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WEC 48
WEC 48
WEC 48
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WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber
The poster for WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber
PromotionWorld Extreme Cagefighting
DateApril 24, 2010
VenueARCO Arena
CitySacramento, California
Attendance12,555[1]
Total gate$954,635[2]
Buyrate175,000[3]
Event chronology
WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus

UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber, also referred to as WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California.[4] This was WEC's first and only event on pay-per-view before their merger with the Ultimate Fighting Championship later that year.[5]

Background

[edit]

The event was first announced by WEC President Reed Harris on the Dave and Mahoney Show.[5]

Jamie Varner was expected to face Kamal Shalorus at this event,[6] but that bout was called off due to an injury sustained by Shalorus.[7] The match was later rescheduled for WEC 49 on June 20, where both men fought to a split draw.

A bout between Alex Karalexis and Zach Micklewright was due to take place at this event, but Micklewright suffered a broken ankle[8] and was later replaced by Anthony Pettis.[9]

Antonio Banuelos was scheduled to face Damacio Page at the event, but Page was forced off the card with an injury. Banuelos ending up facing Scott Jorgensen, in a rematch of their bout from WEC 41 which Banuelos won via split decision.[10]

Cub Swanson was scheduled to face WEC newcomer Chan Sung Jung at this event,[11] but Swanson was forced from the card with an injury. He was replaced by Leonard Garcia.[12]

Mackens Semerzier was scheduled to face Anthony Morrison at this event,[13] but Semerzier was forced from the card with an injury[14] and was replaced by Chad Mendes.[15]

Veteran UFC commentators Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan handled broadcast duties for the event.[16] Bruce Buffer handled the fighter introductions.[17]

Two of the night's preliminary fights aired on Spike TV, marking the only time that Spike would air live WEC fights before their dissolution.

The advertising & live broadcasts for WEC 48 omitted virtually all references to the WEC brand, with the only exceptions being early versions of the poster, one mention during the broadcast by Joe Rogan, and the WEC logo on the championship belts themselves. During the broadcasts, the announcers referred only to "the organization" while the WEC logo was removed from the cage and the fighters' gloves.[18][19]

Results

[edit]
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Featherweight José Aldo (c) def. Urijah Faber Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-45) 5 5:00 [a]
Lightweight Benson Henderson (c) def. Donald Cerrone Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:57 [b]
Featherweight Manvel Gamburyan def. Mike Brown KO (punches) 1 2:22
Lightweight Shane Roller def. Anthony Njokuani Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 3:21
Bantamweight Scott Jorgensen def. Antonio Banuelos Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (Spike)
Featherweight Leonard Garcia def. Chan Sung Jung Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Anthony Pettis def. Alex Karalexis Submission (triangle choke) 2 1:35
Preliminary card
Bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki def. Rani Yahya Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Chad Mendes def. Anthony Morrison Submission (guillotine choke) 1 2:13 [c]
Bantamweight Brad Pickett def. Demetrious Johnson Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) 3 5:00 [d]
Featherweight Tyler Toner def. Brandon Visher TKO (elbows) 1 2:36 [e]
  1. ^ For the WEC Featherweight Championship.
  2. ^ For the WEC Lightweight Championship.
  3. ^ This bout aired on the Spike broadcast following the Karalexis vs. Pettis fight. This bout also aired on the PPV broadcast following the Visher vs. Toner fight.
  4. ^ This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Brown vs. Gamburyan fight.
  5. ^ This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Henderson vs. Cerrone fight.

Bonus awards

[edit]

Fighters were awarded $65,000 bonuses.[20]

  • Fight of the Night: Leonard Garcia vs.Chan Sung Jung
  • Knockout of the Night: Manvel Gamburyan
  • Submission of the Night: Benson Henderson

Reported payout

[edit]

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the WEC and also do not include the WEC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[21]

