In An Action Packed Weekend, Leonard Garcia Vs Jameel Massouh Steals the Show

The weekend of UFC 101 and WEC 42 featured amazing knockouts, incredible upsets, and dominating performances to spare. While entertaining, nothing compares to a back and forth war, and that is what the WEC Featherweight match-up of Leonard Garcia and Jameel Massouh delivered.

Leonard Garcia is a familiar face to UFC fans, having briefly fought at Lightweight, but struggling to a 1-2 record against larger fighters, dropped down to featherweight. Garcia is a very well rounded fighter with professional boxing experience, currently holds a brown belt in Brazlian Jiu Jitsu, and is fighting out of the stacked Greg Jackson camp. He is known for his heavy hands and the aggressive approach he brings into the cage.

Jameel Massouh is a relatively unknown fighter with only one WEC and a handful of Pancreas fights under his belt coming into this match. Massouh trains in Kenosha, Wisconsin under Dave Strasser at the Freestyle Academy, a gym with a very strong Jiu Jitsu background. Massouh has solid jiu jitsu skills, is learning the standup game, and also is an ultra aggressive fighter.

The stage was set for an amazing fight.

In Round One, Garcia can out strong giving Massouh a boxing lesson and landing right hands at will. One right hook rocks Massouh, who drops to the ground and Garcia pounces on top of him reigning down punishment. Massouh some how manages to defend himself and gets to a standing clinch, but eats a few knees from Garcia. Massouh, tired of eating knees goes back to the ground and actual sweeps Garcia into the mount, and unleashes a barrage of elbows. Garcia escapes to standing, and chases a clearly shaky Massouh 'til the end of the round.

The second round opens and the fight returns to the clinch. During positioning on the ground Massouh escapes a half hearted Guillotine attempt by Garcia and works an arm under Garcia's chin. Massouh sneakily locks in a D'arce choke (basically a reverse Rear Naked Choke), and Garcia seems to not notice for a period. When he does notice it is too late, the choke is in tight.

Garcia struggles to his feet but begins to blackout. As he drops for reasons known only to him, Massouh releases the choke and take springs to take Garcia's back.

Garcia struggles back to his feet and finishes the round with his mouth wide open, sucking in air, stumbling around the cage as Massouh kept his distance out of respect for the big right hand.

As the final round opens, the two fighters approached each other who had both been to the very edges of concussions in this fight. The fight was completely up for grabs and the old cliche would hold true, the fighter who won would be the one who wanted it more.

In the final round, Garcia simply out worked Massouh, both threw effective strikes but Massouh spent much of the fight giving ground and would clinch but simply hold on for dear life. He did land several kicks and a well time superman-punch, but Garcia chased him around the cage throwing hooks that smashed down his defense.

Garcia was awarded a spilt, razor sharp decision but both fighters looked excellent in this fight, and it was a shame one of them had to loose. It was easily the most exciting fight of a weekend full of one sided fights.

Garcia is refusing to go away in the Featherweight division and with Jose Aldo slotted for a title shot against Mike Thomas Brown. Don't be surprised if Garcia fights Faber to see who gets to fight the winner of Aldo/Brown.

If you are an MMA fan and haven't seen this fight, here is a video, so find 20 minutes in your day and prepare to be very entertained.