7 Fights Greenlit for WEC 50

EliteXC veteran Javier Vazquez will meet Mackens Semerzier in a pivotal showdown between World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight contenders at WEC 50 “Cruz vs. Benavidez 2” on Aug. 18 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Seven bouts are now official for the show, which will air live on the Versus network.

A potent Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Vazquez has secured nine of his 14 career victories by submission. The 33-year-old last appeared in March, when he submitted former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver with an armbar at WEC 47. Vazquez, who overcame a series of career-threatening knee injuries to return to prominence, holds other notable wins over “The Ultimate Fighter 5” alum Robert Emerson, Dream veteran David Gardner and Shooto mainstay Rumina Sato. In 18 professional bouts, he has never been finished.

Semerzier, meanwhile, finds himself on the rebound for the first time, having suffered his first defeat in a unanimous decision to Deividas Taurosevicius at WEC 46 six months ago. Based out of the LINXX Academy of Martial Arts in Virginia Beach, Va., the 29-year-old burst on the scene in 2009, when he submitted Nova Uniao standout and former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano in his promotional debut. Fabiano had never before been finished, much less submitted.

The lightweights will also share the WEC 50 stage, as Team Quest’s Dave Jansen locks horns with the once-beaten Ricardo Lamas.

Jansen has delivered nine of his 14 victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, but four of his last five fights have reached the judges. The 30-year-old Oregonian cut his teeth inside the Sportfight and M-1 Challenge circuits and won his first 14 bouts before losing on points to the undefeated Kamal Shalorus at WEC 46 in January. Jansen made his WEC debut in October, when he cruised to a unanimous decision against former lightweight title contender Rich Crunkilton.

The Chicago-based Lamas will carry a two-fight winning streak into the match. A collegiate All-American wrestler at the Div. III level, the 28-year-old knocked out Bendy Casimir with a first-round knee strike at WEC 47 in March. Lamas suffered his only career setback to Team Alpha Male’s Danny Castillo in 2009.

A bantamweight championship match between titleholder Dominick Cruz and Joseph Benavidez will headline WEC 50, along with an anticipated duel between former featherweight king Urijah Faber and Takeya Mizugaki. The bout will serve as Faber’s debut at 135 pounds.

WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2
Wednesday, Aug. 18
Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas

WEC Bantamweight Championship
Dominick Cruz vs. Joseph Benavidez

Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Anthony Pettis vs. Shane Roller
Javier Vazquez vs. Mackens Semerzier
Bart Palaszewski vs. Zachary Micklewright
Dave Jansen vs. Ricardo Lamas
Fredson Paixao vs. Bryan Caraway
* Scott Jorgensen vs. Brad Pickett
* Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson
* Anthony Njokuani vs. Maciej Jewtuszko

* Not Official