  • José Aldo: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Urijah Faber: $28,000
  • Benson Henderson: $26,000 ($13,000 win bonus) def. Donald Cerrone: $14,000
  • Manvel Gamburyan: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus) def. Mike Brown: $21,000
  • Shane Roller: $28,000 ($14,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Njokuani: $7,000
  • Scott Jorgensen: $21,000 ($10,500 win bonus) def. Antonio Banuelos: $7,000
  • Leonard Garcia: $28,000 ($14,000 win bonus) def. Chan Sung Jung: $5,000
  • Anthony Pettis: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Alex Karalexis: $10,000
  • Brad Pickett: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Demetrious Johnson: $3,000
  • Chad Mendes: $8,500 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Morrison: $4,000
  • Takeya Mizugaki: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Rani Yahya: $9,000
  • Tyler Toner: $5,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Visher: $4,000

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WEC 48

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber was a (MMA) event produced by the (WEC) promotion, held on April 24, 2010, at the in . The card headlined a championship bout between defending champion and challenger , with Aldo retaining his title via unanimous decision after five rounds. Billed as the promotion's first and only event, it drew an attendance of 14,144 and generated a live gate of $1,000,000. The co-main event featured a lightweight clash between Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone, where Henderson secured a first-round submission victory via , earning him a future shot at the WEC title. The full 11-bout card included several notable performances, such as Mike Brown's first-round knockout of , 's second-round submission over Alex Karalexis, and 's unanimous decision win against . Other results encompassed quick finishes like 's first-round guillotine of Anthony Morrison and decisions in bouts such as over and the closely contested split decision between and Chan Sung Jung, later awarded Fight of the Night. WEC 48 underscored the promotion's talent depth in the lead-up to its absorption by the (UFC) later that year, featuring four future UFC champions—Aldo, Henderson, Pettis, and Johnson—along with rising stars like and Garcia. The event's pay-per-view buy rate reached approximately 175,000, marking a commercial milestone for WEC despite the promotion's focus on smaller venues and Versus network broadcasts. Held in Faber's hometown, it highlighted regional appeal and set the stage for WEC's legacy in elevating lighter weight classes within MMA.

Background

Announcement and Promotion

The (WEC) organization, under ownership since its acquisition in December 2006, had experienced significant growth through expanded television exposure on Versus and a focus on lighter weight classes, culminating in the planning of its first (PPV) event. WEC general manager Reed Harris officially announced as the promotion's inaugural PPV on February 3, 2010, scheduling it for April 24, 2010, at in , with a suggested retail price of $44.95. Harris emphasized that the timing aligned with the development of a strong card featuring multiple title fights, marking a milestone in WEC's evolution toward broader commercial viability before its eventual integration into the UFC later that year. Promotion centered on the featherweight title main event between champion and former champion , highlighting Faber's return to his Sacramento hometown as a potential redemption story following his consecutive losses to Mike Brown in 2008, which had cost him the title. Aldo's 17-1 record and 16-fight entering the bout, including victories over Brown to claim and defend the belt, was positioned as an insurmountable challenge to Faber's comeback narrative. Marketing efforts, including UFC-led press conferences and trailers, built hype around the matchup as a unification of the division's elite talents, underscoring WEC's role in elevating smaller-weight MMA stars ahead of the promotion's merger with the UFC.

Fight Card Development

The development of the WEC 48 fight card began with the official announcement on February 3, 2010, that the event would mark the promotion's inaugural offering, headlined by a title defense for champion against former titleholder . Scheduled for April 24, 2010, at in , this matchup was positioned as a high-profile clash to boost the event's visibility, with Faber aiming to reclaim the belt he lost earlier in his career. Complementing the main event, the co-main attraction was confirmed as a lightweight title bout between champion and , adding another championship defense to the lineup and emphasizing the promotion's focus on its top divisions. Additional key featherweight contests were quickly assembled, including a matchup between former champion Mike Brown and , announced on the same day as the event reveal to build depth in the title picture. These bouts were intended to showcase established contenders vying for contention, with the full initial card outlined by February 9, 2010, featuring 11 fights across and classes. As preparations progressed, several injuries necessitated substitutions to maintain the card's integrity. A lightweight bout between former champion Jamie Varner and was scrapped in early March 2010 after Shalorus withdrew due to injury, leaving Varner off the event entirely. In the featherweight division, was originally slated to face newcomer Chan Sung Jung but pulled out with an undisclosed injury, prompting to step in as his replacement. Similarly, on the preliminary card, Mackens Semerzier was forced to withdraw from his matchup against Anthony Morrison due to an injury, with rising prospect selected as the substitute opponent. These adjustments highlighted the promotion's efforts to integrate emerging talents like Mendes and ensured the undercard remained competitive, featuring prospects such as in a lightweight bout against Alex Karalexis. By mid-April, the revised lineup was finalized, confirming 11 bouts with five on the main card.

