’s not in tight enough and Gomez escapes. Crunkilton regains top position. Gomez regains full guard while avoiding punches from Crunkilton. Gomez attemps to swing his hips for an armbar but it’s loose and Crunkilton escapes. Crunkilton looks to take Gomez’s back but instead gets side control followed by the mount as the round comes to a close.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Much better round for Crunkilton, he kept it on the canvas where he was able to out wrestle Gomez. Kudos to Gomez for having an answer to Crunkilton’s submission attempts. Very well matched bout so far!

Round 3: Gomez comes out looking to score some points. Gomez fires a low kick followed by a few jabs. Crunkilton is able to land a solid low kick but Gomez shrugs it off as he continues to move forward. Crunkilton executes a sloppy shot and is able to Gomez to the canvas. Crunkilton moves to half guard and then moments later to side control. Crunkilton is looking for Gomez’s back but as he does Gomez goes for a kimura and Crunkilton quickly scrambles regaining top control. Crunkilton works from half guard as Herb Dean steps in and stands the fight up. Good low kick from Crunkilton. Gomez looking to land some hard shots but Crunkilton is relentless with the takedowns and puts Gomez back on the canvas. Crunkilton keeping a solid pace as he works from the top. Gomez doing well to avoid any damage on the bottom. Both fighters scrambling as Gomez is attempting to get to his feet. Gomez attempts a guillotine but against Crunkilton trips him to the canvas.They clinch as the bell sounds to end the bout.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Crunkilton easily wins the third round scoring numerous takedowns and controlling from the top for the majority of the round.

Winner: Richard Crunkilton - Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Stephan Bonnar and Phil Baroni in the house!

Up next is a middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen (19-9-1) and Bryan Baker (6-0). Sonnen was originally slated to face Paulo Filho but the fight was scrapped when Filho voluntarily checked in to rehab.

Hummer is now ringside with WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Faber states that it’s an honor to be fighting Pulver, someone who he said he’s been watching for years.

Thomas Denny can been seen in the back working with Baker while Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou stands in the dressing room belonging to Sonnen

Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch and then Baker throws a sloppy punch that misses. Sonnen then switches levels and secures a beautiful double slamming Baker to the canvas. Sonnen begins to soften Baker up with some knees to the shoulders before moving to mount. Baker attempts to hold on tight but Sonnen breaks the grip. Baker attempts to stand and as he does Sonnen goes for a D’Arce. Baker escapes and they then stand and exchange a few shots before Sonnen shoots in again. Sonnen pins Baker against the cage and secures a beautiful suplex. Sonnen gets north-south and Baker attempts to go for a reverse triangle while Sonnen lands from the top. Baker abandons the move giving Sonnen top position. Sonnen landing some solid shots from the top. Baker continuously firing up his legs looking for a submission but Sonnen shrugs it off and lands some extremely solid shots from the top. More good shots from Sonnen. The round comes to a close with Sonnen controlling on the top.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Very solid round by Sonnen who secured two beautiful hard slams. Sonnen landed many heavy shots working from Baker’s full guard.

Round 2: The round begins with an immediate shot by Sonnen and he puts Baker down and against the cage. Sonnen posturing up and landing hard shots as Baker attempts to avoid. Sonnen firing off short elbows followed by hard punches. Baker attempting to utilize an active guard but Sonnen is having none of it. Baker attempts to latch on a triangle but Sonnen powers out of it with more heavy punches. Sonnen continuing to work from the top with elbows and punches. Hammerfists from Sonnen followed by a guard pass as he opens up a cut on the head of Baker. Sonnen looking for a kimura from side control. Sonnen landing some more elbows and punches as the round ends.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Another dominant round by Sonnen as he controlled from start to finish and opened a cut on the head of his opponent.

Round 3: Baker begins the round with a body kick but as he does Sonnen shoots off it and puts Baker on his back and quickly moves to side control. Sonnen pins the right arm of Baker and begins to fire lefts to the head of Baker. Finally Baker is able to escape. Sonnen positioning himself for a kimura. Baker defends as Sonnen moves to north-south and back to side control. Baker attempting to hold on as Sonnen looks for a D’Arce. Baker scrambes and tries for a kneebar but unfortunately fails and gives up his back. Baker is able to roll out and Sonnen regains top position. Baker going for an armbar but Sonnen stands up and escapes. More hard shots from the top by Sonnen. Baker again firing his hips looking for an armbar/triangle. Hard punch from Sonnen as he postures up. Sonnen fakes an axe kick and lands some extremely hard punches as the round nears its end. Steve Mazzagatti watches closely as the round comes to an end.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Dominating showing by Sonnen as he proves he is clearly the number one contender for Paulo Filho’s middleweight title.

Winner: Chael Sonnen - Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)

Next up is the main event featuring Doug “Rhino” Marshall (7-2) and Brian “All American” Stann (5-0).

Stann is backstage hitting the pads with Sokoudjou as Frank Mir and Todd Harris break down the bout.

Stann with a huge height advantage as they meet in the center for a staredown.

Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch as Stann moves forward and throws a jab followed by a low kick. Marshall returns fire with a low kick. Both fighters miss with a few punches. Marshall throws a hook that misses and is nailed with a jab in the process. Marshall is able to land two hard leg kicks as they clinch along the cage. Overhand right from stand. They begin to trade along the cage with both fighters throwing huge bombs. Marshall cranks Stann with some hard shots and then eats a few of his own. Stann then a huge left hook that sends Marshall to the canvas. Marshall is out of it and Stann pounces putting a stamp on the bout.

Winner: Brian Stann - KO (Punches)