WEC Shines A Light On The 'Lighter' Side
Lighter side
May 30, 2008
Nine pm. Sunday. June the 1st.
That could be the time and date that future MMA scribes point to when asked how the featherweight and bantamweight divisions closed the popularity gap with the sport's more traditional weight classes. Let me tell you now, tradition goes out the door when you're talking about a card headlined by a featherweight super fight between reigning champion Urijah Faber (Pictures) and the legendary Jens Pulver (Pictures).
Throw in a bantamweight title bout pairing Japanese sensation
Yoshiro Maeda
(Pictures) and pound- for- pound
phenom Miguel Torres
(Pictures) and you could be looking at
the WEC's coming out party as North America's purveyor of
low-weight, high-level MMA.
So read up and be sure to tune in to the Versus Network to catch all the action. Just make sure you avoid the hockey analysis, I hear the sight of Don Cherry's wardrobe causes instant blindness.
Hot on the heels of the UFC delivering its first lightweight super fight in years, the WEC follows suit by giving fight fans the first North American featherweight super fight ever. While it certainly took long enough for the division to gain traction stateside, current WEC featherweight kingpin Urijah "The California Kid" Faber is quickly becoming one of the sport's most charismatic figures while challenger Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver is simply looking to rediscover his superstar status.
It wasn't all that long ago that Pulver (22-8-1) ruled the UFC lightweight division and seemed set for a lengthy run at the top having dispatched supposed conqueror B.J. Penn (Pictures) in what would prove to be his final title defense. A nasty contract dispute and several losses later found Pulver's career and personal life in a tailspin. A sudden fall from grace for one of the sport's nice guys but the fall would prove a precursor to the rise as Pulver has revitalized his career as a featherweight in the booming WEC.
Much of the WEC's boom has to do with Faber (20-1) who has served as the one constant since Zuffa stepped in and started running the show. That has certainly turned out for the best as Faber's Ritalin-fueled fisticuffs have endeared him to fans while sending him up the sport's pound-for-pound rankings. His ascent could end against Pulver, a foul fate considering much of the WEC's popularity has been built on Faber's name. Faber is coming off a come-from-behind win over perennial featherweight contender, Jeff Curran (Pictures), but it would be in Faber's best interests this time around to avoid falling behind on the cards in the first place as Pulver is the type who will put an opponent away with dynamite punches before hearing the judge's scorecards.
The outcome of this bout comes down to Pulver's ability to avoid Faber's takedowns and keep this bout standing where his superior technique, range and power would leave Faber severely overmatched. We've all seen solid takedown defense from Pulver in the past but keeping a sparkplug like Faber at bay may be asking too much of a fighter who has been in his fair share of wars. The early going should be heavy with fireworks, but Faber should eventually seize control and pound out a TKO stoppage.
Following the bout, expect Faber and Fabio to stand cageside and exchange opinions on their favorite hair conditioners.
Miguel Torres (Pictures) vs. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures)
With the featherweight division seemingly well on its way stateside, the WEC appears to be turning its attention to the bantamweight division which is currently being run by the man with MMA's best wolf-cut, Miguel Torres (Pictures). Originally scheduled to take on Manny Tapia (Pictures), that bout had to be nixed for a second time after Tapia suffered another training camp injury. The short notice special goes to recent WEC acquisition Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) who is coming off a KO win over Charlie Valencia (Pictures) which went about as smoothly as the Reagan years.
Appearing overmatched against the explosive Valencia, Maeda (23-4-2) managed to pull off the Akihiro Gono (Pictures) special with a crushing body kick that merged most of Valencia's ribs with his spine. A surprising turn for Maeda who became known in Japan for coming out like hell on wheels only to doom himself with one foolish mistake after another.
There will be no room for error against the clinical precision of Torres (33-1). Still an unknown to many MMA fans, Torres has spent several years as North America's best bantamweight, the only problem was that he had nowhere to fight. Once the WEC decided to put their weight behind the division, Torres quickly came on board and turned heads with his oil slick grappling and savvy Muay Thai. A casual submission win over an undefeated Jeff Bedard (Pictures) led to a title shot against fast-rising prospect Chase Beebe (Pictures).
While no one could ignore Beebe's valiant effort, Torres was simply too much for the youngster and put him away in the first round with a guillotine choke so funky it put George Clinton to shame. Now all that's left for Torres is taking over the division and winning over fans who remain somewhat skeptical of MMA's lighter weight classes. The test starts with Maeda, an opponent who will come out from the opening bell and bring the fight to Torres.
