By Stevie J

WEC is underway! We're getting the opening hype package and music right now. Cantwell v. McKenzie, Ratcliff v. Hicks, Baker v. Sonnen, and our main event tonight 'All American' Brian Stann v. Doug 'The Rhino' Marshall. Quite a lineup! We're live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Frank Mir says that Brian Stann EXPLODED onto the scene in WEC, and hyperbole or not Stann has been very impressive in his previous fights. We're reminded that Paulo Filho had to pull out of tonight's show, but that doesn't mean that Chael Sonnen's new opponent Bryan Baker is a slouch as his replacement! Hicks is a pro boxer so his fight with Ratcliff could be a real SLAWBBAKNACCA. McKenzie and Cantwell are warming up backstage for our first fight after these commercials!

We come back to a sweet Urijah Faber video package, reminding us that he'll be facing Jens Pulver on June 1st. I can't wait! Bud Light is sponsoring tonight's show, but with all apologies I'm drinking Tap Room No. 21 lager instead (and it's not bad). "The attack begins!"

* Tim McKenzie v. Steve Cantwell

Both men claim they deserve a title shot tonight. Cantwell: "I've got fans in the stands right now, and you're gonna hear him." McKenzie: "I like being the bad guy. After they see the brutality, they'll be cheering for me. Cantwell I'm sorry, but I'm gonna run through you for my pride and take yours." McKenzie is 4 years older than Cantwell but two inches shorter. Both weigh in at 203 even. Joe Martinez has our official introductions. Cantwell is 4-1, fighting out of Las Vegas and the blue corner. McKenzie is 11-4, fighting out of Stockton, CA and the red corner. Herb Dean is our referee in charge. "Let's do it!"

Cantwell and McKenzie dance around a bit before McKenzie throws a kick and a couple of combos. I can't get over how fucking ridiculous McKenzie's haircut looks - it's like a retarded Pippi Longstocking mohawk. Inside leg trip and Cantwell takes McKenzie to the ground, even though he had just rocked him with a head kick. McKenzie tries to get head control from guard and strikw tih elbows, so Cantwell gives up and returns to the feet.Cantwell lands a big kick on the feet, a couple of muay thai knees to the head, and drops McKenzie to the ground 90 seconds in! McKenzie recovers on the ground but Cantwell easily transitions his guards and is so thoroughly dominating that Dean has to warn Cantwell not to strike the back of the head. McKenzie gives up the back and Cantwell chokes him out! This one ended so fast I'll be shocked if they go to commercial before the official results... shit, they're going to commercial anyway. Fuckwads. CANTWELL IS YOUR WINNER - WE'LL MAKE IT OFFICIAL IN A MINUTE.

Here's Joe Martinez with the announcement - LADIES AND GENTLEMEN REFEREE HERB DEAN STOPS THIS FIGHT AT 2:13 OF ROUND ONE, SUBMISSION BY REAR NAKED CHOKE FOR YOUR WINNER - STEVE 'THE ROBOT' CANTWELL. Cantwell credits his fighting ability to God and to clean living. "Let these guys in the main event come out and bang tonight, but I'm a winner and I think I proved that. Good luck Stann, I'm rooting for you brother!" Hype for the rest of our fights tonight as we go to another commercial break, with a reminder that Marcus Hicks v. Ed Ratcliff is next!

We see Urijah Faber in the crowd as we come back from break, and we get a video package hyping up "the most anticipated fight in WEC history" coming to Sacramento on June 1st - Faber v. Pulver. Definitely one of MY most anticipated fights of the year, right up there with Griffin v. Jackson. Pulver is in the crowd: "I got to get in WEC and mix it up, God you guys can get loud! I'm getting ready to take on an explosive, tough champion. Urijah's been a great champion. I want to win that title, take that title, I'm doing everything. Boxing, kicks, whatever. I know it's 25 minutes, I'm ready to go. He's got that belt and I've got to get it. I've got to have it! I've got skills, he's got skills, we're well rounded. I know if I hit you, you just might fall down, so we'll see. I'll do whatever it takes - I know how to kick, I know how to punch, I know how to wrestle. I need this fight, I want this fight, I'ma win this fight!" Pulver almost sounds desperate. Time for another fight!

* Marcus Hicks v. Ed Ratcliff

"The attack begins!" Lots of smack talk from both fighters in the video package reminding us that they're both undefeated, but Hicks promises that Ratcliff will be going to sleep. Hicks is seven years older, Ratcliff is three inches taller, Hicks is a pound heavier than Ratcliff at 155. Here's Joe Martinez, promising three rounds (or less) in the lightweight division. Ratliff is six wins with no losses and fights out of San Diego, CA and the blue corner. Hicks is seven wins, no losses, fighting out of Dallas, Texas and the red corner. Josh Rosenthal is our referee in charge.

