WEC News

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Torres Retains WEC Belt, Bowles Still Unbeaten

Frank Curreri, WEC - If Miguel Torres had a weakness, a part of his game that could be exploited, many presumed it was in his stand-up arsenal. Manny Tapia believed that to be the case - but not any more. Torres tore through Tapia on Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, using a 9-inch reach advantage to batter the No. 1 challenger with jab after jab and then finishing Tapia with a vicious combination in the second-round. In fact, Torres' first punch of the night was a jab that sent Tapia reeling and falling backward into the cage, foreboding the kind of rough night it would be for Tapia. (read more)

Miguel Torres – MMA’s Afro Samurai

Thomas Gerbasi, WEC - Midway through 2008, if you ran down the list of champions in the WEC, the two considered most likely to still be holding their belts when "jingle bells" started playing around town would have been Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres. (read more)

Tapia On Title Fight With Torres: ‘It’s Going To Be A War’

Frank Curreri, WEC - Before his fights, hours before he enters the cage, Manny Tapia tears up. Afterward, regardless of the outcome, he cries again."I'm a very emotional fighter," the 27-year-old Californian explained. "So many people have such high expectations for me and I don't want to let anybody down. I just get teary eyed - it's more of a happy cry. I start thinking about my past. I think about my family and friends. I think about my parents." (read more)

Guns Blazin’, Alex Karalexis Makes His Return

Thomas Gerbasi, WEC - When Alex Karalexis left the UFC after back-to-back losses to Kenny Florian and Jason Von Flue in 2006, he was walking into an uncertain future. He had already packed his bags and moved from Boston to Las Vegas, and now he had to rebuild his career. (read more)

WEC: Torres vs Tapia Weigh-In Results

Below are the official weigh-in results for WEC: Torres vs Tapia, which will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The card will air live on VERSUS beginning at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. (read more)

Mark Munoz – An End and a Beginning

Thomas Gerbasi, WEC - At Hollywood's Wild Card Gym, boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao wasn't the only prizefighter of Filipino descent getting ready for a big fight. Also working on his standup was unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Mark Munoz, preparing for his Wednesday bout against Ricardo Barros, the last 205-pound fight in WEC history.So there's pressure all around. (read more)

WEC® ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER EVENT IN SAN DIEGO

Las Vegas, NV (USA) - World Extreme Cagefighting� today announced that for the first event of 2009, the cage will head west to the hotbed of mixed martial arts - California - to hold the first ever WEC� event in San Diego. Two blockbuster matchups will lead the main card, with the World Lightweight Championship fight between Jamie Varner and undefeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone as the main event, and the mega-rematch pitting Urijah Faber against Jens Pulver in the co-main event. World Extreme Cagefighting, featuring Varner vs. Cerrone and Faber vs. Pulver 2, takes place live from the San Diego Sports Arena on Sunday, January 25, 2009. (read more)

Manny Tapia: Mr. Nice Guy looks to Capture a World Title

Armando Alvarez, WEC - Manny Tapia describes himself as the nicest guy in the world, someone who wouldn't hurt a fly, a peacemaker of sorts. The 10 opponents he's defeated in his mixed martial arts career would beg to differ, at least inside the cage. Now this nice guy from Riverside, CA looks to become a world champion when he takes on WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres Wednesday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. (read more)

Palaszewski Looking to Make Good First Impression in WEC

Frank Curreri, WEC - Bart Palaszewski says he isn't afraid to stand and bang with anyone at 155 pounds, and if you've seen any of his 40-plus pro fights, then you know he's telling the truth. Despite a slug-it-out mentality, the feisty Chicagoan said he has only been knocked down once in his career and has never been knocked out. (read more)

Miguel Torres: Winning is just a part of the Dream

Armando Alvarez, WEC - For some winning isn't everything; it's the only thing. For Miguel Angel Torres winning is only part of the equation; part of his accomplishments and his life's goals. It sounds hard to believe when you're 34-1 and the WEC bantamweight champion, but in Torres' case winning is a catapult that has made him for now the face of mixed martial arts in the Hispanic community; a community he's given back to and that he hopes to be an inspiration for. (read more)

Benavidez Not Your Average Joe

Frank Curreri, WEC - For many months now, Urijah Faber has been raving about one of his training partners, Joseph Benavidez. Faber even guaranteed Benavidez would become a world champion and has publicly stated that Benavidez sometimes gets the better of him in practice sessions. Fans, however, know little about the soft-spoken, 5-foot-4-inch fighter Faber calls the "The Biggest Little Man In The World." (read more)

