WEC Fighters Headed To The UFC?

T-Bone · 04-22-2008, 09:42 AM

WEC fighters could be headed to UFC - MMAjunkie.com

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Fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship's partner organization, World Extreme Cagefighting, could be headed to the UFC as the organization tries to further distinguish the two fight promotions.

According to an interview with Dana White that appeared on Yahoo! Canada, some of the WEC's middleweights and light heavyweights could be folded into the UFC.

"We're going to make the WEC the smaller weights and the UFC will be the heavier weights," White said. "We'll probably take some of the guys in the higher weights, the champions over there and bring them into UFC. We're still trying to figure that out."

The most intriguing options come from the WEC's middleweight division, which includes champion and world top-five middleweight Paulo Filho and top challenger Chael Sonnen. (In fact, Sonnen is listed on the UFC.com roster of fighters.)

The new blood could provide some instant contenders in the UFC's thin middleweight division. Currently, champion Anderson Silva has breezed through the competition, already defeating top contenders Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson.

There are some other options, such as Ricardo Almeida, Martin Kampmann, Thales Leites, Michael Bisping and Patrick Cote, but all are probably a few wins away from a title shot. None arguably have the starpower to carry a main-even fight -- not without a few more wins, anyway.

After his victory over Matt Serra to reclaim the UFC's welterweight title, Georges St. Pierre has been discussed ad nauseam as a potential opponent for Silva. While St. Pierre and Silva are both open to the idea, the UFC is unlikely to book the two fighters and sacrifice one of its champs unless all other options are exhausted -- or unless the mega-fight is used to promote an event in New York City or some other new host site.

Filho, who recently entered rehabilitation for an unspecified drug problem, would seem the logical choice for Silva's opponent, but the former training partners and friends say they're unwilling to fight each other. Still, Filho could be a solid opponent for Franklin or Henderson, world-class fighters and huge fan favorites who failed in recent title shots.

One WEC division that has struggled mightily since the UFC purchased the organization in December 2006 is light heavyweight. Long-reigning former champ Doug Marshall was never really promoted like other title-holders, and he recently lost the belt to Brian Stann, a marketable war veteran -- but a fighter with just six career fights. The WEC has struggled to find contenders.

Don't be surprised if that division is the first to go.

Regardless, White's recent comments should cool recent rumors that the UFC might fold the WEC completely. Although the organization has a deal with the Versus network, the WEC hasn't exactly been a major draw. A March 26 event in Las Vegas drew just 697 paid attendees for a meager gate of $107,150. However, the organization recently left Sin City for the first time post-Zuffa to go to New Mexico, and the WEC will head to Sacramento in June for a fight between WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. It's expected to be Zuffa's biggest WEC event to date.

GeorgeXVX · 04-22-2008, 10:04 AM

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697 paid attendees

haha wtf

T-Bone · 04-22-2008, 10:09 AM

Yeah, 697 - that's crazy. It's a shame too b/c WEC fights are pretty good.

GeorgeXVX · 04-22-2008, 10:10 AM

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Originally Posted by T-Bone

Yeah, 697 - that's crazy. It's a shame too b/c WEC fights are pretty good.

i enjoyed the past 3 wec events more then the past 3 ufc events

StratTone · 04-22-2008, 10:26 AM

This is great news. I would love to see Faber go up a few pounds to fight 155 in UFC though.

FatCat · 04-22-2008, 10:46 AM

Poor Brian Stann, lol. Wins the title and now he'll get lost in the mix amongst one of the deepest divisions in the UFC. Oh well.

GeorgeXVX · 04-22-2008, 10:56 AM

i could careless about brian stan... make him fight wandy!

FightFan76 · 04-22-2008, 11:20 AM

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Originally Posted by StratTone

This is great news. I would love to see Faber go up a few pounds to fight 155 in UFC though.

Yeah I have thought about that as well. I believe the WEC is a quality org. it just does not get advertised very well; I mean seriously the only reason I even turn the channel to versus is if I see a WEC event on or maybe to watch Tap-out every now and then.....

Rumbin · 04-22-2008, 11:45 AM

The WEC is on there way to having the best division in the world. The 145 class is going to be FITLHY, especially now that they have Din Thomas, and should have Waggy anyday when the IFL closes up shop.

T-Bone · 04-22-2008, 11:57 AM

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Originally Posted by Rumbin

The WEC is on there way to having the best division in the world. The 145 class is going to be FITLHY, especially now that they have Din Thomas, and should have Waggy anyday when the IFL closes up shop.

Yeah, he's impressive!