As with every major show, BloodyElbow.com will be here to bring you live results and commentary for WEC 44: Mike Brown v. Jose Aldo. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Versus broadcast (at 9PM ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
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The Versus broadcast is live. First fight up shortly…
Kamal Shalorus v. Will Kerr – Round 1 -Low kick from Shalorus and then a punch that drops Kerr. Kerr tries for a kneebar and can’t get it but it allows him to get back to standing. Shalorus is pouring it on standing and after rocking Kerr several times and opening a cut Kamal land an overhand right that shuts Kerr down. Kamal Shalorus wins by TKO (punches), round 1.
Danny Castillo vs. Shane Roller – Round 1 – Castillo jabbing from the outside and has Roller going backward. Nice body shot from Castillo. Both guys missing with big punches now. Castillo drops for a takedown and can’t get it. The two men work against the cage and separate after a stalemate. Takedown by Castillo and he can’t hold him down. Left hook hits air for Roller. Scramble on a takedown attempt and Roller almost gets a guillotine but Danny is able to stand up. Now they go back to the ground after a knee from Shane and Castillo is on top. Elbows by Castillo from the top position. Roller working for submissions from the bottom but is still eating elbows. The round ends and Castillo cemented it with the top work at the end 10-9. Round 2– Castillo charges forward landing shots and now gets the takedown. As they get back to the feet again Roller is trying to land the knee as Castillo shoots. Another knee lands for Roller. Now against the fence Roller is able to get the takedown. From side control Roller steps over to get the guillotine. Castillo gives up his back and eats some shots. Roller landing a lot of shots but Castillo is able to stand up. Roller turtles and eats some big shots. They’re back to standing and Roller is looking tired. 10-9 for Roller to even it up on my card. Round 3 – Big body shot early by Castillo. Roller shoots and Castillo sprawls beautifully and ends up on top. Roller goes to stand up and Castillo just stops himself from throwing an illegal knee. Castillo is on top still landing shots as Roller works to try and find a submission. Castillo passes to mount now. Roller is able to escape and eats another punch. Castillo shoots and Roller turns it into a takedown of his own and has the back. Roller slides the forearm in and gets the tap on a rear naked choke. Great comeback. Shane Roller wins by submission (rear naked choke), round 3.
Rob McCullough vs. Karen Darabedyan – Round 1 – They trade early. Darabedyan with a leg kick and one in return from McCullough. Big hook from Darabedyan. Both guys land a series of punches with Darabedyan getting the better of it. Darabedyan landing hooks while McCullough is working the leg kicks. Nice combo from Rob now. Punch followed by a nice body kick by Rob. Left hand lands for Darabedyan and he has cut McCullough. Karen counters the low kick with a double jab. Again the double jab by Darabedyan. Now a series of shots to Rob’s head. The round ends and it was a 10-9 round for Darabedyan on my card. Round 2 – Darabedyan still landing jabs. Now he catches a kick by Rob and gets the takedown. Darabedyan landing big shots to the head and the body. Good elbows by Karen and in a scramble Rob is able to get back to his feet. Darabedyan lands the jab as McCullough lands the kick. Both fighters are cut at this point. Rob lands a jab of his own. Left hand lands as a counter to the kick for Darabedyan. Left hand for Darabedyan. Pretty even second half of the round but Karen won it 10-9 on my card with the takedown and work on the ground. Round 3 – Solid leg kick from McCullough. Karen tries a takedown off of a punch but Rob sprawls out of it. Both guys working slower this round. Leg kick counter that time by Darabedyan. Not a whole lot of telling shots this round. Left hook from Karen. The right ends and Rob took the third round 10-9 on my card to give Karen the fight 29-28. Official Scorecards: 30-27 Darabedyan, 30-27 McCullough, 29-28 Darabedyan. Karen Darabedyan wins by split decision.
Leonard Garcia vs. Manny Gamburyan – Round 1 – Uppercut by Garcia as Gamburyan shoots in. Gamburyan can’t get the takedown and they’re back to distance. Garcia misses with a one-two combo. The threat of strikes is keeping Manny from getting close. Manny lands two low knees in the clinch and Herb Dean stops them to give Garcia time to recover. Manny closes in after a punch now and goes for the takedown. Manny working hard for the takedown and can’t finish it. They separate after some work against the cage. Head kick by Garcia. Garcia lands a kick as Manny shoots and the round ends. Close but 10-9 Garcia on my card. Round 2– Manny falls after missing a hook. Garcia just misses with a hook. Shot by Manny now and Garcia does a nice job of not being taken down but does eat some punches. Gamburyan slips again after a punch but uses it to get a takedown. Manny throwing some elbows from in the guard. Manny passes to half guard and continues to land punches. Manny looks for the kimura and Garcia uses it to stand up. knees to the leg by Gamburyan and another takedown. The round ends and it was 10-9 Gamburyan to even the fight up on my card. Round 3 – Both guys land punches to start the round. Right hand counter to the kick for Manny. Manny lands a few shots and Garcia tells him to keep coming and lets him land a shot…so Manny does. Takedown by Manny now. He does some work and as Garcia stands he charges him into the cage for another takedown attempt. Garcia just can’t get away now. Takedown by Manny and Leonard stands right back up. Manny is relentless looking for the takedown against the fence. Finally he is able to get it and the round ends. 10-9 Manny again to make it 29-28 Gamburyan on my card. Official Scorecards: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 for Gamburyan. Manny Gamburyan wins by unanimous decision.
Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo– Round 1 – Brown jabbing early. They exchange big shots with Brown getting the best of it with an overhand right. Big leg kick by Aldo. Kick followed by a knee that was blocked for Aldo. Big uppercut misses for Aldo. Head kick blocked by Brown. Leg kick for brown and a body shot. Body kick by aldo. He lands a punch, a kick and a knee and Brown is bothered by the power. Brown grabs on looking for a takedown but Aldo is defending well. Brown keeps driving for the takedown but Aldo is doing a great job of staying up. Brown working knees to the leg up against the cage and Aldo is able to separate finally. Kick to the body by Aldo. Leg kick by Aldo. The round ends. 10-9 Aldo on the BE scorecard. Round 2 – Brown pushing forward early and eats a leg kick and a body shot and now flurries with Brown’s back to the cage. Brown drops down for a takedown and can’t get it. Brown looked to grab a guillotine and fell backward so Aldo pounced. Aldo to mount and now gives up his back. Aldo is pouring it on and the fight is over. Jose Aldo wins by TKO (strikes), round 2. Jose Aldo is the WEC Featherweight Champion.