The co-main event of tonight's' WEC mega event is a rematch of the 2009 fight of the year. The lightweight (155 lb) title is on the line as Ben Henderson faces Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in a repeat of an epic war of attrition. After five rounds of frantic back and forth action during which each man nearly ended the fight, Henderson was awarded the belt by a highly controversial decision. This time around, Cerrone has vowed to use his much improved wrestling skills to keep the fight standing and punish Henderson early. In the first fight, Henderson was able to take Cerrone to the mat on multiple occasions and dictate the tempo of the fight. As Henderson faded down the final stretch, Cerrone began to take control with sharp combinations and hurt Henderson with punches. Many believe that Henderson won rounds 2 & 3 while Cerrone dominated 4 &5. Round 1 was up in the air as Henderson amazingly escaped various submission attempts that put him in extreme danger. For the rematch, I am predicting another intense back and forth slug fest. However, I believe that the result will remain the same. The champion has improved his striking to the point where he will feel more comfortable on the feet. Henderson can use his stand-up to set up takedowns early and attempt to wear Cerrone down. Cerrone claims to have focused on his wrestling for this fight, so Henderson will probably have to work harder to get "Cowboy" to the mat. I predict another five round battle with "Smooth" Henderson retaining the title. But who knows...anything can happen in MMA!
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