6 Fights Official for WEC 49

Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano will square off with Frank Gomez in a preliminary matchup at WEC 49 “Varner vs. Shalorus” on June 20 at the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Six fights are now official for the event, which will serve as World Extreme Cagefighting’s debut north of the border.

Fabiano last appeared in January, when he outpointed Clint Godfrey by unanimous decision at WEC 46. The 34-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has posted nine wins in his past 10 fights and has secured more than half (seven) of his 13 career victories by submission. Spawned by the Nova Uniao camp, Fabiano owns wins over four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Fredson Paixao, Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Bao Quach, former Shooto titleholder Akitoshi Tamura and Team Quest standout Ian Loveland.

Based out of Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., the once-beaten Gomez has won back-to-back fights since his submission loss to the world-ranked Scott Jorgensen in January 2009. The 24-year-old, who once trained alongside Strikeforce champions Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez, has not competed since November, when he defeated Seth Dikun by unanimous decision at WEC 44. Gomez has delivered six of his eight wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

In another pivotal bantamweight showdown, former WEC champion Eddie Wineland will lock horns with Charlie Valencia.

Anchored at Duneland Vale Tudo, Wineland will carry a two-fight winning streak into the match. The 25-year-old last appeared at WEC 46 three months ago, as he earned a unanimous nod over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 semi-finalist George Roop. Wineland has been finished only once in the past five years.

The 5-foot-3 Valencia, an 11-year veteran of the sport, has rattled off three consecutive victories. The 35-year-old former King of the Cage lightweight champion earned a split decision against Tamura at WEC 46 in January. Three of Valencia’s five career defeats have come to reigning WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, former WEC bantamweight titleholder Brian Bowles and one-time WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber.

A lightweight match pitting former WEC champion Jamie Varner against the unbeaten Kamal Shalorus will headline WEC 49, along with a key featherweight bout pairing surging contenders Josh Grispi and L.C. Davis.