Today the WEC announced that reigning lightweight champion Jamie Varner and interim champion Ben “Smooth” Henderson will meet in a title unification bout live Sunday, January 10th at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. Also on the card, making his long awaited return to the cage, will be former featherweight champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber taking on top-ranked contender Raphael Assuncao.
Varner will be returning to the cage for the first time since his volatile collision with Donald Cerrone last January. The reigning champion is healthy and ready to prove the he is still the WEC’s top 155-pounder.
“Smooth”, the two-time NAIA All-American wrestler, is coming in after winning the interim belt in a brutal fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Henderson will need to use his devastating ground and pound if he intends on leaving the arena as the unified champion.
After taking current featherweight champion Mike Brown to the limit in an epic five-round battle, Faber is looking to thrill the hometown fans once more. “The California Kid” is fully healed and is prepared to work his way back to another shot at the title. Standing in his way will be 27-year-old Raphael Assuncao.
Assuncao is 14-1 and is considered to be one of the top featherweights in all of MMA. He is a nominal BJJ practitioner and he believes he has the speed and the power to get past the former champ.
Fights to air live on VERSUS
Tickets go on sale Saturday, November 7th
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