Event Details

Venue and Logistics

WEC 48 was held at in —now known as the —on April 24, 2010, a venue selected in part due to Urijah Faber's deep local roots as a Sacramento native and former wrestler. The choice capitalized on Faber's popularity in the region, where he had previously headlined successful WEC events at the same arena. The event attracted 12,555 paid spectators, generating a live gate of $954,635, both figures marking records for the promotion at the time. Logistically, the main card commenced at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PDT), following preliminary bouts broadcast on Spike TV starting at 9 p.m. ET. The standard WEC octagonal cage was erected in the arena's center, with operations including routine security protocols for a crowd of this size and an energetic atmosphere fueled by the hometown support for Faber. The achieved an estimated 175,000 buys, the highest in WEC history and a strong debut for the promotion's inaugural PPV offering.

Broadcasting

WEC 48 marked the promotion's inaugural and sole event, broadcast primarily through platforms in the United States at a price of $49.99, with the main card commencing at 10:00 p.m. ET on April 24, 2010. Two preliminary bouts aired live on Spike TV starting at 9:00 p.m. ET, drawing approximately 1 million viewers and marking the only instance of live WEC prelims on that network before the promotion's dissolution. The commentary team featured Mike Goldberg handling play-by-play duties, Joe Rogan providing color analysis, and Bruce Buffer serving as the ring announcer, a shift from WEC's usual announcer Joe Martinez. This lineup, drawn from UFC broadcasts, contributed to an integrated production style that incorporated UFC elements such as the "Countdown" preview show. Production emphasized a brand-neutral approach, minimizing WEC-specific branding to accommodate network agreements—WEC typically aired on Versus, while UFC events were on Spike TV—allowing broader promotion without limiting audience appeal. Internationally, the event was available through various distributors aligned with LLC's global reach, though specific regional broadcasters were limited compared to UFC events. The generated an estimated 175,000 buys, providing key viewership context as WEC's final major standalone broadcast before its merger into the UFC later in 2010.

Fight Card and Results

Main Card Results

The main card of WEC 48 opened with a rematch between Scott Jorgensen and Banuelos, where Jorgensen avenged his previous split-decision loss by securing a victory with scores of 29-28 across all three judges. In the first round, Jorgensen used his wrestling to control Banuelos on the ground for much of the frame, though Banuelos landed some strikes in the stand-up exchanges. The second round saw Jorgensen drop Banuelos with a straight right and follow with ground-and-pound, opening a cut on his opponent's face. Jorgensen repeated the formula in the third, stunning Banuelos early with punches before dominating positionally to seal the win, improving his record to 10-3 while Banuelos fell to 18-6-1. Next, lightweight contenders Shane Roller and Anthony Njokuani clashed in a bout that showcased contrasting styles, ending with Roller submitting Njokuani via rear-naked choke at 3:07 of the first round. Roller, a wrestler, shot for a early and transitioned seamlessly to the choke after securing Njokuani's back, forcing the tap despite Njokuani's resistance and striking threat. This quick finish marked Roller's third consecutive win in the division, highlighting his prowess against Njokuani's power. In a pivotal matchup, upset former champion Mike Brown with a via punches at 2:22 of the first round. The fight began with both exchanging in the pocket, but Gamburyan countered a Brown advance with a devastating right hook that dropped him, followed by ground strikes that prompted referee to stop the action as Brown went limp. This victory propelled Gamburyan toward title contention, ending Brown's two-fight skid in emphatic fashion. The co-main event featured WEC lightweight champion defending his title against , submitting the challenger with a at 1:57 of the first round. In their rematch, Henderson feinted strikes before driving for a , then locked in the during a scramble, forcing Cerrone to tap despite his history of submission defenses against Henderson. This retention solidified Henderson's dominance in the division, avenging any prior vulnerabilities shown in their first encounter. The main event saw featherweight champion defend his belt against , winning by with scores of 49-45 (twice) and 50-45 after five rounds. Aldo targeted Faber's lead leg with devastating low kicks from the outset, visibly impairing his mobility by the second round and limiting his trademark wrestling entries. Faber pressed forward valiantly, landing combinations and attempting takedowns, but Aldo's superior striking volume and distance management controlled the pace across all rounds. In the championship rounds, Faber showed resilience but couldn't overcome the accumulated damage, as Aldo's strategy neutralized his aggression and secured the retention in front of Faber's home-state crowd.

