8 Fights Signed for WEC 51

Former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown will toe the line against the once-beaten Cole Province at WEC 51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” on Sept. 30 at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. Eight matches are now official for the event, which will air live on the Versus network.

Based at American Top Team, Brown has not competed since he was knocked out by “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 finalist Manny Gamburyan in a little more than two minutes at WEC 48 in April. The 34-year-old Portland, Maine, native has not lost consecutive fights in nearly six years. A potent ground fighter, Brown has scored 13 of his 23 career victories by submission. Wins over former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber (twice), Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout Leonard Garcia, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jeff Curran and ATT teammate Yves Edwards anchor his resume.

Province needed just 54 seconds to submit Nick Masters under the Bricktown Brawl banner two months ago. A four-time national wrestling champion at the University of Central Oklahoma, the 29-year-old has delivered each of his six victories by submission. Province has not set foot inside the WEC cage since he received a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission following a positive test for the anabolic steroid Methasterone at WEC 42. He was flagged in wake of his decision victory against former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Fredson Paixao. The result of that bout was changed to a no contest by the NSAC, which also fined Province $4,000. He claimed the positive test was the result of a tainted supplement, which he used “on a whim” to help him rehydrate.

A featherweight title match between defending champion Jose Aldo and Gamburyan will headline WEC 51, along with an anticipated rematch pairing Donald Cerrone with former WEC lightweight titleholder Jamie Varner. In addition, one-time WEC bantamweight king Miguel Torres will answer the bell against Charlie Valencia, as he tries to put the brakes on a two-fight losing streak.

WEC 51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan”
Thursday, Sept. 30
1stBank Center
Broomfield, Colo.

Jose Aldo vs. Manny Gamburyan
Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone
Miguel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia
Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick
Mike Thomas Brown vs. Cole Province
Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff
Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop
Antonio Banuelos vs. Chad George
* Alex Karalexis vs. Zhang Tie Quan

* Not Official