WEC 42 Preview: Joseph Benavidez vs. Dominick Cruz for Bantamweight Title Contention

WEC 42's main card bouts are lined with some significant battles in the bantamweight division. The first of those fights on the main card will feature rising star and Team Alpha Male (Urijah Faber) fighter Joseph Benavidez (10-0) against wrestler Dominick Cruz (13-1). Benavidez is fresh off an impressive decision win over BJJ black belt and highly-experienced fighter Jeff Curran at WEC 40 while Cruz is coming off three consecutive wins by decision over fighters Charlie Valencia, Ian McCall, and Ivan Lopez.

Benavidez is currently one of the rising bantamweights within the division that could be granted a title shot with a win on Sunday night. He already defeated Jeff Curran in his previous bout at WEC 40, and Curran's opponent at WEC 42 is Takeya Mizugaki who just fought Miguel Torres at WEC 40. With a win, Benavidez could make a run at Torres if he manages to defeat Brian Bowles in the main event.

Benavidez can give Urijah Faber and Team Alpha Male the credit for bringing him to where he is today along with his previous background in wrestling. Benavidez was a New Mexico state wrestling champion in 2000 at 103 lbs., and he managed to wrestle all four years in high school and one year in college. From that background, he progressed into MMA after seeking out Urijah Faber in 2007 on a trip to California. He impressed trainers at a gym in Roseville, CA, and the word got to Faber about Benavidez trying to find him. Faber got a hold of Benavidez after a cancelled flight kept Benavidez in the state for a bit longer, and the rest is history. Benavidez moved from New Mexico to California to train full-time.

Following a couple of stints in PFC, Benavidez was offered a bout against Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto at DREAM 5 in July of 2008. The fight ended up being cancelled due to a last-minute injury sustained by Yamamoto. He took out Junya Kudo instead in the first round as a late replacement on the card. He later signed with the WEC, and he has successfully splashed onto the scene with two victories.

Dominick Cruz has somewhat the same background as Benavidez. He's wrestled since he was very young to a high school level, and that's the main focus of his skill set in MMA. He currently trains out of Team Alliance alongside WEC fighter Ed "9mm" Ratcliff, and he'll be looking to take Benavidez the distance or by outwrestling a wrestler.

There isn't really much to go on with Cruz, but in reviewing some of his past performances -- Benavidez has the clear advantage in this fight. Cruz isn't as dynamic a wrestler as you'd like to see against someone like Benavidez, and I can see Benavidez likely stuffing Cruz for most of the fight. Conditioning-wise, Cruz has a tank that can last for the entire fight, but the pressure that Benavidez can bring may be too much.

Cruz will also have to deal with the fact that Benavidez is a southpaw, but Cruz has formerly fought at 145 and 155 in his career. There could be a size difference come fight time, but I'd suspect that Benavidez will still have some bulk to his powerful physique. Cruz won't have the explosiveness or quickness of Benavidez, and I imagine this one may go the distance with Benavidez taking the decision. Maybe Benavidez can come out with an impressive finish in this one though.