Brian Stann vs. Steve Cantwell
August 4th, 2008
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Posts Tagged ‘WEC’
Micah Miller vs. Josh Grispi
August 4th, 2008
Brock Larson vs. Carlo Prater
August 4th, 2008
Jamie Varner vs. Marcus Hicks
August 4th, 2008
Brian Stann: From the marines to the WEC
July 25th, 2008
For WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann, fighting inside the cage is hardly what he would call a war. After serving two tours in Iraq, the marine can give a firsthand account of what real war looks like. In an interview with The Times Herald Record based in Hudson County, NY, Stann talks about his experiences on the front lines in Iraq.
Ironically, it was through the marines that Stann found his way into the world of mixed martial arts. He participated in the Marines mixed martial arts program which concentrated on jiu-jitsu and kick boxing. Stann agreed to his first fight back in January of 2006 where he scored a knockout. Five months later, he signed with the WEC via satellite phone from Iraq.
Stann’s active tour of duty in the Marines ended in May. Now, Stann not only carries with him the WEC light heavyweight championship, but he also carries a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for valor in combat, which he earned for his actions in May 2005 in Karabilah.
Garcia looks to get back in the cage
July 4th, 2008
WEC Featherweight Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia just scored a victory even though he hasn’t fought since the middle of February. Garcia has been bothered by legal troubles stemming from what he claims to be a bad choice of friends. Garcia alleges that an associate got him into a bit of hot water with some felonious drug charges. But with all that behind him, Garcia is now ready to take on new challenges in the WEC Featherweight division.
Garcia is hopeful of landing a bout at WEC 36 on September 10. Garcia’s name had surfaced as a possible participant for WEC’s August 3 event, but that has not come to fruition. Furthermore, the Bad Boy is not the first fighter to have a run in with the law affect his mma career. Other fighters mimicked Garcia in the past with their urgent need to get back into the cage as soon as their incarceration and/or legal issues were behind them.
However, mixed martial arts may be the most difficult sport to take a break from. A fighter who trains day in and day out is not on the same plane as a fighter who’s training is interrupted by court dates and jail time. So before these “rehabilitated” criminals plea bargain for another chance inside the cage, perhaps they should first return to the rigorous training that originally go them there. Mmamania.com has more on Garcia’s recent liberation from charges.
Revamping the WEC might not be such a bold move
July 3rd, 2008
UFC President Dana White is considering revamping the WEC. Recent reports have hinted that White may move the fighters in the 185 and 205 pound divisions from the WEC over to the UFC. The WEC would then be left with only four weight classes and will concentrate solely on the smaller fighters. Already without a heavyweight division, the WEC is a haven for smaller, quicker fighters. However, eliminating the middleweight and light heavyweight classes from the WEC might wind up imploding.
With so many new organizations sprouting up in the sport of mixed martial arts, it might be wise to keep a decent variety of fighters flowing through the WEC. Heavyweights are always a huge draw as audiences continued to be fascinated with the most gargantuan of opponents. That doesn’t mean that the WEC should go out and sign up a new gang of heavyweights nor does it mean that mma audiences do not appreciate its smaller combatants.
Yet, White should consider the fact that the WEC might have to compete with more organizations in the future. Keeping the WEC stocked with talent from the bantamweight to the light heavyweight divisions might just ensure that leagues like Strikeforce and EliteXC do not bypass the WEC and hone in on White’s baby, the UFC.
Another drawback of moving all those fighters over to the UFC would be an overflow of talent. If every 185 and 205 pounder were to migrate to the UFC, there wouldn’t be enough opportunities for all those fighters. That would lead fighters to begin an exodus to other organizations where they might be guaranteed more action. Losing out on that talent could hurt White in the long run as other organizations could begin to establish themselves.
White has already shown his competitive nature in scheduling UFC events directly opposite those of other organizations. His latest move came when he put together a free Spike TV event that will air opposite Affliction’s first ever pay-per-view event. Perhaps White should revisit that same mindset before he decides to flood the UFC with an excess amount of fighters.
The WEC is clearly the second most esteemed mma organization and White controls that as well. Why not capitalize on both organizations and continue to upgrade the class in the WEC just as he has done in the UFC? With more and more organizations rising up every month, it might be wise for White to fend off this new competition with the WEC before he has to resort to using the UFC to put down his opponents.
.The Ultimate Athlete
June 27th, 2008
The world of mixed martial arts received a slap in the face this past week when The Wall Street Journal released a list of the world’s top ten athletes. From one to ten, athletes from various sports had representatives who combined to compile the list of thee world’s elite performers. The athletes were selected by a panel of judges was assembled to judge the athletes in six separate categories. Those categories consisted of six criteria: speed; vision and reflex; stamina and recovery; coordination and flexibility; power, strength and size; and success and competitiveness. In the end, the one sport that truly combines each one of those characteristics did not have one representative among the world’s top ten athletes. The Wall Street Journal simply ignored all mixed martial artists across the globe.
