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He was not favored to win.

The last minute switch pitted the virtually unknown Mackens Semerzier (5-0 MMA, 0-0 WEC) in his WEC debut against Waggney Fabiano, ranked third in the WEC (12-1 MMA, 2-0 WEC). On paper, things were decidedly slanted towards Fabiano, whose history of short fights, seven of which ended in submission, ranked him as one of the top featherweights in the world. Fabiano, whose only loss was a split decision to Jeff Curran, has dominated the competition and was thought by many to be virtually unstoppable in the featherweight class.

But Semerzier didn't look at the paper.

Saturday night's fight was intense, calculated and quick. At just one minute in, Semerzier looked to be in trouble, when he was taken down by the third degree BJJ black belt. As Fabiano attempted to pass the guard, Semerzier shot his hips up to Fabiano's collarbone, catching Fabiano in a lightening fast, deep triangle choke both expertly applied and cleanly executed. No matter how he tried, Fabiano was unable to escape, and at just over two minutes into the round, Fabiano tapped.

Semerzier trains locally at Linxx Academy of Virginia Beach as well as at Torres Martial Arts Academy in Hammond, Ind. with former WEC bantamweight champion and training partner Miguel Torres.