Torres stunned by Benavidez
Mar 6, 2010 | by MattE | No CommentsBy Matt Erickson
cagedin.mma@gmail.com
East Chicago native Miguel Torres set out on a quest to reclaim the World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight title on Saturday night, but his journey took a major detour against Joseph Benavidez.
Halfway through the second round, Benavidez took Torres to the ground, where he dropped an elbow to Torres’ forehead that cut the former champion deeply.
Benavidez wasted no time and sunk in a guillotine choke hold on Torres. Torres tried to roll the position over, but Benavidez had the hold in too deep.
Just seven months after being knocked out for the first time when he lost his belt to Brian Bowles, Torres found himself tapping out for the first time.
The bout was the co-main event of WEC 47 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Torres fought with more patience than perhaps at any other time in his 50-fight career. With a five-inch height advantage, he kept distance and worked kicks and jabs. Torres was knocked down about two minutes into the fight, but worked his way back up before Benavidez was able to drive him to the cage. He then took Torres down with two minutes left in the first round. On the ground, he looked for submissions and used his strength to keep Torres working off his back.
But after working jabs in the second, Benavidez showed his strength when he shot for the takedown that became Torres’ undoing.
Torres had a near six-year winning streak before losing his bantamweight title last August to Bowles. A win Saturday over Benavidez likely would have made Torres the top contender. Instead, he now must continue to work his way back, but with a much deeper climb than before.
In other action on the main card, former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver, who trained for years in the Quad Cities before moving back to his native Idaho, saw his losing streak hit five straight matches. A Javier Vazquez armbar ended Pulver’s night in the first round. Pulver told the crowd afterward he likely would be retiring.
» Posted in: Local MMA,News» Tagged: #top, joseph benavidez, miguel torres, WEC, wec 47
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