Preliminary Card Results

The preliminary card at WEC 48 delivered a series of high-energy bouts that highlighted the depth of talent in the organization's lighter divisions, with several finishes underscoring the event's emphasis on aggressive styles and submission artistry.
FighterResultOpponentMethodRoundTime
Leonard GarciaWinChan Sung JungSplit Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)35:00
Anthony PettisWinAlex KaralexisSubmission (Triangle Choke)21:35
Takeya MizugakiWinRani YahyaUnanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
Chad MendesWinAnthony MorrisonSubmission (Guillotine Choke)12:13
Brad PickettWinDemetrious JohnsonUnanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)35:00
Tyler TonerWinBrandon VisherTKO (Elbows)12:36
The featherweight clash between and Chan Sung Jung stood out as a thrilling striking exchange, marked by relentless pressure and heavy volume from both competitors, culminating in a razor-close victory for Garcia that propelled his reputation as a durable entertainer in the division. In the bout, demonstrated his elite grappling prowess by locking in a against Alex Karalexis, securing the submission and signaling his readiness for bigger opportunities that would soon transition him to the UFC. Takeya Mizugaki's over showcased his wrestling-based control and effective ground strikes, solidifying his status as a consistent contender. Chad Mendes continued his rapid ascent in the featherweight ranks with a swift guillotine choke finish over Anthony Morrison, highlighting his wrestling pedigree and finishing instincts that would mark him as a future title challenger. edged out a promising via unanimous decision in a war, using effective takedowns and ground-and-pound to control the fight and overcome Johnson's speed, though the loss served as an early lesson for Johnson's eventual UFC flyweight dominance. Rounding out the card, Tyler Toner overwhelmed Brandon Visher with a first-round TKO via elbows, capitalizing on a knockdown to affirm his aggressive style. These results not only provided upset potential through close decisions but also spotlighted emerging talents like Pettis and poised for main card elevation.

Post-Event

Bonus Awards

Following the WEC 48 event on April 24, 2010, officials awarded performance-based bonuses to recognize exceptional efforts in the cage, adhering to the promotion's standard criteria for outstanding fights, knockouts, and submissions as determined by a panel including UFC President . These $65,000 awards, the highest amount in WEC history at the time, were announced during the post-fight and highlighted the night's most thrilling and decisive moments. Fight of the Night went to and Chan Sung Jung for their bout, praised for its relentless pace, high-volume striking exchanges, and back-and-forth action that kept fans engaged throughout three rounds. won by , but the pair's willingness to trade blows at close range exemplified the criteria for this award, emphasizing entertainment value over mere victory. Knockout of the Night was awarded to for his first-round stoppage of Mike Brown in the featherweight division, where Gamburyan landed a series of precise punches that dropped his opponent and prompted a referee stoppage at 2:22. This bonus recognized the clean, powerful striking that aligned with WEC's focus on highlight-reel finishes. Submission of the Night honors went to , who secured a victory over just 1:57 into their co-main event rematch, showcasing his prowess and opportunistic defense during an early attempt. The underscored the promotion's appreciation for technical submissions that end fights decisively and efficiently.

