WEC
WEC 49 RESULTS: Hominick vs. Jabouin instant classic highlights one of the best events of 2010 at WEC 49
Jun 21, 2010 - 10:10:38 AM WEC 49 RESULTS: Hominick vs. Jabouin instant classic highlights one of the best events of 2010 at WEC 49

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With the bad taste of the Jamie Varner vs. Kamal Shalorus still permeating in the mouths of many MMA fans, it must not be forgotten that the action leading up to the night's main event at WEC 49 was some of the best of the year, continuing the WEC's standing as one of the most exciting organizations in the world.

With a less infraction-filled and controversial main event, this would have been a clear front-runner for "Fight Card of the Year," and there was one fight at least that did what was considered impossible for this year, rival the Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung bout from WEC 48 for "Fight of the Year" consideration.

That fight was the instant classic between Canadians Mark Hominick and Yves Jabouin.

Hyped as a fight eight years in the making with both fighters coming out of the same area, the bout was an insanely fast paced fight, with a second round that rivals any round of MMA action ever in terms of excitement.

The blistering pace began in the first round, as Jabouin continually moved around the outside, landing punches and kicks every time Hominick engaged. But Hominick was getting in with his combinations as well, landing crisp strikes as he chased Jabouin down. It was a very fun start to the fight, and Jabouin just edged the round with more overall strikes and much more active game.

But that was nothing compared to what came in the second. Jabouin had slowed slightly, and Hominick began to press the pace further. He managed to back Jabouin up to the cage, and then he dropped him with a brutal shot to the gut. Jabouin covered up and tried to recover as Hominick rained down left hand shots to his head, and he finally made his way to his feet.

After pushing Hominick back and gaining separation, Jabouin then came forward and nearly knocked Hominick out cold with a right hand. He dropped down into Hominick's guard with some hard punches and did a bit more damage. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Hominick pulled off a beautiful reversal and wound up right in the mount on top of Jabouin.

Jabouin was too tired from the series of body shots delivered by Hominick to recover, and Hominick continued to rain down punches from the mount with the ref warning Jabouin to improve his position. He could not, and the fight was finally stopped after the insane exchanges at 3:21 of the second round.

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In other action on the night's card, 21 year old Josh Grispi continued his rise up the featherweight ladder, moving to 14-1 after choking out LC Davis with a guillotine choke in the first round. Davis shot in for a takedown, lifted Grispi up and slammed him down, but Grispi set up the choke from the moment Davis shot in, and he secured it once he hit the mat. Davis tried to fight out but went out cold from the hold, putting Grispi firmly in the title picture in the featherweight division.

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The exciting card had a ton more action during the event, beginning with Eddie Wineland's second round TKO of Will Campuzano. It was a very good back and forth bout for awhile, but Wineland finally dropped Campuzano with a vicious punch to the sternum before finishing him on the ground.

Chris Horodecki returned to form against last minute replacement Danny Downes, controlling the fight with his striking, timely takedowns and ground game, finally locking in the rear naked choke at 1:09 of the third round.

Finally, two fights from the prelim card were shown, both of which ended in first round submissions. Erik Koch tossed up a beautiful triangle choke that was absolutely picture perfect to force a submission from Bendy Casimir, while Will Kerr upset lightweight Karen Darabedyan with an armbar, almost an identical finish to Darabedyan's last loss to Bart Palaszewski.

It was an excellent night of fights on Versus, and though it was the least promoted and seemingly the weakest WEC card in recent memory, it exploded past expectations and made for one of the best nights of MMA action thus far in 2010.