FIGHT! Picks: WEC 49 Varner vs. Shalorus *UPDATED*

Back from their first pay-per-view in April, World Extreme Cagefighting heads north of the border to the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for WEC 49 this Sunday night live on Versus. A former WEC champion, an Olympian, and a few strike-happy Canadians line an unassuming but well-matched card. Here are FIGHT!’s picks for Sunday night’s bouts with odds courtesy of bodog. We are 62-34 with our picks in 2010.

Polarizing lightweight Jamie Varner returns to the blue cage for the first time since conceding his 155-pound strap to Benson Henderson in January. A precision boxer-wrestler, Varner meets Iranian Olympic wrestler Kamal Shalorus. “The Worm” enjoys beating up opponents; however, an overbearing physical competitor like Shalorus has the grappling to dictate where the fight occurs—something the Arizonan has never encountered.

Despite “The Prince of Persia” lacking Varner’s experience, he should be able to avoid submissions and make up for his raw nature with big punches of his own and right time, right place takedowns.

FIGHT! Pick: Shalorus

(Hominick started training as soon as his last fight ended.)

Canadian Mark Hominick faces fellow countrymen and fellow striker Yves Jabouin. “The Machine” is a technical kickboxer with a tricky submission game. Jabouin’s best asset is his aggression, which plays right into Hominick’s tricky submissions and measured stand-up game.

FIGHT! Pick: Hominick

Stifling wrestler LC Davis welcomes Josh Grispi back from a long layoff after an ankle injury. The “Fluke” impacted the WEC with three quality finishes in his first three outings over solid opponents—including a breakout win over fighting legend Jens Pulver—before he was old enough to legally drink booze. In the time Grispi’s been recovering, LC Davis entered the WEC as a stellar veteran, silently and steadily worked to decisions over a tough checklist: Javier Vasquez, Diego Nunez and Deividas Taurosevicius.

Grispi’s range standing and on the mat should give Davis enough problems in between clinches and takedowns to edge out a win.

FIGHT! Pick: Grispi

A striking battle, Will Campuzano’s go-for-broke style challenges Eddie Wineland’s sound boxing and great head movement. Campuzano’s gun slinging is exciting although dangerous against a composed veteran like Wineland.

FIGHT! Pick: Wineland