WEC 45

WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff
The poster for WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff
Information
Promotion	World Extreme Cagefighting
Date	December 19, 2009
Venue	The Pearl at The Palms
City	Paradise, Nevada
Attendance	1,741
Total gate	$102,700
Event chronology
WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson

WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliffwas amixed martial artsevent held byWorld Extreme Cagefightingthat took place on December 19, 2009 atThe Pearl at The PalmsinLas Vegas.It marked the first time the WEC has held back-to-back events at The Pearl at The Palms. The event drew an estimated 330,000 viewers onVersus.

Background

Damacio Pagewas originally slated to faceTakeya Mizugakiat this event, but was pulled from the card and replaced byScott Jorgensen.

Mackens Semerzierwas once linked to a bout withErik Kochat this event, but it was later confirmed that Koch would instead be facingJameel Massouh.

Debuting featherweightsBrandon VisherandTyler Tonerwere scheduled to face each other at this event, but Toner was removed from the event and replaced by fellow WEC newcomerCourtney Buck.The Visher/Toner bout was rescheduled forWEC 48the following April, where Toner won via TKO.

David Smithwas supposed to make his WEC debut against John Hosman at this event, but was later pulled from the card due to injury and replaced by fellow WEC newcomerChad George.

Results

Main card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	Donald Cerrone	def	Ed Ratcliff	Submission (rear-naked choke)	3	3:47
Lightweight	Anthony Njokuani	def	Chris Horodecki	TKO (head kick and punches)	1	3:33
Bantamweight	Joseph Benavidez	def	Rani Yahya	TKO (punches)	1	1:35
Bantamweight	Scott Jorgensen	def	Takeya Mizugaki	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Preliminary card
Lightweight	Bart Palaszewski	def	Anthony Pettis	Decision (split) (30–27, 28-29, 29–28)	3	5:00
Lightweight	Zach Micklewright	def	Muhsin Corbbrey	Decision (split) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Chad George	def	John Hosman	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Brandon Visher	def	Courtney Buck	KO (punches)	1	4:45
Bantamweight	Brad Pickett	def	Kyle Dietz	Submission (Peruvian necktie)	2	4:36
Featherweight	Erik Koch	def	Jameel Massouh	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00

Bonus Awards

Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses.

• Fight of the Night:Donald Cerronevs.Ed Ratcliff
• Knockout of the Night:Anthony Njokuani
• Submission of the Night:Brad Pickett

Fighters were awarded $5,000 bonuses.

• Second Fight of the Night:Takeya Mizugakivs.Scott Jorgensen

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to theNevada 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.

• Donald Cerrone:$24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Ed Ratcliff: $9,000
• Anthony Njokuani:$8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) def. Chris Horodecki: $12,000
• Joseph Benavidez:$25,000 ($12,500 win bonus) def. Rani Yahya: $9,000
• Scott Jorgensen:$14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) def. Takeya Mizugaki: $8,000
• Bart Palaszewski:$10,000 ($5,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Pettis: $3,000
• Zach Micklewright:$4,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Muhsin Corbbrey: $4,000
• Chad George:$5,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. John Hosman: $3,000
• Brandon Visher:$6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Courtney Buck: $3,000
• Brad Pickett:$6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Kyle Dietz: $2,000
• Erik Koch:$4,000 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Jameel Massouh: $3,000

See also

• World Extreme Cagefighting
• List of World Extreme Cagefighting champions
• List of WEC events
• 2009 in WEC

External links

• Official WEC website