"Let's fight!" Ratcliff and Hicks start swinging right away, Hicks in the black trunks throwing more punches. Ratcliff takes an overhandleft and goes down, and then Hicks jumps on top of him for a guilltine. Ratcliff gets out but gets hit with a huge punch when he does and goes right back down! Hicks is unable to submit him on a second guillotine attempt despite rocking him with an uppercut. Hicks keeps charging in with punches and Ratcliff is backpedaling the whole time, just trying to survive. Hicks takes him down again and JUMPS on him to apply a third guillotine, and it's all over! MARCUS HICKS WINS VIA SUBMISSION. Undoubtedly they'll go to commercial before giving us the official results even though this fight was faster than the first... yup, we're going to a break again.

Once again Joe Martinez has the official results. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE FIGHT ENDS AT 1:42 OF ROUND ONE DUE TO SUBMISSION VIA GUILLOTINE CHOKE FOR YOUR WINNER - MARCUS 'THE WRECKING BALL' HICKS! Hicks says he came to have an exciting fight for the fans and leave undefeated. "I just gotta play my game and do my job. I'm hoping that it take me to a title shot. Thank you to Las Vegas for having me here and WEC for bringing me back. Fans give yourselves a round of applause." They do but not with a lot of enthusiasm - in fact they've been pretty quiet all night long. We go to a video package recapping the highlights of this short fight. We're promised Crunkilton's fight (I guess they are bonusing it due to the live shit going really short) as well as our main event after these commercial messages.

* Sergio Gomez vs. Richard Crunkilton (Bonus Fight)

Crunkilton survived an early guillotine choke and had a strong round that ended with a single leg takedown. Sherdog scores it 10-9 Crunkilton. Second round starts with a double leg but Gomez nearly armbars Crunkilton with an armbar from the bottom. Sherdog also sees this 10-9. Both fighters stall out in R3. The official judges saw the bout 30-26, 30-27 and 29-28. WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION: RICHARD CRUNKILTON. Gomez was a bloody mess at the end of this fight. They say Crunkilton's nickname is 'Cleet' but I could have sworn it was 'King of Crunk'. "Slap me in the face, a little icewater in my face, that's all I need. I didn't want to get two L's in a row, and I didn't." Chuck Liddell, Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin are all in the crowd watching the show (or for the last 20 minutes, the lack thereof) as we go to commercial.

We come back and hear that the Hard Rock is remodeling as Jens Pulver looks on with an airheaded chick at his right starting blankly into space. She's cute, I'll give her that. We're with Urijah Faber in the crowd getting his thoughts. "Training's been great, I train all the time. I understand Jens is coming after me. Those of you who are new to the sport, when I was in high school I was watching him and cheering for him. I look forward to entertaining the crowd, I love this stuff! He's bigger than I am and a dangerous striker, and a lot of people forget his wrestling background. Two alpha males, folks are gonna remember this war for a long time, we're gonna shake hands before and try to kill each other afterwards. I wouldn't blink during this fight." YEAH~! The interview continues after that, but that was clearly the highlight. More promos for Stann and Marshall as we go to break with a reminder that the Chael Sonnen fight is next!

* Chael Sonnen v. Bryan Baker

Our highlights open with a reminder that Sonnen deserved to get the win against Paulo Filho and take his title but got screwed. Yeah, thanks for that reminder guys. "The attack begins!" Sonnen: "I'm grateful to Baker for coming in to take the fight." Baker: "Go ahead and place your bets - I'm not going to lose." Sonnen: "If you want to make it in this sport you've got to experience defeat, and I'm going to help him there. When I knock him down, I'm not gonna let him up, he's staying there."

Baker comes out with an Ultimo Dragon mask on!! Well maybe a cross between Ultimo Dragon, Gladiator and MF DOOM, but whatever it is it works for me! His theme music is Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." I'm stoked to see he's wearing a Premier Fighter shirt too. Those are my boys, and thank you to JJ for hooking me up with the Clay Guida tee for free! Baker bows and prays like a martial arts movie star when he hits the cage. Sonnen on the other hand comes out to straight rock'n'roll, clearly setting off the difference between the two. He's listed as an NCAA All-American and Olympic alternate on his way out. Sonnen is 8 years older than Baker, but the latter is two inches taller. Baker's weight is 184, Sonnen is 2 pounds more. Here's Joe Martinez! Baker is a vale tudo fighter from the blue corner and West Covina, CA with a perfect record of six wins and no losses. Sonnen is a vale tudo fighter from the red corner and West Linn, Oregon with a record of 21-9-1. Our referee in charge is Steve Mazzagatti.

