WEC 53: Shalorus earns split decision

Why Kamal Shalorus waited so long in the second round to shoot in and go for the takedown on Bart Palaszewski at WEC 53 Thursday nght is somewhat confounding.

He scored the takedown rather easily in the first round, and again, finally in the second round. The ensuing ground-and-pound is how Shalorus won the split decision at the last WEC event before it merges with the UFC.  The judges scored it 30-27, 28-29, 29-28, for Shalorus.

Late in the third round, Shalorus ate a huge knee from Palaszewski that nearly cost the "Prince of Persia" a victory.

Shalorus got the win, sure, but maybe didn't produce enough of a showing to enter high up on the soon-to-be unified lightweight division. But at 7-0-2, Shalorus will probably get the benefit of the doubt to start.