Zuffa Completes WEC 52 Roster

World Extreme Cagefighting mainstay Cub Swanson will meet Mackens Semerzier in a preliminary featherweight matchup at WEC 52 “Faber vs. Mizugaki” on Nov. 11 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The WEC on Monday finalized an 11-bout roster for the event, which will air live on the Versus network.

Rooted at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Swanson has lost two of his last three fights. The 26-year-old Palm Springs, Calif., native has not set foot inside the cage since he dropped a unanimous decision to Chad Mendes at WEC 50 in August. Swanson has secured 11 of his 14 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over American Top Team’s Micah Miller, former King of the Cage lightweight champion Charlie Valencia, UFC veteran Shannon Gugerty and 2009 Dream featherweight grand prix finalist Hiroyuki Takaya anchor his resume.

Semerzier burst on the scene in October 2009, when he became the first man to submit former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano. The Miami, Fla., native will carry a two-fight losing streak into his encounter with Swanson. Semerzier trains out of the Linxx Academy of Martial Arts in Virginia, where he also works full-time as Lead Combatives Instructor for Linxx Global Solutions. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, he last appeared at WEC 50 in August, when he submitted to a rear-naked choke from Javier Vazquez.

A bantamweight showdown pairing former featherweight king Urijah Faber with Japanese standout Takeya Mizugaki will headline WEC 52, along with a key featherweight duel pitting the world-ranked Josh Grispi against Erik Koch. Meanwhile, two-time bantamweight title challenger Joseph Benavidez will return to the cage in a featured 135-pound tilt against Fabiano.

WEC 52 “Faber vs. Mizugaki”
Thursday, Nov. 11
Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas

Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Josh Grispi vs. Erik Koch
Joseph Benavidez vs. Wagnney Fabiano
Chad Mendes vs. Javier Vazquez
Damacio Page vs. Eddie Wineland
Zachary Micklewright vs. Dustin Poirier
Anthony Njokuani vs. Edward Faaloloto
Yves Jabouin vs. Brandon Visher
Michael McDonald vs. Clint Godfrey
Cub Swanson vs. Mackens Semerzier
L.C. Davis vs. Raphael Assuncao