Javier Vazquez did a lot of talking before his WEC 52 bout with Chad Mendes, but it was Mendes who did his talking in the cage. Mendes took Vazquez down over and over again throughout the fight and increasingly battered Vazquez both standing and on the ground as the fight went on. 

The judges agreed and awarded Mendes a unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three cards.

Mendes opened up throwing high kicks and punches, baiting Vazquez into shooting which he promptly stuffed but he declined to dive into Vazquez guard. The second time they locked up, however, Mendes went for a single leg and soon found himself in Vazquez' rubber guard. Mendes slammed his way out of danger. But once back on the ground, Vazquez again got the rubber guard and fired off elbows to the head. Mendes evaded an omaplata and an arm bar attempt and fired with punches from the top. Mendes forced the fight up against the fence to reduce Vazquez' offensive options as the round buzzed to a close. 

Mendes came out firing in the second, forcing Vazquez to pull guard after eating a knee and some punches. Again the pattern of rubber guard plus elbows from Vazquez was answered by punches from the top and the odd slam from Mendes. Mendes stood up and momentarily was in danger when he attempted to leap over Vazquez' guard only to end up with Vazquez on his back. Mendes' rolled forward and regained top position. They ended the round on the feet with Vazquez chasing Mendes but landing nothing. 

Mendes quickly took Vazquez down to open the third. But he let Vazquez up after about 30 seconds. Mendes landed a sharp punch then followed with a take down. They repeated that pattern again moments later with Mendes scoring even more on the feet. On the ground Mendes began to score more and more with ground and pound, battering a bleeding Vazquez. 

Mendes entered the fight 3-0 in the WEC with wins over Cub Swanson, Erik Koch, and Anthony Morrison. 

Vazquez came in at 2-2 with wins over Jens Pulver and Mackens Semerzier balanced by split decision losses to Deividas Taurosevičius and LC Davis.