WEC ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL BOUTS FOR WEC® : TORRES vs. TAPIA

Las Vegas, NV (USA) - World Extreme Cagefighting� today announced three more thrilling fights for WEC�: Torres vs. Tapia, live from The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 3. Leading up to what is sure to be an instant classic between WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres and No. 1 contender Manny Tapia are three high-energy bouts, featuring Brian Bowles vs. Will Ribeiro, Wagnney Fabiano vs. Akitoshi Tamura and Joseph Benavidez vs. Danny Martinez. (read more)

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING® CONFIRMS COMPLETE CARD FOR NOV. 5

Las Vegas, NV (USA) - The fights are on! World Extreme Cagefighting� presents WEC: FABER vs. BROWN, live on the VERSUS network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Wednesday, Nov. 5 from The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.The card that was originally postponed in September due to Hurricane Ike is back, finalized and better than ever. On November 5, "The California Kid" Urijah Faber (21-1) defends his WEC Featherweight championship against Coconut Creek, Florida's Mike Brown (19-4). (read more)

VERSUS to Air WEC's Greatest Knockouts on Wednesday, 10/1, at 8pm

VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of World Extreme Cagefighting� (WEC�), will air WEC's Greatest Knockouts, an hour-long special that features the hardest-hitting knockouts in WEC history on Wednesday, October 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (read more)

WEC Announces Torres vs Tapia and New Lineup of Weight Classes

Las Vegas, NV (USA) - With two spectacular wins that sky-rocketed him into the pound-for-pound stratosphere, WEC� bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres has been one of 2008's great success stories. But the only man standing between him and likely recognition as Fighter of the Year is one of his greatest rivals, Manny Tapia, an unbeaten contender who has been waiting six months for his shot at the 135-pound weight class' greatest prize. The World Extreme Cagefighting� organization is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, December 3rd, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, these two warriors will finally meet in an explosive contest guaranteed to produce fireworks. (read more)

JAKKS Pacific to Launch Toys for World Extreme Cage Fighting® and PRIDE®

Malibu, CA - September 2, 2008 - JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) today announced the signing of two exclusive, four year, worldwide Master Toy license agreements with MMA organizations World Extreme Cage Fighting� (WEC™) and PRIDE�. JAKKS is expected to launch the line of collectible action figures, play sets and accessories based on WEC and PRIDE in Spring 2010. (read more)

WEC® ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL BOUTS

Las Vegas, Nev. (USA) - World Extreme Cagefighting� (WEC�) today announced the full line-up of fights for WEC: FABER vs. BROWN. WEC: FABER vs. BROWN features "The California Kid" Urijah Faber defending his Featherweight title against hometown sensation Mike Brown, plus the rematch between WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho and talented contender Chael Sonnen. In addition, WEC superstar Jens "Lil' Evil" Pulver returns to the cage against Leonard Garcia in what is sure to be one of the most exciting bouts of 2008. WEC: FABER vs. BROWN, a card loaded with WEC champions, contenders, and up and comers, takes place LIVE from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. on Wednesday, September, 10, 2008. (read more)

VERSUS PRESENTS ALL NEW EPISODES OF WEC WREKCAGE®

New York, N.Y. (August 12, 2008)—VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the national television home of World Extreme Cagefighting� (WEC™), presents all new episodes of WEC WrekCAGE™ the next two Wednesday nights (Aug. 13 and Aug. 20) at 9 p.m. ET. WrekCage is a show that features a mix of the top matches from WEC events never before seen on television and VERSUS' best live events. The episodes will be presented in High Definition where available. (read more)

Exclusive Deal Establishes CADENA TRES as the Home of the WEC™ in Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico, July 31, 2008 - When it comes to the fight game, it is no secret that Mexico is home to some of the greatest fighters of all time. It also has the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans in the world. So it is with great excitement that Cadena Tres and the World Extreme Cagefighting � (WEC™) organization are announcing their agreement to broadcast the fastest growing mixed martial arts organization in the world in Mexico. (read more)

WEC™ INVADES FLORIDA FOR THE FIRST TIME

Las Vegas -World Extreme Cagefighting� (WEC™) announced today that two world titles will be on the line on Wednesday, September 10th when the organization makes its initial foray into the great state of Florida. In the main event, WEC Featherweight Champion "The California Kid" Urijah Faber defends his title against Florida's own Mike Brown, and in the co-featured bout, WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo "Eli" Filho returns to action to battle Chael Sonnen in their highly anticipated rematch. This championship doubleheader will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. (read more)