Jamie Varner vs. Ben Henderson Set For WEC 46 in January
The WEC announced today via it’s official Twitter page that Jamie Varner would defend his lightweight belt against interim lightweight champion Benson Henderson at WEC 46 on January 10. The event is scheduled for the Arco Arena in Sacramento California. They also confirmed the rumored match up between Urijah Faber and Raphael Assuncao for the event.
Varner has held the WEC lightweight title since he won it from Rob McCullough in February of 2008, defending it twice against Marcus Hicks and Donald Cerrone, respectively. Since defeating Cerrone, Varner has been sidelined with injuries suffered in the fight.
Henderson has gone undefeated in his WEC career, including a recent victory over Donald Cerrone in a bout for the WEC interim lightweight belt. The WEC had wanted to have him fight Varner to merge the belts in December, however injuries sustained against Cerrone forced the bout to be pushed back to the current date.
Pictured: Jamie Varner
Tags: Ben Henderson, Jamie Varner
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Henderson should beat Varner!!
I was really hoping that the fight would be in Phoenix. It seems that almost all the WEC fights are in Sacramento. Both Varner and Henderson wanted it in Phoenix. I wonder why they chose Sacramento. Or are they legally not allowed to hold the event in Phoenix? I see Varner taking this one. People have been talking a lot of sh!t for the last year or so and He has got to getting pretty angry. I’m sure he will be training very hard.
The reason why ZUFFA decided to do it in Sacramento is well they have sold out the house twice and with having Urijah Faber on this card its a damnn near guarantee sell out this time, plus with the opportunity to see Henderson take it to Varner
it will be a good time, the WEC is making their stamp in Sacramento, Chicago, and ofcourse Vegas… When you consistantly sell out the Arco Arena thats good enough to keep coming back, sorry that Pheonix didn’t get the card but I would assume that it has alot to do with basic business practices and allowing the face of your org to fight in his hometown…
Plus I’m sure with the rising tide of MMA popularity in places like Arizona [Arizona Combat Sports] and New Mexico [Jackson's Submission Fighting] it’ll only be a matter of time before that part of the country gets its share of MMA events…
I hope Varner gets him but I dont think its gonna happen. I think the only thing lil hendo has is his dominant wrestling and ground and pound which I think Varner will neutralize a bit but not enuf to take the w. Usually when two good wrestlers get into the cage it turns into a stand-up fight but I dont see lil hendo lettin that happen.
Wow thats tough coming off such a long layoff to fight such a good fighter. Varner vs. Cowboy I thought would have been a better fight but I still think if Varner can stay healthy through his whole camp it should be a good competitive fight. He’ll have to shake that ring rust off quick too.
Well, they had that whole interim title fight a few weeks ago, and since Henderson won, he is Varner’s next opponent, not Cerrone.
Yah I got that, I was simply stating that I thought a Cowboy vs. Varner match would have made a better match and story line.