...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The rematch will happen after all.
After Jamie Varner's camp denied initial reports that he was likely to face Donald Cerrone in a rematch of their January 2009 bout at WEC 51 in September, the bout has now been signed, with Varner himself confirming the fight on his personal website.
The two first met for Varner's WEC Lightweight Championship back at WEC 38, with Varner earning a unanimous decision. The bout ended in controversy, however, as a seemingly grazing knee, landing illegally while Varner was on his knees against the cage, rendered him unable to continue.
Since that time Varner's public image has him cast as the villain, and Cerrone fanned the flames of a public feud while Varner was out injured throughout 2009. The rematch for the title never materialized, however, as both fighters fell to current Champion Benson Henderson; Cerrone losing twice.
But they'll now meet on September 30 at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo., live on Versus. The event will be headlined by a Featherweight Championship bout between Jose Aldo and Manvel Gamburyan.
Penick's Analysis: I can't wait for this rematch, and it's an excellent fight for the September card. I know Varner's camp was hoping to get a rematch with Henderson, but with his fight at WEC 49 against Kamal Shalorus ending in an undeserved draw, I can understand the WEC going with this fight first. It should certainly bring the trash talk between the two back to the forefront. Both this card and WEC 50 next month are looking stacked for Versus.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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