Issue 152
March 2017
Before 2008, few people even knew what a WEC was. But by the time Zuffa took over and started talking with its wallet, World Extreme Cagefighting emerged from obscurity. With a slot on the Versus network, it just needed a defining moment to cement itself as the premier promotion for lighter-weight fighters.
Step forward one charismatic Californian to defend his championship against a UFC legend. Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver had all the ingredients to do big things and it didn’t disappoint.
GET HYPED
This show wasn’t a success by accident. The main-eventers were even put in front of cameras at UFC 84 so fans would know this was a must-watch.
MMA fans took note and TV ratings hit 1,540,000 on Versus, which would never be matched by WEC – or even the UFC when it ran shows on the network from 2010-11.
BREAKOUT
The main attraction that Sunday night was the biggest 145lb fight in history, pitting a poster boy regarded as the best in the world against a former UFC lightweight champion – two charismatic scrappers with a perfect combination of star quality and name recognition.
Add in the fact Faber was defending his belt in his hometown of Sacramento and the stage couldn’t have been set any higher. But all that would have been for naught had the fight sucked. Fortunately, every one of the 12,682 people in the ARCO Arena saw a full 25 minutes of phenomenal action.
Pulver was best known for his punching power, but he also had liabilities on his feet, which his opponent – who was mostly known for his grappling – was more than happy to take advantage of.
Only the challenger’s monstrous chin kept him standing after ‘The California Kid’s onslaught, which was honed by training with ‘L’il Evil’s former rival, BJ Penn.
You’d have never known it was the first time he’d been the full five rounds. This was a real star-making showing.
STEPPING OUT
Back in an era before online prelims, few people outside the arena saw the US debut of one of the sport’s greatest ever athletes. José Aldo embarrassed former 145lb world number one, Alexandre Franca Nogueira, with lightning strikes and frightening ground ‘n’ pound – showing he was a very dangerous young man indeed.
CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL
There were high hopes for former NCAA wrestling champion Mark Munoz at 205lb. He didn’t disappoint.
The ‘Filipino Wrecking Machine’s explosive right hand demolished Chuck Grigsby before the first frame was done. He stayed on course to jump to the UFC and have a long Octagon career.
IMMORTAL MULLET
Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres was once regarded as one of the world’s best fighters. That talk was a little enthusiastic, but there’s no doubt he was always in thrilling fights.
His effort against Yoshiro Maeda this night was the pick of the lot – a contender for 2008’s best, featuring the round of the year.
Sadly, it was cut short when doctors picked up on the damage Maeda’s eye took from Torres’ jab.
ALSO THROWING DOWN AT WEC 34
- Because his 91-second armbar – that gave Team Alpha Male’s Danny Castillo his first loss – was so impressive, Donald Cerrone got on TV for the first time when his fight was aired during the main card.
- Mike Brown booked a title shot against Faber by beating Jeff Curran on the undercard, but few fancied him to claim the belt. Yet he did, with a huge KO at WEC 36.
- Curtain-jerking duties fell to another future champion as fresh-faced Dominick Cruz beat Charlie Valencia in his 135lb debut. He stayed undefeated there until he fought Cody Garbrandt.