Both touch gloves at the start before Sonnen gets a BEAUTIFUL double leg takedown spinning Baker to the ground. He's trying to rain down knees to the midsection from side control, putting as much into the gut as he can. Sonnen switches to the full mount and Baker tries to hang on, pinching his right arm over Sonnen's back, but he can't hang onto it. Baker gets to his knees and tries to fight to his feet but Sonnen yanks him back down and seems to be going for the darce choke, but can't get it - both men go back to the feet. Sonnen gets another takedown, a suplex (!) and ends up raining down shots with Baker standing on his head. He's trying to put on a triangle but he's way out of position to sink it in and Sonnen is just punching him in the head at will. Over the top punch in the guard, over and over, Baker is not exerting any head control from his back. Baker tries to upkick and Sonnen smashes him with an elbow. Baker survives the round but eats so many shots in those five minutes I'd give it to Sonnen 10-8.

Round two is underway in this middleweight bout! Sonnen immediately shoots in for a double, presses Baker up against the fence, and sure enough he gets the takedown. Baker is being owned here. Unless he can work some jiu-jitsu magic this is gonna be a really bad night for him. Sonnen has him pinned against the catch and keeps throwing body jabs and head shots at will. Mir: "Chael Sonnen is the hammer, and the cage and the canvas is that anvil!" True enough. Baker can't get free. Sloppy triangle attempts aren't helping him one bit. Sonnen mounts up and drops down elbows and fists at will. "This is textbook!" Yes Mir, I can only agree with you so many times. Another sloppy triangle with only one leg even close, and Sonnen throws a really hard right in responce. Baker may not have gotten his bell rung yet but he's definitely getting creamed over and over with only two minutes left in the ground. TOTAL DOMINANCE BY SONNEN. I don't know why Baker is so obsessed with the triangle, he should try for something else, it's not working. "Unless Sonnen gets bored and tries something different he's clearly winning this fight." Three for three Mir! 55 seconds less to go and Baker's face is finally busted open, he's now a bloody mess. Sonnen leans across and grabs an arm, trying to get a kimura or americana. He can't grab it but he does keep landing vicious elbows to the head. 10-9 or maybe even another 10-8 as we go to round three.

"Last round, bring it on, c'mon!" Thanks Mr. Mazzagatti. Sonnen with a single leg, takes the back, transitions to the side, controls the arm, and Mir calls this "the beatdown position." I'd have to agree - Baker can't defend for shit now. Mazzagatti gives a warning about hitting the back of the head, but Baker's head is just a punching bag right now no matter WHERE Sonnen hits him. Baker seems to be completely gassed just trying to get Sonnen off him for the last two rounds. The only bad thing I can say about Sonnen is that he hasn't finished Baker, otherwise he's had a flawless fight. Sonnen takes side control and throws a few elbows. Mir says Baker would be a magic man if he pulled off a win at this point. Sonnen tries to work a submission as Baker gives up his back, finally just rolling him back over to work from guard, coming over the top with punches. Baker tries to grab an armbar but it's for naught. Baker goes for the triangle again and Sonnen easily passes guard to avoid it. One minute left and Sonnen is raining down pain like a motherfucker, shot after shot. He stands up, grabs the legs to block and upkick, and drops a HEAVY FUCKING PUNCH. Baker tries to throw an upkick and Sonnen mounts on him and decides to unload a flurry of punches as the round comes to a close, leaving Baker a blooddy, battered, bruised and THOROUGHLY BEATEN mess. It's not official yet but I'm sure the judges will give a lopsided unanimous decision to Sonnen when we come back!

Joe Martinez: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN HERE ARE YOUR JUDGES SCORECARDS: 30 TO 26 AND TWO JUDGES GIVE IT 30-25 TO YOUR WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION CHAEL SONNEN! Sonnen puts over Baker a million ways from sideways and says the kid has a great future in MMA. "ZUFFA's got a lot of guys under contract that claim they will fight anybody but they find any reason not to get in the cage. I'll fight any man God ever created." Now THAT sounds like a challenge! Doug Marshall v. Brian Stann is up next!