Reported Payouts

The reported payouts for WEC 48, as disclosed to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), totaled $336,500 in base pay and win bonuses across all fighters. These figures represent only the guaranteed show money and performance bonuses filed with the CSAC and do not include potential additional earnings from revenue shares, sponsorships, or discretionary locker room awards. In the main event, featherweight champion earned a total of $40,000, comprising $20,000 in show pay and a $20,000 win bonus for his victory over . Faber, who lost the bout, received $28,000 in show pay without a win bonus. The co-main event saw lightweight secure $26,000 overall ($13,000 show pay plus $13,000 win bonus) against , who earned $14,000 in show pay. Other notable payouts included at $36,000 ($18,000 show plus $18,000 win bonus), Mike Brown at $21,000 in show pay, and at $28,000 ($14,000 show plus $14,000 win bonus). Fighters on the preliminary card received lower guarantees, such as ($8,000 total) and ($3,000 show pay).
FighterShow PayWin BonusTotal
$20,000$20,000$40,000
$28,000-$28,000
$13,000$13,000$26,000
$14,000-$14,000
$18,000$18,000$36,000

References

  1. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/wec-48-aldo-vs-faber
  2. https://www.sherdog.com/events/WEC-48-Aldo-vs-Faber-12597
  3. https://www.espn.com/mma/fightcenter/_/id/400252252
  4. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/04/aldo-vs-faber-sets-wec-records-with-14144-fans-and-1-million-live-gate
  5. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/04/wec-48-aldo-vs-faber-play-by-play-and-live-results
  6. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/10/28/182068/the-history-of-the-wec-a-timeline
  7. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/179639-reed-between-the-linesan-interview-with-wec-executive-reed-harris
  8. https://bloodyelbow.com/2010/02/04/wecs-reed-harris-offers-details-on/
  9. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2010/02/03/apnewsbreak-wec-moves-into-pay-per-view-april-24/
  10. https://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20100426/281809985102324
  11. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jose-Aldo-11506
  12. https://www.sportsnet.ca/more/wec-pay-per-view-0/
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdbjklSTaQo
  14. https://sensobjj.com/blogs/graciemag-1/date-set-for-jose-aldo-vs-urijah-faber
  15. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/WEC-48-Fight-Card-22572
  16. https://www.mmamania.com/f/2010/2/3/1291104/mike-brown-on-tap-for-wec-48-on
  17. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/03/04/186901/jamie-varner-kamal-shalorus-off-wec-48-card
  18. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/04/mackens-semerzier-off-wec-48-card-due-to-injury-replacement-search-underway
  19. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/04/wec-48-confirms-full-lineup-for-april-24-pay-per-view-debut
  20. https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2010/04/urijah_faber_should_consider_m.html
  21. https://www.ufc.com/news/brown-outlasts-gutsy-faber-retains-wec-title
  22. https://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/24/1441720/wec-48-aldo-vs-faber-live-results
  23. https://www.mmaforreal.com/2010/4/27/1448197/wec-48-prelims-on-spike-draw-1
  24. https://www.mmamania.com/2010/4/15/1423720/wec-48-ppv-to-feature-announce
  25. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2010/04/14/joe-rogan-says-he-and-mike-goldberg-slated-for-aldo-vs-faber-broadcast/82534915007/
  26. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Flashback-WEC-48-172473
  27. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2010/04/25/white-reveals-that-versus-spike-tv-agreements-reason-for-brandless-fight-card/82534576007/
  28. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/04/15/spike-tv-to-air-wec-prelims
  29. https://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/24/1442716/wec-48-results-scott-jorgensen
  30. https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/04/24/185791/wec-48-scott-jorgensen-beats-antonio-banuelos
  31. http://ufcstats.com/event-details/b18fb36a4aa00093
  32. https://www.ufc.com/news/aldo-and-henderson-dominate-retain-titles
  33. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/WEC-48-Results-Live-PlaybyPlay-24038
  34. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/190b164d02796466
  35. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/04/wec-48-bonuses-gamburyan-henderson-garcia-and-jung-earn-record-65k-awards
  36. https://www.mmamania.com/2010/4/25/1442973/wec-48-bonuses-and-awards-for-aldo
  37. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2010/04/28/wec-48-fighter-salaries-jose-aldo-leads-336500-payroll-with-40000-payday/82534412007/
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