Varner, Henderson Greenlit for WEC 46

Jamie Varner and Benson Henderson had no issues meeting contracted weights for their World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight title unification bout.

Varner, the reigning champion, tipped the scales at 155 pounds for his five-round showdown with Henderson (154.5) in the WEC 46 main event this Sunday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The 18 other men booked to compete at the promotion’s 2010 debut -- including co-headliners Urijah Faber (145.5) and Raphael Assuncao (146) -- also made weight without incident at Saturday’s official weigh-in.

Anchored at Arizona Combat Sports, Varner will carry a five-fight winning streak into his third title defense. The 25-year-old has not competed since his technical split decision victory over Donald Cerrone in January 2008. That bout ended with Varner injured but ahead on the scorecards after Cerrone struck him in the face with an inadvertent illegal knee. Finished only once as a professional, he holds other notable victories against “Razor” Rob McCullough and UFC veteran Kyle Bradley.

The fast-rising Henderson, meanwhile, captured the interim WEC crown in a riveting unanimous decision win over Cerrone at WEC 43 in October; many view the bout as frontrunner for “Fight of the Year.” Based out of the MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz., he has rattled off nine consecutive wins, eight of them finishes. A protégé of John Crouch, Henderson was a two-time collegiate All-American at Dana College in Nebraska. The 26-year-old counts victories over former Palace Fighting Championship titleholder Diego Saraiva and three-time collegiate All-American Shane Roller among his 10 career conquests.

WEC 46 “Varner vs. Henderson,” which airs live on Versus at 9 p.m. ET, features seven world-ranked fighters spread across three weight classes, including former featherweight king Mike Thomas Brown (146). The American Top Team standout will meet WEC newcomer Anthony Morrison (146) in his first appearance since surrendering his 145-pound belt to Jose Aldo two months ago.

WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson
Sunday, Jan. 10
Arco Arena
Sacramento, Calif.

WEC Lightweight Championship
Jamie Varner (155) vs. Benson Henderson (154.5)

Urijah Faber (145.5) vs. Raphael Assuncao (146)
Dave Jansen (156) vs. Kamal Shalorus (155)
Mike Thomas Brown (146) vs. Anthony Morrison (146)
Mackens Semerzier (144.5) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (146)
Akitoshi Tamura (135) vs. Charlie Valencia (134)
Wagnney Fabiano (136) vs. Clint Godfrey (135.5)
Mark Hominick (146) vs. Bryan Caraway (146)
Eddie Wineland (135.5) vs. George Roop (135.5)
Will Campuzano (136) vs. Coty Wheeler (136)