Zuffa Finalizes WEC 51 Lineup

Unbeaten Chinese prospect Tie Quan Zhang will make his anticipated World Extreme Cagefighting debut against UFC veteran Jason Reinhardt at WEC 51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” on Sept. 30 at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. The promotion on Thursday finalized an 11-fight lineup for the event, which will air live on the Versus network.

A China Top Team representative, Zhang has finished all 11 of his opponents, three of them in less than a minute. The 25-year-old cut his teeth inside the Art of War and Universal Reality Combat Championship organizations. Zhang, nicknamed “The Mongolian Wolf,” last appeared in June, when he needed just 30 seconds to submit Daniel Digby with a neck crank at Legend Fighting Championship 2.

Reinhardt, a late replacement for the injured Alex Karalexis, has rattled off back-to-back wins since his submission loss to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semi-finalist Joe Lauzon at UFC 78 in November 2007. In 21 professional appearances, the 40-year-old has never gone the distance. Reinhardt has secured 16 of his 20 career victories by submission.

A featherweight title match between defending champion Jose Aldo and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 runner-up Manny 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.

WEC Featherweight Championship
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
Diego Nunes vs. Tyler Toner
Antonio Banuelos vs. Chad George
Tie Quan Zhang vs. Jason Reinhardt
Nick Pace vs. Demetrious Johnson