Pettis gets a kick out of WEC finale

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ben Henderson insisted he was prepared to handle the pressure of fighting in his hometown in the main event of the final World Extreme Cagefighting card for the No. 1 contender spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

What he couldn't have been ready for was the maneuver Anthony Pettis pulled off that won the him the WEC title.

In fact, Henderson acknowledged the only time he had seen the move was in a video game. "I saw it on 'Mortal Kombat' once," he said.

Late in the fifth round of a fight that was tied on two scorecards at Jobing.com Arena, Pettis clinched what had been a relatively even round by bouncing off the cage and landing a kick to Henderson's head that put the champion down.

Pettis couldn't finish Henderson, but he earned the favor of all three judges and will go down as the final lightweight champion in WEC history.

Dominick Cruz sealed his status as the final WEC bantamweight champion and the first UFC bantamweight champ after retaining the belt with a unanimous decision over Scott Jorgensen in the co-main event of WEC 53.

But Pettis stole all the thunder from what was a scintillating night of fights to close the curtain on the organization by making the last significant strike landed in the WEC the most memorable one.

"How do you like that to end the WEC?" he asked as he watched the highlight of his kick on the arena's big screens.

Though the kick looked as spur-of-the-moment as any move could, Pettis said it is one that he has drilled with his team on many occasions.

"I kept thinking I've got to do something out of the box and see what happens. Luckily for me it landed," he said. "We practice it, but to do it in the last round of a title fight is awesome."

After a slow start, Pettis took control in the second and third rounds. He was superior in the striking game and nearly pulled off several submissions. Henderson, however, stormed back in the fourth round with the crowd behind him.

He had a chance to retain the title until Pettis' acrobatic kick.

"I don't really remember it. I saw (the replay) as I was leaving. It was a great kick," Henderson said. "It will be part of the highlight reel forever, huh?"

The fight was so good and the end so dramatic the crowd got behind Pettis as he was announced as the winner.

"They're fight fans, and we fought our asses off," he said. "When the fans see a good fighter that loves to fight, they appreciate it."

The WEC will merge into the UFC, with the bantamweight and featherweight divisions being added for the first time, making Cruz and featherweight champ Jose Aldo the immediate UFC champions.

The UFC already has a lightweight division, so Pettis next will fight the winner of the Jan. 1 UFC lightweight title bout between Gray Maynard and champion Frankie Edgar.

Cruz solidified his spot by winning every round over Jorgensen on all three scorecards. Cruz is known as a solid striker who constantly is moving, but he also secured several takedowns on Jorgensen, who was an accomplished collegiate wrestler.

"I still don't know what to think. It hasn't set in," Cruz said. "It's surreal. It's something you dream about when you're coming up."

Donald Cerrone submitted Chris Horodecki and Kamal Shalorus earned a split decision over Bart Palaszewski in lightweight bouts.

The undercard provided several highlight-reel finishes, most notably a slam by Eddie Wineland that knocked out Ken Stone.

Yuri Alcantara and Danny Castillo had first-round knockout victories, and Renan Barao and Shane Roller secured first-round submissions.

Brad Pickett and Danny Downes won by decision to round out the card.

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