David Estrada, Jr
The Port Arthur News
— World Extreme Cagefighting consistently delivers entertaining bimonthly events. One can even argue there has never been a Versus aired WEC event that didn't offer excitement with its lightning quick lighter weight class fighters. With only three weight classes to follow, it offers a cast of characters easy to follow on a regular basis which has proven to be a "man's soap opera."
In the latest episode of the WEC last weekend, WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz, bantamweights were the focal point.
The main event featured Dominick Cruz versus WEC bantamweight champion, Brian Bowles. It was Bowles' first attempt at a title defense after taking the title from longtime champion, Miguel Torres. Bowles lost his title to Cruz in an
action-packed bout that ended up being a bit anticlimactic.
Unbeknownst to the viewing audience and even his opponent, Bowles broke his hand with the first punch he landed early in the first round. He fought valiantly despite the pain, but bowed out after the second round when a doctor stopped the fight due to the injury.
This is where the anticlimactic part came. Since the WEC is aired on cable television, there are one minute commercials between rounds. Viewers came back from commercial with Cruz celebrating.
It would have been nice to have seen the conversation that went on with the doctor in Bowles' corner. The bottom line is important though for this promotion whose business model is advertisement based. Perhaps the WEC should
consider going commercial-free during main events.
The preceding sub-main event featured the bantamweight bout between Urijah Faber protege, Joseph Benavidez and former champ, Miguel Torres.
At one time, Miguel Torres stood atop the bantamweight mountain with the dominance and sustaining power of the likes of Anderson Silva and B.J. Penn. Torres was replaced at the top by Brian Bowles last August and he slid down even further with a second consecutive defeat, this time to Benavidez. It's incredible to see Torres lose two straight after having a 37-1 record.
Perhaps this is a sign of parity in the WEC bantamweight division. There are a lot of fighters poised to be fighting for that belt in that division: Cruz, Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, Damacio Page, Antonio Banuelos, and of course,
Torres and Bowles as they try to work themselves back up.
It's a storyline so compelling, it's literally made for tv.
David Estrada Jr. is a Mixed Martial Arts columnist for the Port Arthur News. He can be e-mailed at
DavidEstrada@DavidEstrada.com
