WEC Post Fight Analysis

MMAWeekly.com has an interview with WEC veteran Dominick Cruz. To say Cruz lacks confidence, that person has obviously never met him.

"I’m one of the best in my weight class and it’s gonna stay that way." "I knew I was going to win, so I had nothing to worry about."

I am not going to argue with you Mr. Cruz in fact I am going to agree with you. Cruz dwarfed the smaller Benavidez, when both the fighters clinched Cruz controlled the action. Cruz also seemed to be the quicker fighter as well, Cruz used his reach very effectively and would throw several quick shots avoid Benavidez's right hand or takedown attempt and again throw more quick shots. I can not tell you how much joy I get when a fighter knows his strengths and weakness, when a fighter puts on a smart game-plan and does not get sucked into doing what his opponent wants. This quote from the post fight Press Confrance explains it all.

"As unconventional as Joesph is and quick, and explosive, and strong and all that. There is always a gamplan for everybody that you fight. So you just have to stick to the things that you know your good at and attack the person at what they feel super uncomfortable. You make your opponent feel uncomfortable, when you do that not only do they get tired, but it creates more openings to your strengths. He is awkward but he had a lot of distance to close on me and as long as I stay on the outside and use my range and speed couldn't do much damage on me, and that is the way it worked." 

MMA Weekly also has a interview with the new WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles. Bowles says after the fight...

"I feel real good, I got a broke hand ready to get to the hospital, but other than that I feel real good I'm ready to celebrate. I spent a long time preparing for this fight so I am ready to let loose a little bit."

From my point of view a broken hand does not sound all that pleasant but I'll take your word for it Mr. Bowles. Long before this fight occurred I picked Bowles to win, everyone in the MMA community was shocked to see his power put on display, but the fact is we have see his power at work before this fight. We have seen him obliterate Nova Uniao standout Marcos Galvao, we have watched him out strike an Olympic level boxer in Will Ribeiro. However Bowles is not invincible, IMO he seems susceptible to submissions(It is roumored thatin an amateur bout against Micha Miller, Bowles got caught a flying triangle choke). There are some noticeable holes in his game, Bowles has average footwork and when an opponent is rushing him with strikes like Torres did he moves straight back into the cage instead of circling and moving his head. This is something that Dominick Cruz can capitalize on, Cruz has good footwork that can help him get the win against Bowles. Cruz's good footwork allows him to throw several quick strikes and follow up with a single leg takedown. Cruz was effective with this manuver against Benavidez. Then we will see a position we have not seen Bowles in, fighting off his back. More WEC fighter breakdowns after the jump.

In the post fight press confernce for WEC 42 Danny Castillo says

"I just want to avenge my loss, you know I'm pulling for Donald Cerrone to win the interem-title and go from there. There are a lot of things I have to work on, but today was a big win and a huge confidence boaster for me. I'm not just a wrestler I'm a striker as well." 

I can not help but to get excited when prospects improve, especially when the prospects know they are becoming more skilled and well rounded. While I know Castillo wants Cerrone bad, IMO "Cowboy" and Jamie Varner should be promoted to the UFC. That won't happen until the flyweight division is established in the WEC so I am left to dream about fights like Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens and so on.

For reactions of the Jeff Curran vs Takeya Mizugaki our own Kelvin Hunt has the story here

I have tried to find more interviews throughout the net on anything for post fight WEC 42, but this is all I have to come up with. Tisk tisk WEC and MMA Media you should have done interviews with guys like L.C. Davis, Javier Vazquez, Shane Roller, Leonard Garcia, and Jameel Massouh. All of them would be interesting interviews.