WEC 43

WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson
The poster for WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson
PromotionWorld Extreme Cagefighting
DateOctober 10, 2009
VenueAT&T Center
CitySan Antonio, Texas
Attendance5,176[1]
Total gate$297,990[1]
Event chronology
WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo

WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on October 10, 2009, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.[2]

Background

The event was scheduled to take place on September 2, 2009, at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. However, due to headliner Benson Henderson having eye surgery, the event was later rescheduled.[3]

The main event was expected to be a WEC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Jamie Varner and challenger Donald Cerrone. This was to be a rematch of their bout at WEC 38 which ended in a controversial technical split decision, but Varner was deemed medically unable to return to competition. Instead, the WEC had Cerrone face Benson Henderson, for the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship, with the winner fighting Varner in a title unification bout when he was medically cleared. The Varner/Cerrone rematch would later take place at WEC 51 the following year (though after Varner lost the title), where Cerrone won by unanimous decision.

A previously announced bout between Alex Karalexis and Anthony Pettis has been cancelled due to an injury suffered by Karalexis while training.[4] The fight was rescheduled for WEC 48.

Mark Hominick was expected to face Deividas Taurosevičius at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Javier Vazquez.[5]

Erik Koch was expected to face Wagnney Fabiano at the event, but was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Mackens Semerzier.[6]

Rafael Rebello was originally scheduled to face Scott Jorgensen at this event, but was removed from the bout and replaced by Noah Thomas.[7]

Akitoshi Tamura was expected to compete against Damacio Page at this event, but was pulled from the card due to injury and replaced by WEC newcomer Will Campuzano.[8]

The event drew an estimated 419,000 viewers on Versus.[9]

Results

Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Benson Henderson def Donald Cerrone Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) 5 5:00 [a]
Lightweight Dave Jansen def Richard Crunkilton Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Raphael Assunção def Yves Jabouin Decision (split) (30–27, 27–30, 29–28) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Damacio Page def Will Campuzano Submission (rear naked choke) 1 1:02
Preliminary card
Lightweight Anthony Njokuani def Muhsin Corbbrey TKO (punches) 2 1:42
Bantamweight Scott Jorgensen def Noah Thomas TKO (punches) 1 3:13 [b]
Featherweight Mackens Semerzier def Wagnney Fabiano Submission (triangle choke) 1 2:14 [c]
Bantamweight Eddie Wineland def Manny Tapia Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Charlie Valencia def Coty Wheeler Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Deividas Taurosevičius def Javier Vazquez Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the interim WEC Lightweight Championship.
  2. ^ This bout was aired on the live broadcast.
  3. ^ This bout was aired on the live broadcast.

Bonus Awards

Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses, with the Fight of the Night earners having their bonuses doubled to $20,000 each.[10]

  • Fight of the Night: United States Donald Cerrone vs. United States Benson Henderson
  • Knockout of the Night: Nigeria Anthony Njokuani
  • Submission of the Night: United States Mackens Semerzier

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "WEC 43 draws 5,176 spectators; Harris says he's "sure" promotion will return to Texas". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  2. ^ "New site secured in San Antonio, Texas, for "WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson"". MMA Junkie. 2009-08-29. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  3. ^ "WEC 43 Rescheduled for Oct. 10". Sherdog.com. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  4. ^ Stupp, Dann. "Alex Karalexis vs. Anthony Pettis scrapped from WEC 43; main-card replacement not determined". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "WEC 43: Javier Vazquez replaces Mark Hominick, meets Deividas Taurosevicius". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  6. ^ "Newcomer Mackens Semerzier replaces injured Erik Koch on WEC 43 prelims". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "Noah Thomas replaces Rafael Rebello, meets Scott Jorgensen at WEC 43". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  8. ^ "Texas product Will Campuzano replaces injured Akitoshi Tamura at WEC 43". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  9. ^ "WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson | MMA Event".
  10. ^ "WEC 43 bonuses: Henderson, Cerrone, Semerzier, Njokuani earn $20K and $10K awards". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2009.