The world’s top two featherweights on Saturday stood nose-to-nose one final time before it matters.
World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion
Mike Thomas Brown tipped the scales at a fit 143.5 pounds for his rematch with former titleholder
Urijah Faber (143.5) at WEC 41 “Brown vs. Faber 2” this Sunday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
Seventeen of the other 18 men on the card also made weight without incident at the official weigh-in.
Frank Gomez checked in at 137.5 pounds for his bantamweight match with
Noah Thomas and was afforded two hours to drop the additional 1.5 pounds.
All eyes are on the Brown-Faber sequel.
“This, I think, is the biggest fight in WEC history and maybe the biggest fight ever for the featherweight division,” Brown said. “Me and Urijah are the top two guys in the weight class, and we’re going to put it all out there again. I know we’re going to have a nice battle.”
Based out of American Top Team, Brown (21-4) has not lost in more than three years. He extended his current winning streak to nine fights when he submitted
Leonard Garcia with an arm-triangle choke at WEC 39 in March.
“I showed a lot of people what I’m capable of in the Leonard fight,” Brown said. “Leonard is a great fighter. I consider him one of the best in the world. I think it really established me. You’re only as good as your last fight, and the next one’s the most important.”
Brown stopped Faber on first-round strikes in November, completing a rapid rise to the top of the featherweight charts. The well-traveled 33-year-old also holds wins against
Yves Edwards,
Jeff Curran and
Mark Hominick. He has never been knocked out in 25 career appearances.
Faber (22-2), meanwhile, rebounded nicely from his defeat to Brown, as he submitted former UFC lightweight champion
Jens Pulver with an opening-round guillotine choke at WEC 38 in January. The loss to Brown snapped a string of 13 consecutive victories that began with a submission against
Shawn Bias in October 2005. Faber -- a Sacramento native who turned 30 in May -- has secured 18 of his 22 wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission and has finished 11 of his foes inside one round.
“Whether I’m holding the belt or going for the belt, I’m always looking to put on a great show and fight with heart and tenacity,” Faber said. “I’ve got a great opponent, and I’m excited about that. I know it’s going to be a fight everyone enjoys. I’ll be fighting my heart out.”
In the co-main event, fast-rising featherweight
Jose Aldo will match skills with
Cub Swanson.
Rooted at the Nova Uniao camp, Aldo (14-1) burst on the scene with his second-round technical knockout against
Alexandre Franca Nogueira in June 2008. The 22-year-old Brazilian has won seven consecutive bouts and last appeared at WEC 39 in March, when he stopped
Chris Mickle on strikes just 1:39 into their match. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former world champion who has become feared for his potent stand-up game, Aldo could find himself in line for a featherweight title shot with another convincing victory.
The 25-year-old Swanson (13-2) has bounced back from his 35-second submission loss to former UFC lightweight champion
Jens Pulver in 2007. A winner in two straight, he has not competed since December, when he earned a unanimous decision against
Hiroyuki Takaya at WEC 37. The well-rounded Californian has delivered 10 of his 13 wins by knockout, TKO or submission and holds victories against
Charlie Valencia, UFC veteran
Shannon Gugerty and American Top Team’s
Micah Miller.
Mike Thomas Brown (143.5) vs.
Urijah Faber (143.5)
Jose Aldo (144.5) vs.
Cub Swanson (144)
Donald Cerrone (155) vs.
James Krause (155)
Jens Pulver (144) vs.
Josh Grispi (145.5)
Manny Gamburyan (144) vs.
John Franchi (145.5)
Rafael Rebello (134.5) vs.
Kyle Dietz (134)
Mike Campbell (155) vs.
Anthony Pettis (156)
Scott Jorgensen (134) vs.
Antonio Banuelos (135.5)
Noah Thomas (134.5) vs.
Frank Gomez (137.5)
Rolando Perez (135.5) vs.
Seth Dikun (136)
› SPORTS › SHERDOG
Printer Friendly