Luckily for Torres, he is Maeda's better as a striker and grappler. So regardless of where this bout ends up, Maeda will be hard pressed trying to mount any offense without putting himself in immediate danger. Don't bet on Maeda landing any more miracle body kicks as Torres gets the job done with a triangle choke midway through the first round. All hail the wolf-cut.
That could be the time and date that future MMA scribes point to when asked how the featherweight and bantamweight divisions closed the popularity gap with the sport's more traditional weight classes. Let me tell you now, tradition goes out the door when you're talking about a card headlined by a featherweight super fight between reigning champion Urijah Faber (Pictures) and the legendary Jens Pulver (Pictures).
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So read up and be sure to tune in to the Versus Network to catch all the action. Just make sure you avoid the hockey analysis, I hear the sight of Don Cherry's wardrobe causes instant blindness.
Urijah
Faber (Pictures) vs. Jens Pulver (Pictures)
Hot on the heels of the UFC delivering its first lightweight super fight in years, the WEC follows suit by giving fight fans the first North American featherweight super fight ever. While it certainly took long enough for the division to gain traction stateside, current WEC featherweight kingpin Urijah "The California Kid" Faber is quickly becoming one of the sport's most charismatic figures while challenger Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver is simply looking to rediscover his superstar status.
It wasn't all that long ago that Pulver (22-8-1) ruled the UFC lightweight division and seemed set for a lengthy run at the top having dispatched supposed conqueror B.J. Penn (Pictures) in what would prove to be his final title defense. A nasty contract dispute and several losses later found Pulver's career and personal life in a tailspin. A sudden fall from grace for one of the sport's nice guys but the fall would prove a precursor to the rise as Pulver has revitalized his career as a featherweight in the booming WEC.
Much of the WEC's boom has to do with Faber (20-1) who has served as the one constant since Zuffa stepped in and started running the show. That has certainly turned out for the best as Faber's Ritalin-fueled fisticuffs have endeared him to fans while sending him up the sport's pound-for-pound rankings. His ascent could end against Pulver, a foul fate considering much of the WEC's popularity has been built on Faber's name. Faber is coming off a come-from-behind win over perennial featherweight contender, Jeff Curran (Pictures), but it would be in Faber's best interests this time around to avoid falling behind on the cards in the first place as Pulver is the type who will put an opponent away with dynamite punches before hearing the judge's scorecards.
The outcome of this bout comes down to Pulver's ability to avoid Faber's takedowns and keep this bout standing where his superior technique, range and power would leave Faber severely overmatched. We've all seen solid takedown defense from Pulver in the past but keeping a sparkplug like Faber at bay may be asking too much of a fighter who has been in his fair share of wars. The early going should be heavy with fireworks, but Faber should eventually seize control and pound out a TKO stoppage.
Following the bout, expect Faber and Fabio to stand cageside and exchange opinions on their favorite hair conditioners.
Miguel Torres (Pictures) vs. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures)
With the featherweight division seemingly well on its way stateside, the WEC appears to be turning its attention to the bantamweight division which is currently being run by the man with MMA's best wolf-cut, Miguel Torres (Pictures). Originally scheduled to take on Manny Tapia (Pictures), that bout had to be nixed for a second time after Tapia suffered another training camp injury. The short notice special goes to recent WEC acquisition Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) who is coming off a KO win over Charlie Valencia (Pictures) which went about as smoothly as the Reagan years.
Appearing overmatched against the explosive Valencia, Maeda (23-4-2) managed to pull off the Akihiro Gono (Pictures) special with a crushing body kick that merged most of Valencia's ribs with his spine. A surprising turn for Maeda who became known in Japan for coming out like hell on wheels only to doom himself with one foolish mistake after another.
There will be no room for error against the clinical precision of Torres (33-1). Still an unknown to many MMA fans, Torres has spent several years as North America's best bantamweight, the only problem was that he had nowhere to fight. Once the WEC decided to put their weight behind the division, Torres quickly came on board and turned heads with his oil slick grappling and savvy Muay Thai. A casual submission win over an undefeated Jeff Bedard (Pictures) led to a title shot against fast-rising prospect Chase Beebe (Pictures).
While no one could ignore Beebe's valiant effort, Torres was simply too much for the youngster and put him away in the first round with a guillotine choke so funky it put George Clinton to shame. Now all that's left for Torres is taking over the division and winning over fans who remain somewhat skeptical of MMA's lighter weight classes. The test starts with Maeda, an opponent who will come out from the opening bell and bring the fight to Torres.
Luckily for Torres, he is Maeda's better as a striker and grappler. So regardless of where this bout ends up, Maeda will be hard pressed trying to mount any offense without putting himself in immediate danger. Don't bet on Maeda landing any more miracle body kicks as Torres gets the job done with a triangle choke midway through the first round. All hail the wolf-cut.
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