Fight Week Previews: WEC 43 Undercard

With just four fights scheduled to appear on the main card of WEC 43, today serves as a chance to give some much needed recognition to the combatants on the preliminary portion of the event.

As per usual, the WEC has put together a loaded lineup and the six match-ups that make up this preview are on par with the four fights higher up on the card.

Featuring former champions Wagnney Fabiano (pictured) and Eddie Wineland, as well as legitimate contenders like Javier Vazquz, Scott Jorgensen and Anthony Njokuani, WEC 43 will surely deliver the fast-paced, entertaining action we've come to expect from World Extreme Cagefighting shows.

Time for the fast and dirty Fight Week Previews.

Javier Vazquez (13-3-0) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0)

Vazquez lost a razor-thin Split Decision to L.C. Davis back in August after their fight was resurrected from the wreckage that was Affliction: Trilogy. While Taurosevicius is tough-as-nails, he hasn't been in the ring since his final fight in the IFL, a loss to Ryan Schultz in May 2008.

Charlie Valencia (10-5-0) vs. Coty Wheeler (10-1-0)

Side-by-side, Wheeler's record looks more impressive, but looks can be deceiving. While Wheeler has piled up wins on smaller stages, Valencia's last six appearances have come in the WEC and those five losses come at the hands of Urijah Faber, Brian Bowles, Dominick Cruz, Antonio Banuelos and Yoshiro Maeda.

Eddie Wineland (14-6-1) vs. Manny Tapia (10-2-1)

Wineland was the first Bantamweight champ in the WEC, but lost the belt in his first defense and hasn't received a win bonus from the company since. Tapia took an undefeated record into a title shot against Miguel Torres at WEC 37. Now he's hoping to break a two fight losing streak. Winner stays, loser leaves town.

Wagnney Fabiano (12-1-0) vs. Mackens Semerzier (6-0-0)

Let's put it this way: Fabiano was skipped over for a title shot against Mike Brown because Jose Aldo was doing crazy-dynamic things in the cage and getting noticed more than the former IFL champ. Regardless, the Brazilian should still be undefeated and "Mack Da Menace" won't be for too much longer.

Scott Jorgensen (6-3-0) vs. Noah Thomas (13-5-0)

"Young Guns" will look to break the Keyboard Kimura curse with a win over the former TUF 5 competitor. Jinxes aside, Jorgensen dominated Frank Gomez, stopping him in 70 seconds, while Gomez laid a beating on Thomas for a round and a half before sinking in an arm triangle.

Anthony Njokuani (11-2-0) vs. Muhsin Corbbrey (13-3-1)

Motivation won't be a problem for Njokuani, who returns home to fight in his home state of Texas and gets to watch the only two men to ever defeat him battle for the belt in the main event. Not that motivation will be a problem for Corbrrey either; if you can get up for a three round war with Nick Diaz, you're good to go.