WEC 53
WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis was the fifty-third and final mixed martial arts event in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) series, held on December 16, 2010, at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.[1] The card consisted of eleven bouts across lightweight and bantamweight divisions, serving as the promotion's farewell before its full absorption into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with all contracted fighters transitioning to the larger organization.[2][3] The main event pitted WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson against top contender Anthony Pettis for the title, which became vacant due to the promotion's closure; Pettis emerged victorious by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) after five rounds, capturing the championship in a closely contested fight remembered for his spectacular "Showtime Kick"—a spinning heel kick off the cage in the final round that briefly stunned Henderson.[4] In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz defended his title against Scott Jorgensen, dominating en route to a unanimous decision win (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).[4] The undercard featured notable performances, including Donald Cerrone's second-round submission of Chris Horodecki via triangle choke and Brad Pickett's unanimous decision over Ivan Menjivar, underscoring the event's high-level talent that would soon elevate the UFC's lighter weight classes.[4]Event Overview
Background and Significance
WEC 53 took place on December 16, 2010, at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.[3] The venue was selected through a fan vote organized by the promotion, in which Phoenix/Glendale emerged victorious over competing bids from Milwaukee and Nashville.[5] This event marked a pivotal moment for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), which had specialized in showcasing elite competition in lighter weight classes—up to 155 pounds—since its acquisition by Zuffa, LLC in December 2006. Under Zuffa ownership, WEC had evolved from a regional promotion into a nationally televised platform that highlighted technical prowess in divisions overlooked by heavier-weight focused organizations. As the final event in WEC history, WEC 53 signified the end of the promotion's independent run following its merger with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which had been announced on October 28, 2010.[6] Zuffa's decision to absorb WEC's lighter divisions into the UFC structure aimed to expand the parent organization's roster and broadcast reach, effectively concluding four years of dedicated lighter-weight programming.[7] The event held broader significance as it featured the inaugural UFC bantamweight championship bout outside of a UFC-branded card.[8] This integration underscored WEC's role in bridging talent to the UFC ecosystem.Venue and Broadcast Details
WEC 53 took place at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona, a multi-purpose venue that at the time seated approximately 17,000 for sporting events and later became known as Gila River Arena. This marked the first Zuffa-owned mixed martial arts event in the state of Arizona, expanding the promotion's footprint beyond its traditional West Coast strongholds.[9][10] The event attracted 6,348 paid spectators, ranking as the seventh-highest attendance figure in WEC history and the second-best for a non-California show. Ticket sales generated approximately $300,000 in gate revenue, reflecting solid local interest despite the promotion's impending merger with the UFC.[9] Broadcast coverage centered on a live airing of the main card on Versus in the United States, drawing 615,000 viewers and underscoring the promotion's growing television appeal. The preliminary card was streamed online via the WEC's official website, providing additional access for fans unable to attend in person. Internationally, the event reached audiences through various broadcast partners, enhancing its global visibility in the final months of the WEC brand.[11]Championship Bouts
Bantamweight Title Fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen
The bantamweight title fight between defending champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Scott Jorgensen served as the co-main event of WEC 53, marking a pivotal moment in the promotion's history as its final event before the merger with the UFC.[12] The bout carried immense stakes, with Cruz defending his WEC bantamweight championship—his sixth consecutive title fight overall—and the winner set to become the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion, ushering the division into the larger promotion.[12][13] Cruz, entering with a 16-1 record and a seven-fight win streak, had established himself as the WEC's dominant force through elite footwork, unorthodox angles, and precise striking that emphasized range control and elusiveness.[12][14] Training out of Arizona with Alliance MMA, the 25-year-old champion's style relied on feints, quick exits, and superior takedown defense to neutralize grapplers, drawing comparisons to a mobile, defensive striker who frustrated opponents with constant movement.[15] In contrast, Jorgensen, a 28-year-old former Division I wrestler from Boise, Idaho, brought a 11-3 record bolstered by seven wins in his previous eight fights, showcasing a wrestling base augmented by improved standup, a powerful right hand, and relentless pressure.[12][14] He had earned his shot by defeating top contenders like Antonio Banuelos and Brad Pickett in the WEC, highlighting his durability, quick recovery from adversity, and ability to grind out victories through takedowns and pace.