Harley Davidson and the US Navy are the official WEC sponsors as we come back from break, and Brian Stann is training with a man who I swear looks like Sudoku Puzzle. Our play by play commentators break down the fight, and Mir says there's no way this one will last five rounds. Of Rhino: "No matter what this guy does, he does it like an animal, that's why he's the champ!" Of Stann: "He's on a meteoric rise. Tough guy, he's a marine, fought in battle, and he brings that to the ring. Fierce competitor, explosive knockout power, every fight he gets better!" Time to get it on. "The attack begins!"

* Doug Marshall {C} v. Brian Stann (Light Heavyweight Championship)

Stann: "He's had the belt since 2005, his turn is over, it's my turn now." Marshall: "I don't see him walking out of the cage with my belt. That's my belt, I earned it, I intend to keep it." Stann is the first man to come out to the cage. Stann's attributes are lifted as "heavy hands" and "mentally tough" - well you'd have to be if you've fought in Iraq. Mir: "This is a cakewalk for him, c'mon, the levels are completely different!" Four for four Mir. Here comes our champion, he's a Rhino but this is no Elevation X match. Marshall's attributes are "KO power" and "versed in submissions" among other things. Marshall and his iron cross chest hit the cage. Tale of the tape - Marshall is four years older, Stann is three inches taller, they both weigh 204, and Stann has a three inch reach advantage at 74".

Here's Joe Martinez for our official introductions, live from The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino of Las Vegas. This one is scheduled five rounds for the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship, and is sponsored by Harley Dark Custom and No Fear. A bunch of dorks from the sanctioning body are read off, as well as the doctors and timekeepers at ringside. Our judges are Adalaide Byrd, Tony Weeks and Abe Belardo. Judges are ready, fighters are ready, and for the millions tuned in live on Versus ARE YOU READY!! Out of the blue corner, a freetyle fighter, six foot one, 204 pounds, a 5-0 record fighting out of Scranton, PA he is the undefeated fighting pride of the USMC, 'All American' Brian Stann! His opponent out of the red corner, a muay thai fighter, at 5'10", 204 pounds, with a pro record of 7-2, fighting out of Visalia, California, he is the reigning and defending light heavyweight champion, Doug 'The Rhino' Marshall! Herb Dean is our referee in charge.

Round one is underway! They touch gloves and Stann charges in, Marshall backing off and letting him be aggressive. Stann throws a wild right and hits air. Marshall tries to kick and it doesn't do much. Stann snaps off a left jab that connects. Marshall keeps his hands up and forward, throws some kicks, gets the muay thai clinch, but Stann has him pressed up against the cage with just over a minute to go. Stann fights out but only to his disadvantage, as he is getting hit with lefts and rights... and I spoke too soon because as he was getting rocked by Marshall he he a DEVESTATING LEFT THAT STOPPED THE FIGHT. Holy shit! Brian Stann just killed the champion!! The left hook could not have landed on the button any more perfectly, and caught Marshall when he was laying into Stann with shot after shot. That fucking RULED. STANN IS THE MAN. Let's get the official result from Joe Martinez.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THIS FIGHT ENDS AT 1:35 OF ROUND ONE, TKO VICTORY FOR THE NEW, WEC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, 'ALL AMERICAN' BRIAN STANNNNNNNNNN~! Stann puts over his mom, his wife, his daughter, and all the marines who supported him. "This belt represents all my marines, all my friends who died, who couldn't be here. I have to live my life for them, this is what it means to me." I'm not the most uber-patriotic guy in the world, but after that performance, GOD FUCKING BLESS AMERICA. I am so glad my flight didn't leave until Thursday, there's no way I wanted to miss seeing that fight live. They promote Faber v. Pulver as our show draws to a close. Good night everyone!

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news from this site or from our newsletters, please include a link to www.f4wonline.com as opposed to "From F4W", "From Figure Four Weekly" or derivatives. Thank you!

For the most in-depth and detailed news and analysis on pro-wrestling and MMA, always turn to Figure Four Weekly Online! Become a member of F4Wonline.com and get the absolute latest insider news and commentary from WWE, TNA, UFC, PRIDE, CMLL, AAA, ROH, K-1, all the wrestling and MMA independents, Japan, and so much more, all for as little as $1.44 per week. Members get access to the COMPLETE radio show archives dating back to 2005(Figure Four Daily, The Bryan & Vinny Show, Mike Coughlin's Five Star Radio,the Dr. Keith Lipinski Show, and The Adam & Mike Big Audio Nightmare), the Figure Four Weekly newsletter archive (260+ issues from the past five years), the entire Dragon King Wrestling History Archive, and complete access to every news article and column ever posted on the site. For your convenience, we offer secure online payments using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover card or PayPal account. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up now!

Want full access within one minute? QUICK AND EASY $7.99 PAYPAL SIGN-UP!