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WEC 50's Pettis vs. Roller co-main-event winner could get lightweight title shotThe lightweights of WEC 50's new co-main event expect big things in the future.
Anthony Pettis and Shane Roller, both of whom got a bump after former featherweight champion Urijah Faber was forced to bow out of the co-headliner slot with an injury, could be in line for a shot at current 155-pound title-holder Benson Henderson.
Although the promotion traditionally makes no such guarantees, representatives for Pettis and Roller expect the fight to determine a new No. 1 contender.
"That's the way it should go," Ted Erhardt, Roller's manager, today told MMAjunkie.com. "It only makes sense."
WEC 50 takes place Aug. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and airs live on Versus.
Pettis (10-1 MMA, 3-1 WEC) and Roller (8-2 MMA, 5-1 WEC) have run parallel to one another in the WEC's heaviest division since their respective debuts at WEC 41 and WEC 35.
Roller, a flagship member of Erhardt's Team Takedown, has been on a roll since he fell short to Henderson in April 2009. The former collegiate wrestling standout inched closer to the top of the lightweight heap when he submitted Anthony Njokuani at WEC 48 in April. Njokuani, a noted striker, saw this three-fight win streak snapped and subsequently used the Internet to snipe at Roller over to his ground-based attack. (Njokuani later issued an apology.)
Roller, 30, got the ball rolling with a unanimous decision over former lightweight contender Marcus Hicks at WEC 42. He then stopped Danny Castillo at WEC 44 and earned a "Submission of the Night" bonus.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Pettis has put back-to-back wins in his pocket after a setback this past December to veteran Bart Palaszewski. A disciple of decorated kickboxer Duke Roufus, Pettis most recently submitted Alex Karalexis at WEC 48, and prior to that, he earned a "Knockout of the Night" bonus when he head-kicked Castillo into unconsciousness at WEC 47.
A WEC official today told MMAjunkie.com that "nothing has been decided" on the title implications of the WEC 50 co-headliner.
However, lightweights Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus headlined June's WEC 49 event and did not emerge unscathed after an unusual split-draw outcome. Varner, who ceded his belt to Henderson in January, damaged his hand and foot during the bout – though his manager said he'll spend no more than a few months on the bench – and Shalorus broke a surgically implanted pin in his hand that will require at least one month's rest away from the gym.
After the event, Varner said he'd like a rematch with Shalorus to gain a definitive start in his comeback.
Jason Beck, Henderson's trainer, said the champion is currently honing his craft and doesn't have a fight lined up. However, expect him to keep a close eye on the Pettis vs. Roller bout.
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/19904/wec-50s ... e-shot.mma
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