After a lax weekend of mixed martial arts action with only the lone ShoXC card making waves in the American market, World Extreme Cagefighting will hold its 33rd event on Wednesday night back in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featured on the event’s main card will be a Light Heavyweight title bout between current champion Doug “The Rhino” Marshall and Iraqi war hero Brian Stann. The undefeated Stann will be looking to use his size to topple the smaller Marshall. In other action, Brock Larson will make his return to the WEC cage against the veteran John Alessio. Ed Ratcliff will be looking to continue his success by using his dynamic striking abilities against a very tough opponent in Marcus Hicks. It looks to be a fantastic night of exciting bouts that should provide some validation for some of the up-and-coming talent in the WEC.

Main Event: Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann

Brian Stann may finally be the answer that fans have been looking for when it comes to defeating Doug Marshall. With a large frame and a distinct reach and height advantage, Stann could be the immovable object that Marshall simply won’t be able to push away. In most of Stann’s previous bouts, he cruised relatively easy through the first round with crushing TKO wins over Jeremiah Billington, Craig Zellner, and Steve Cantwell. Although he hasn’t faced the stiffest of competition, his overall physical attributes make him a danger to Marshall.

Marshall may have some problems with Stann’s size, but he definitely has the aggressiveness to catch the lengthy war veteran. My biggest knock on Marshall in the past has been his sloppy striking that still seems to win him most of his battles. He’s also seemed to pick up a decent jiu-jitsu base, although it was only proven recently against Ariel Gandulla. I don’t believe Marshall can work that type of game on the ground against Stann, and I have a solid belief that Stann will be the fighter that can neutralize Marshall in the standup game.

Leland’s Predictions: Brian Stann via TKO, Round 1

This is going to be a stand-up war until someone takes one on the chin. My guess is that’s going to be Marshall. Stann has a warrior mentality and throws some nice straight punches down the middle. Marshall is more of a brawler that likes to throw looping overhand punches. He’s a little short to be fighting at light-heavyweight, so I expect Stann to be able to avoid those looping punches and beat Marshall to the punch with his straight punches. Look for Stann to finish Marshall early with strikes.

Joe's Prediction: Brian Stann via TKO, Round 1
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John Alessio vs. Brock Larson

On paper, this is a fight that fans should be looking forward to for a couple of reasons. First, Larson has only lost twice in his career and his second loss was only as recent as in August of last year to Carlos Condit. Secondly, Alessio is not only a great fighter, but he’s also a veteran with a plethora of experience against tougher competition than Larson has taken on. It should be a decent wrestling matchup for both fighters, and I’m intrigued to see how Larson will do against able competition that isn’t on the UFC level, but still has a solid skillset to counter him.

The more I look at this matchup, the more I’m beginning to like John Alessio in this fight. He has more experience, been in the cage against tougher competition, and has added power in his hands that Larson has never really had. He has a solid wrestling base, and can use the talent at Xtreme Couture gym to supplement his training. Larson has a solid record, but many of his wins are against subpar competition. He also has controlling ground and pound, but I think Alessio can neutralize Larson.

Leland’s Prediction: John Alessio via unanimous decision
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Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks

Another tough one to call as I have been following Ed Ratcliff for quite some time and I feel that I’m likely to be biased in my decision. Ratcliff is a very dynamic striker with good power in his hands. He works a karate skillset that is rare in mixed martial arts, but it definitely supplies the hurt in the standup game. He also has some great takedown defense, and I’ve seen a few battles in which he was able on the ground to stop the wrestling game. He was able to stay away from Alex Karalexis’s wresting pedigree during their bout at WEC 31, so can he do the same to a much stronger Marcus Hicks?

Hicks should be able to put Ratcliff to the floor in this one, but Ratcliff’s striking is very good for such a green fighter. Hicks has solid black belt jiu-jitsu skills, so I’m weary as to whether Ratcliff can win this one. I’m going to go against my gut here because I want to see some spinning hook kicks from Ed Ratcliff.

Leland’s Prediction: Ed Ratcliff via TKO/KO, Round 2

Ratcliff has some devastating strikes and uses his karate very well. Hicks has shown tenacity and the ability to take a beating before catching someone in a submission. If Ratcliff can keep the fight standing, he can take out Hicks. I believe he will.

Joe's Prediction: Ed Ratcliff via TKO/KO, Round 3
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Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker

After Filho pulled out due to personal issues, Sonnen was left without an opponent. Luckily, Bryan Baker stepped forward to meet the challenge, but it likely won’t be a pretty result. Sonnen is an Olympic caliber wrestler with great ground and pound abilities and some good power on his feet. As we saw in his battle with Filho, he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with in the standup game, and it’s likely that Baker will want to strike against such an accomplished wrestler in Sonnen.

