WEC WRECKAGE

November’s UFC blitz and Strikeforce heavy hitters made it easy to overlook the little guys of the WEC.WEC started in 2001 as an MMA promotion featuring weight classes from bantamweight to super heavyweight. Fights are broadcast free throughout the year by the Versus TV network. Zuffa purchased the WEC in 2006 and now the promotions weight classes are flyweight through lightweight. The action is fast and furious and WEC fighters rarely leave it in the hands of the judges, lots of TKOs and knockouts. If you think that guys weighing 140 or 150lbs cannot bring the pain just spar 2 minutes with an undersized scrapper.

It’s viewed as a lower circuit fight promotion but a few of it’s fighters are web and magazine mainstays like Uriah Faber, Mike Thomas Brown, Jose Aldo, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Alex Karalexis, Jens Pulver, Ben Henderson, and Manny Gamburyan. Many WEC fighters are backed by top level MMA schools and academies such as American Top Team, Arizona Combat Sports, and Jackson’s MMA. The WEC Featherweight division at 145lbs has been one of the most exciting divisions the past two years. The belt has changed hands three times since 2007.

Last Wednesday night at the Palms Casino in Vegas Mike Brown of Florida and American Top Team defended his Featherweight title for the third time against Jose Aldo of Brazil. Brown is a boxer and grappler, brings it straight on and hits like a bulldozer. True to his Florida roots the champ’s walkout music of choice is Lynard Skynard’s “Simple Kind of Man.” Aldo is a deadly precise striker often doubling up on the kicks and punches, and he’s quick. Mike Brown came out swinging with bad intentions but Aldo answered back with his own home run bombs. A roundhouse shin kick to the body hurt Mike Brown in round 1. Brown went for the clinch and take down but Aldo has an excellent sprawl. Back at center cage Aldo stayed outside at range and fired off keg and body kicks. In round 2 Mike Brown came out pressuring Aldo looking to set the challenger up for a combination and then went for the clinch and takedown without success.

Sparring at center cage the two fighters clashed Mike Brown appeared to stumble backward. Rather than wait for the fight to return the feet Aldo sprang forward gained top position, Brown rolled over giving up his back and Aldo went to work with heavy strikes on a seemingly defenseless Mike Brown. Less than two minutes into Round 2, “the new WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo”! I was very surprised to see this fight curtailed at two rounds but that is how the action flows 155lbs and below. Champions in other WEC weight classes have won and lost their titles in a similar fashion. The replay I watched of WEC 44 aired Tuesday night and if you are one to channel surf into the wee hours, chances are you may catch the replay at another time during the week on Versus.


Jdon Howard