WEC 47 Preview and Predictions

The best bantamweights in mixed martial arts are stepping into the cage in Columbus on Saturday night at WEC 47, with champion Brian Bowles defending his title for the first time against Dominick Cruz, and former champ Miguel Torres trying to earn another shot at the belt against Joseph Benavidez. We've got the full preview and predictions right here.

What: WEC 47 Bowles vs. Cruz

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

When: Saturday, undercard starts at 7 PM ET; Versus televised card starts at 10 PM ET

Predictions on the five televised fights:
Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz
Bowles, the bantamweight champion of the world, has still only had eight professional fights, but they're about the eight most impressive fights any fighter has had to start his career, with stoppages in all eight of them. Cruz has an elusive stand-up style that might make it tough for Bowles to catch him, but I think in a five-round fight, Bowles will stop Cruz eventually.
Pick: Bowles

Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez
Torres desperately wants another shot at Bowles, who took the belt from him in August. I think he'll earn it by beating Benavidez. We saw when Benavidez took on Cruz that he struggles with bigger opponents, and we'll see that again on Saturday night when Torres uses his significant reach advantage to give Benavidez fits on his feet.
Pick: Torres

Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez
There's no MMA fighter I respect more as a person than Pulver, the former UFC lightweight champion who uses his spare time to talk to young people about growing up in an abusive home and how he has succeeded in his struggle with depression. I'd love to think Pulver still has a lot of great fights left in him, but the truth is, Pulver has lost his last four fights and really hasn't even been competitive in any of them. I think Vazquez's Brazilian jiiu jitsu skills are going to be too much for him.
Pick: Vazquez

Deividas Taurosevičius vs. LC Davis
Taurosevičius has won both of his fights since signing with the WEC and is coming off a very impressive win over Mackens Semerzier. I think he's going to make it three in a row.
Pick: Taurosevičius

Bart Palaszewski vs. Karen Darabedyan
Darabedyan surprised a lot of people by signing with the WEC last year and promptly beating one of the promotion's best-known fighters, Rob McCullough, by split decision. I like him to win another close decision against Palaszewski, a Chicagoan who likes to stay active and has a 33-13 record.
Pick: Darabedyan