[12][14] The buildup generated significant hype around the stylistic clash, with Cruz's fifth WEC title defense—following his title-winning victory over Urijah Faber and subsequent defenses against Chan Sung Jung, Joseph Benavidez, Brian Bowles, and a rematch with Benavidez—pitting his evasive, high-IQ approach against Jorgensen's blue-collar grappling and forward pressure.[13] Pre-fight narratives emphasized Jorgensen's need to close distance, cut off the cage, and force a grueling trench war to counter Cruz's speed, while Cruz expressed confidence in "smashing" his opponent through superior conditioning and angles.[14][12] Analysts previewed the five-round contest as a test of stamina, predicting Cruz's range management would challenge Jorgensen's takedown attempts, potentially leading to a decision if the challenger couldn't impose his wrestling early.[14] Jorgensen, undaunted, vowed to apply constant pressure from the opening horn, aiming to "change the landscape of the game" by exploiting any openings in Cruz's risky, hands-down stance.[12]Lightweight Title and UFC Eliminator: Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis
The lightweight championship bout between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis at WEC 53 served as a pivotal defense of Henderson's WEC lightweight title while simultaneously acting as an eliminator for the UFC lightweight division, with the winner slated to challenge the victor of the Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard rematch for the UFC title at UFC 125.[16] This high-stakes matchup underscored the impending merger between WEC and UFC, positioning the lightweight winner as the bridge between the organizations' elite talents.[17] Benson Henderson entered as the dominant WEC lightweight champion, boasting a well-rounded skill set anchored by his exceptional grappling and submission expertise, with eight of his twelve career victories coming via submission.[16] He had captured the interim title with a unanimous decision over Donald Cerrone at WEC 43 before unifying it against Jamie Varner via guillotine choke at WEC 46, followed by a first defense via another guillotine against Cerrone at WEC 48.[18] Anthony Pettis, a 23-year-old rising star from Roufusport, contrasted Henderson's pressure-oriented style with his athleticism and creative striking, highlighted by a spectacular head-kick knockout of Danny Castillo at WEC 47 that earned him Knockout of the Night honors and propelled his momentum.[19] Following a split decision loss to Bart Palaszewski at WEC 45, Pettis rebounded with three straight wins: a knockout of Danny Castillo at WEC 47, a submission of Alex Karalexis at WEC 48, and a submission of Shane Roller at WEC 50, securing his title opportunity.[19] The buildup emphasized a stylistic clash, with Henderson's relentless pressure and clinch work—featuring devastating knees and superior conditioning—pitted against Pettis's innovative offense and defensive agility, fostering a narrative of technical grinding versus explosive creativity.[20] Analysts anticipated Henderson leveraging his grappling to control the fight on the ground, potentially seeking a submission in the later rounds, while Pettis's potential for unorthodox maneuvers, such as wall-walking kicks drawn from his capoeira-influenced training, offered the threat of a highlight-reel knockout.[17] This second title defense for Henderson promised to test both fighters' adaptability ahead of their transition to the UFC landscape.[16]Full Fight Card
Preliminary Card Results
The preliminary card at WEC 53 featured four non-televised bouts that highlighted up-and-coming fighters in the bantamweight and lightweight divisions, providing a platform for emerging talent ahead of the promotion's final event.[1] In the bantamweight opener, Renan Barão made a dominant WEC debut by submitting Chris Cariaso via rear-naked choke at 3:47 of the first round, showcasing his grappling prowess early in the fight.[4] Yuri Alcântara pulled off a striking upset against favored featherweight contender Ricardo Lamas, securing a knockout victory with punches at 3:26 of the first round in a lightweight bout.[4][21] Lightweight prospect Danny Castillo delivered a quick finish in a regional matchup by knocking out Will Kerr with punches at 1:25 of the first round, capitalizing on a defensive scramble.[4][22] Finally, Eddie Wineland highlighted the integration of wrestling into striking exchanges by slamming Ken Stone for a knockout at 2:11 of the first round in their bantamweight clash.[4]Main Card Results
The main card of WEC 53 featured a mix of bantamweight and lightweight bouts, culminating in the organization's final title defenses before its merger with the UFC.[4]| Fight | Weight Class | Result | Method | Round/Time | Judge Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Pickett vs. Ivan Menjivar | Bantamweight | Brad Pickett def. Ivan Menjivar | Unanimous Decision | 3 / 5:00 | 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 |
| Shane Roller vs. Jamie Varner | Lightweight | Shane Roller def. Jamie Varner | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 / 3:55 | N/A |
| Danny Downes vs. Zhang Tiequan | Lightweight | Danny Downes def. Zhang Tiequan | Unanimous Decision | 3 / 5:00 | 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 |
| Kamal Shalorus vs. Bart Palaszewski | Lightweight | Kamal Shalorus def. Bart Palaszewski | Split Decision | 3 / 5:00 | 30-27, 28-29, 29-28 |
| Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki | Lightweight | Donald Cerrone def. Chris Horodecki | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 / 2:43 | N/A |
| Benson Henderson (c) vs. Anthony Pettis | Lightweight Championship | Anthony Pettis def. Benson Henderson (c) | Unanimous Decision | 5 / 5:00 | 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 |
| Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Scott Jorgensen | Bantamweight Championship | Dominick Cruz (c) def. Scott Jorgensen | Unanimous Decision | 5 / 5:00 | 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 |