I’d give a heavy advantage to Chael Sonnen in this fight. He’s all around a very good fighter in both the standup and ground game. His only real weakness is his submission defense as we saw against Paulo Filho. He managed to escape some of the attempts, but still left himself open to more attempts later in the bout. Baker should be a threat in the submission game in this matchup. Look for Sonnen to end this one quickly.

Leland’s Prediction: Chael Sonnen via TKO/KO, Round 1

Sonnen could very well be the middleweight champ right now if he would’ve simply avoided the ground with champ Paulo Filho. Sonnen controlled the stand up and was working Filho over until he took him down and got lazy in the top position. Baker doesn’t have the striking or wrestling to stop Sonnen. Sonnen has good reach and some decent power. Sonnen will overwhelm Baker en route to a second round stoppage via strikes.

Joe's Prediction: Chael Sonnen via TKO/KO, Round 2
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Quick Hits
Chris Manuel vs. Kenji Osawa: Manual is currently 6-0 out of American Top Team and sports a good submission base. Osawa is a Shooto veteran at 13-7 currently, but he possesses a tough chin, and is nearly impossible defeat as of late by anything other than decision. It’s a tough call, but I think Manual can continue his success, especially with his quality training from ATT. Leland: Manual via decision

Osawa has the experience in this match and has shown that he has the skill set to last against much tougher competition. Manuel’s game is submissions, but I think everything he can throw at Osawa, he has seen many times over. Look for Osawa to be patient and work Manuel over on his way to a decision victory. Joe: Osawa via decision

Sergio Gomez vs. Rich Crunkilton: Crunkilton has been on a long layoff since September of last year after being defeated by Rob McCullough. He’ll be looking to get back to his winning ways, and Sergio Gomez should be able competition for him. Gomez has some power in his hands like Crunkilton, but “The Cleat” should be able to put him to the floor for the pummeling or submission. Leland: Crunkilton via submission, Round 2

Gomez has some good striking, and showed that against Marcus Hicks. Crunkilton has a pretty good all around game, and has only lost two fights in his career, “Razor” Rob McCullough and former UFC lightweight title challenger Hermes Franca. Look for “Cleat” to come out with something to prove in this fight. He’ll weather the early storm from Gomez and finish him with a rear naked choke late in the second round. Joe: Crunkilton via submission, Round 2

Alex Serdyukov vs. Ryan Stonitsch: I like Serdyukov in this battle due to his experience against better competition that Stonitsch. Three of four losses by Serdyukov came from John Alessio and Jon Fitch, hardly low-level competition. Stonitsch is undefeated at 8-0, but his competition looks like a rap sheet from Jason Reinhardt’s gym. Leland: Serdyukov via TKO, Round 1

Serdyukov is probably best remembered for his two losses to John Alessio, but he is better than his record suggests. Stonitsch is undefeated, but hasn’t fought the level of competition that Serdyukov has. Serdyukov will take this, but not after taking a lot of punishment.  Joe: Serdyukov via decision

Steve Cantwell vs. Tim McKenzie: McKenzie sports an 11-4 record and combines punishing power on the ground with a submission grappling game as well. Cantwell is sitting at 4-1, but I don’t believe he has the ability to counter McKenzie. McKenzie will prove to be a very tough fight for Cantwell. Leland: McKenzie via TKO, Round 1

Cantwell loves to stand and bang, problem is so does McKenzie. McKenzie has some good striking and holds a win over light-heavyweight champ Doug Marshall. McKenzie will come out swinging with Cantwell and will catch him early. Joe: McKenzie via TKO, Round 1

Blas Avena vs. Hiromitsu Miura: I want to pick Avena by an upset TKO here for the mere fact that Miura has been overwhelmed in the past. Miura has been rolling lately though, so... Leland: Miura via decision

Avena has a lot of hype around him, but I don’t think he’s going to have enough to overcome Miura. Miura showed an excellent all around game against Jason “Mayhem” Miller and has fought much tougher competition. Avena has a lot of potential, but he’s going to be in for a rough night against Miura.  Joe: Miura via TKO/KO, Round 3

Scott Harper vs. Logan Clark: A bit of a tough call since Harper has only been susceptible to actual submissions that Clark usually doesn't deliver. I'll take Clark by sheer power. Leland: Clark via TKO, Round 3

Logan Clark has the striking, Harper has finished most of his fights by submission. Clark should take this by overwhelming Harper early and finishing him off with strikes on the ground. Joe: Clark via TKO/KO, Round 2