WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki—The Best Title Fight I've Seen In a While

WEC 40 was one of the best cards I've seen in a while. But the main event featuring 135 lb. Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres versus newcomer Takeya Mizugaki was by far the best fight on the card and already a candidate for fight of the year.

Torres, coming in with a record of 36-1, was on a sixteen fight win streak and defending his title for the third time since winning it from Chase Beebe in early 2008.  Regarded as one, if not the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter, the Bantamweight Champion has a tough-as-nails demeanor, excellent work ethic, and a mindset that I can only compare to Fedor.

Takeya Mizugaki, coming in with a record of 11-2-2, was on a five fight win streak and apparently pulled from overseas in Japan especially to fight Torres. I called a few people I know and none of us had ever heard of this guy. Other than that he took this fight on a months notice and in Torres' home town of Chicago.

So naturally I expect Torres to destroy Mizugaki because that's what I am used to with him but, I decided that if the fight went out of the first round, maybe it could get interesting. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised as the two warriors put on an epic performance.

The mark of a true champion is not how easily he walks through his opponents, but how he performs when the opposition keeps coming no matter what.  Last night, Torres showed us once again why he is the Champion.

The first round was action-packed as the tough Mizugaki traded with Torres standing and kept getting the better of the exchanges inside, and while Torres worked well outside, he couldn't get into a rhythm.  Torres seemed a bit frustrated with Mizugaki's hand skills, as the Japanese fighter kept on his feet and clearly wanted nothing to do with Torres on the ground. Mizugaki won the round by a score of 10-9.

In the second round, both fighters continue to push the pace, trying to gain the advantage. Torres got cracked early on, which only seemed to fire him up as he unleashes furious combinations, getting Mizugaki on the fence and striking with knees and elbows. Mizugaki keeps giving what he gets constantly returning fire. The ref stopped the fight briefly to put Torres mouth-guard back in. Torres finished strong working on the fence, but Mizugaki was still very much in the fight at this point.  Torres won 10-9.

Round three started off with a flurry between the two warriors.  Mizugaki drove Torres back along the cage with fast combinations, but Torres seemed to block most of it. Torres instantly counterattacks lunging forward, there was a flurry and clash of bodies. Midway through the round, Torres was cut and the ref stopped the fight to have the doctor look at a cut above Torres' right eye and eyebrow. After two doctors played around for a moment, they allowed the fight to continue. Mizugaki is a bit cautious and finished the round with Torres pushing forward.  This round went 10-9 to Mizugaki.

In round four, Torres comes out with a vengance, going for the take down, but Mizugaki wants nothing to do with Torres' ground game. Shortly inside the match, Torres stands up, quickly keeping the fight where he is stands the best chance. Torres seems to be finding a rhythm and getting the better of the exchanges. He continues to pumel Mizugaki, hitting him with knees, elbows, shoulders, and foot stomps.  Mizugaki looks tired but still going, as he gets off the fence and almost gets behind Torres before Torres drops down for a leg lock attempt.  This round went 10-9 to Torres.

In round five, both fighters came out strong, but Torres gains control and smothers Mizugaki on the fence. Mixing up his inside striking, Torres looks intense with determination etched into his solemn face as he keeps on Mizugaki. Torres kept battering Mizugaki along the fence with shots to the body. In the final moments, the two fighters continue with the insane pace they set through the entire fight, exchanging furiously until the end.  Round five's score went 10-9 Torres.

I had the score tallied at 48-47 Torres, but the fight was way more competative than I could describe in words. 

Two things really amazed me in the fight.

First, that Mizugaki mostly relied on his hands and never threw a kick (most likely to avoid take downs) and occasionally worked in the clinch with knees. Yet he challenged Torres in a challenge he has never expereinced before.

Second, that no matter what happened, the look in Torres' eyes just became more and more determined to win. He never stopped attacking, and even when his opponent avoided the ground fight, Torres still found his rhythm and won the fight in spectacular fashion.

Torres improved to 37-1 and newcomer Mizugaki fell to 11-3-2. If you missed this one, you should do anything you can to see it, because this is the kind of fight that defines competitive and epic. Also if you consider Torres the WEC's No. 1 fighter, then Mizugaki has to be top five in the Bantamweight division.

If only all title fights were as exciting as this one.