The WEC is entering some extraordinary times and fans are reaping the benefits.
Last Wednesday night, Jose Aldo defeated three-time defending WEC featherweight champion, Mike Brown by TKO. This marks the third division in the WEC to have had recent major movement that adds intrigue to its title picture.
In August, the doors to the WEC bantamweight division were busted wide open when Brian Bowles upset the seemingly indomitable 37-1 champion, Miguel Torres. With the king finally dethroned, there's now a mad scramble of several fighters vying for that title.
There are so many capable contenders in this division, fans will be treated to some magnificent battles ahead as they jockey for position.
This division holds the likes of Urijah Faber protégé, Joseph Benavidez, Damacio Page, Dominick Cruz, Scott Jorgensen, and Antonio Banuelos. Plus fans shouldn't forget about Miguel Torres himself. He'll certainly have to fight one or more of these fighters to try to get the title back.
There's much to anticipate in the WEC lightweight division as well. Current champion, Jamie Varner has been out since January 2009 due to injury. The WEC instituted an interim lightweight title that Ben "Smooth" Henderson and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone duked it out for in San Antonio last month. From it arose the fight of the year and two bonafide stars in Henderson and Cerrone.
Varner is now healed so he and Henderson will fight to consolidate the titles in January. Although he lost the interim title match to Henderson, Cowboy Cerrone's spirited performance keeps him toward the top and ensures an intriguing three-horse race in this lightweight division.
As first mentioned, there's lots of intrigue in the WEC featherweight division since Brown went down. Faber fans have a new glimmer of hope that he can regain the title that he held for years. He's lost twice to Brown who's proven to be his nemesis so far.
Perhaps Faber will fare better against a new opponent in Aldo if they meet for the title. Faber must first get past Raphael Assuncao when they meet in January.
While the WEC is flourishing with a bevy of can't-miss bouts in the coming months, it's sister organization has run into a string of bad luck with its current and nearing events.
Last night's UFC 106 event was supposed to have a headliner of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin, but Lesnar had to bow out due to severe medical issues. He suffered from an intestinal disorder called Diverticulitis as well as mononucleosis. There is no ETA on the return of the UFC's biggest draw.
UFC 107 set to take place in Memphis in December was to feature native Memphian, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as he took on opposing coach of The Ultimate Fighter 10 reality show, Rashad Evans. Rampage unexpectedly nixed the bout to accept a once in a lifetime offer.
Rampage will be playing B.A. Baracus in the new A-Team movie coming out next year. (For the record as internet leaks have shown, Rampage will be sporting a mohawk, ala Mr. T when he portrayed the character).
Rarely does one see a perfect match-up like the proposed UFC 108 bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez. The elder Nogueira is on a roll to a heavyweight title shot, perhaps the last one in this vaunted career. Equally on a tear is the young up and coming former NCAA All-America wrestler, Velasquez.
Nogueira's masterful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu would be pitted against Velasquez's wrestling and ground and pound. The winner was set to get a shot at the UFC heavyweight title.
Like the prior two main events, Nogueira vs. Velasquez was cancelled due to Nogueira contracting a staph infection.
As a sign of just how recognizable, deep, and talented its stable of fighters is, the UFC pretty much seamlessly added replacement main events. With last night's UFC 106 main event between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin, the UFC
simply promoted a co-main event to main event status.
It doesn't fit as perfectly as Rampage Jackson fighting in his hometown, but at UFC 107 in Memphis, Hawaiian, B.J. Penn will face New Mexico native, Diego Sanchez in the Mid South for the UFC lightweight belt. Lastly, Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva will now be getting top billing when they clash at UFC 108.
David Estrada Jr. is a Mixed Martial Arts columnist for the Port Arthur News. He can be e-mailed at
DavidEstrada@DavidEstrada.com
