Faber fantastic in WEC win

Things only got better for the former featherweight champion when he choked Takeya Mizugaki unconscious with 10 seconds left in the first round of his bantamweight debut.

It was the third time Faber celebrated a victory at WEC 52.

Each of his two Team Alpha Male teammates also emerged victorious. Chad Mendes earned a unanimous decision over Javier Vazquez, and Joseph Benavidez submitted Wagnney Fabiano with a guillotine choke.

"I was just excited. I love watching these guys fight," Faber said of his friends sitting next to him at the postfight news conference. "It’s just really cool to be sitting right here next to these guys right now. It was a proud papa moment."

Faber, who looked noticeably leaner in the cage, showed no ill effects of cutting down to 135 pounds for the first time since college.

"My grappling has just been on a different level because I’m just stronger and leaner and faster. It’s kind of a drag to be stuffed all the time. It was just a big hassle. I’m a lot better off at a lighter weight," he said. "I wanted to come out and make a statement, and I think I did."

He came after Mizugaki from the opening bell and finished the fight after he took Mizugaki’s back in a scramble.

Faber jumped on his back while he was standing, and Mizugaki quickly went to the ground. Once the fighters hit the mat, Faber locked in a rear-naked choke, though Mizugaki wouldn’t tap and went out.

Mendes controlled the striking exchanges with Vazquez and never was threatened on the ground against the jiujitsu black belt.

He also pulled off a move that wowed the crowd. With Vazquez lying on his back and Mendes standing over him looking for a way to pass Vazquez’s guard, Mendes did a front flip and landed on his opponent.

While many fans and the Internet world were buzzing about his unorthodox maneuver, Mendes was just as excited about his teammates’ success.

"We were watching Joe in the back, and when he won, me and Urijah jumped up and started going crazy," Mendes said. "Clean sweep. Good night for Team Alpha Male."

Benavidez secured his guillotine after several unsuccessful attempts.

"He kept giving me his neck, so I kept taking it," he said. "The guillotine is one of my favorite moves. We drill them every single day, so it felt like practice to me."

Erik Koch knocked out Francisco Rivera in 1:36, and Demetrious Johnson submitted Damacio Page to round out the main card.

Antony Njokuani picked up an important victory on the undercard, knocking out Edward Faaloloto with six seconds remaining in the second round.

The 30-year-old Las Vegan had lost back-to-back fights and was in danger of not making the cut when the WEC lightweight division is absorbed into the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight class in January.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.