Danny Castillo v. Shane Roller

Castillo is a member of Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male which means that I’m sure big brother pushed for a job for him in the WEC. He’s 3-1 in the WEC, and hasn’t lost since losing to Donald Cerrone at WEC 34. He’s an excellent wrestler with a balanced all around game. He’s got some pretty decent wins, including his most recent over previously undefeated Ricardo Lamas.

Roller is also 3-1, and his only loss is to current WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson. He’s also a strong wrestler, which means that I don’t that think that either of them will be scoring a bunch of takedowns. Roller has three submission victories, all of them coming by way of guillotine choke, a favorite of amateur wrestlers.

This should be a pretty interesting (or sloppy) striking match because you have two wrestlers who are standing up. Expect one powerful hook to end this one.

Prediction: Castillo via TKO

Rob McCullough v. Karen Darabedyan

Remember when “Razor Rob” was the king of the WEC lightweights? Seems like it was so long ago. He’s 4-2 in the WEC, but has lost two of his last four. He’s a muay thai specialist who loves to stand and bang, as two of his three submission victories have come from strikes, a cut, and dislocating Kit Cope’s ribs. No tapouts here, folks.

Darabedyan is Armenian, and a training parter of Karo Parisyan and Manny Gamburyan. That means that he comes from the same judo background. The difference that he was an excellent boxer before ever getting involved in MMA. With the good ground game, he has a huge advantage over McCullough. If you add that to his ground game, this almost sounds like Razor Rob is being served up as a sacrifice to a debuting fighter.

Prediction: Darabedyan via submission

Manny Gamburyan v. Leonard Garcia (#5 Featherweight)

Gamburyan is a TUF alumni who was deemed far too small for the UFC’s lightweight division. Banished to WEC, where he makes far less money, Manny had a mediocre debut against John Franchi. His biggest advantage in his his frame. He has a real low center of gravity, even for a featherweight. He’s kinda shaped like a bowling ball to steal a a phrase used to describe Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew. His judo is top notch, and he likely wants to take this fight to the ground.

Garcia is famous for his Sports Illustrated cover when he was getting beat by Roger Huerta. Also deemed too small for 155, he was sent to the UFC and he is 3-1. His one loss was his stoppage at the hands of Mike Thomas Brown in a fight for his title. Garcia loves to stand and bang, and wants to stay on the feet and throw hands with Gamburyan.

Prediction: Garcia via Unanimous Decision

Mike Thomas Brown (#1 Featherweight) v. Jose Aldo (#3 Featherweight)

Brown has now defended the WEC featherweight belt twice since winning it by knocking out Urijah Faber. He defeated Leonard Garcia, and defeat a handless Faber in the rematch. Brown is a HUGE 145, and has the power that goes with that size. He’s part of American Top Team which means two things. First, he gets some of the best training in the world. The other is something Joe Rogan says all the time: ATT has perfected weight cutting using things like IV fluids and pedialyte to the point where it would not shock me if Brown walked into the cage at 160 or heavier. He’s an all around solid fighter, but the really remarkable thing about him in his size.

Aldo is a hot prospect with an 8-0 and coming off one of the most impressive knockouts I’ve ever seen. He threw a flying knee eight seconds into his fight with Cub Swanson and put him out for food. His long lanky frame is perfect for muay thai. The Brazilian is just a supernova of explosiveness. He has good striking, and can finish fights quickly. He also is a black belt in BJJ under the same people that gave B.J. Penn his belt. He’s a pretty impressive fighter.

Expect it to stay on the feet.

Prediction: Aldo via TKO