The list was as follows:
1.) Roman Sebrle, Decathlete
2.) LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
3.) Floyd Mayweather, Boxer
4.) LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
5.) Roger Federer, Tennis
6.) Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
7.) Liu Xiang, 110 meter hurdler
8.) Jeremy Wariner, 400 Meter Sprinter
9.) Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, FC Barcelona
10.) Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
After reading this list, anyone who follows the sport of mixed martial arts has to be left scratching their head. Not one lone representative from the UFC or WEC managed to crack the top ten. Perhaps the judges didn’t take into consideration the training that essentially takes up the entire life of an mma fighter. Initially, an argument for a single mixed martial artist would not have to be pointed out, but rather the community of mixed martial artists as a whole. For even those fighting on less prestigious stages still spend an endless amount of time peparing for a fight. Furthermore, that preparation is arguably the most grueling of any sport.
Boxing vs. MMA
Floyd Mayweather climbed all the way up to number three on the list. At the beginning of this year, there were rumblings about Mayweather venturing into the cage and testing the mma waters. Early rumors leaked about a possible match-up with WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Such a bout would be ludicrous to even ponder and would likely end in less than a minute.
There is no disputing Mayweather’s skill in the ring, but the sport of mixed martial arts is another animal altogether. Faber’s training regimen alone might be too tough for Mayweather to handle. Boxers are extremely well conditioned athletes, but they only have to worry about being attacked by their opponents’ hands. MMA fighters must prepare for attacks from every angle. Simply pondering such a spectacle is only one more insult bestowed on the sport of mixed martial arts.
In addition to the rigorous physical training mma fighters endure, they must be mentally tough as well. For in the sport of track and field, there is no one trying to fade a runner’s world to black with vicious elbows as they race towards the finish line. On the clay at Wimbledon, athletes are not trying to put their opponents to sleep with some kind of chokehold. And it would be futile to even ask Alex Rodriguez about mental toughness. A-Rod has made a reputation of not being able to deliver in the clutch. Yet, he rounds out the list of the world’s top ten athletes.
Not mainstream enough?
Perhaps the sport of mixed martial arts is not yet mainstream enough to validate having one of its athletes make such a list. Yet, decathletes and hurdlers aren’t exactly household names. And the sheer premise of jumping over some hurdles seems a lot less strenuous than being locked in a cage with a mixed martial artist. Moreover, pay-per view crowds do not flock to see javelin tosses.
Even the sport of hockey is tough to find on televisions nowadays. And no matter how rugged football players claim to be, they step on to the field protected by a multitude of padding. Lastly, what can really be said about a soccer player being named to the list? Instead of kicking a ball, maybe they should attempt to take just one muay thai kick to the leg.
Such a list cannot be given too much credence, yet it still insinuates that the sport of mixed martial arts is not worthy enough to be considered among the world’s top sports. In all actuality, mma fighters could probably fill out the entire list from one to ten. But then, what would become of world class athletes like Ronaldo de Assis Moreira? Moreira nudged ahead of A-Rod to snatch the number nine spot, yet more of the mass public could probably identify Randy Couture before Moreira.
As the world of mixed martial arts continues to grow, the mass public will have to dish out more respect for the sport. For what other sports combines strength, agility, stamina, skill and mental toughness to such a degree? A closer look at the sport should demand respect even if the audience isn’t too fascinated with the product. So while lists like this continue to insult the sport of mixed martial arts, fighters like Faber and Couture will continue to train longer and harder than most other athletes in the sporting world.
A Clean Act for the UFC
June 20th, 2008
This year’s Ultimate Fighter finale will take place Saturday night in Las Vegas, although there will be a slight twist to the final bout. One of the fighters who earned the right to step into the octagon on Saturday night had that right pulled out from underneath of him. Finalist Jesse Taylor was issued his walking papers by UFC president Dana White after his recent meltdown in Sin City.
White dismissed Taylor after he was caught on video tape kicking out a window of a limousine and subsequently terrorizing women inside a Las Vegas hotel. Furthermore, he boasted to security that he was a UFC fighter, as if that simple fact would excuse his behavior. The move didn’t sit well with White.
A New Ultimate Fighter
As a result, Amir Sadollah will replace Taylor and Take on CB Dollaway for the right to be crowned the Ultimate Fighter during its seventh season. The move showed a lot of grit as well as the execution of class on White’s behalf. In the eyes of many, mma fighters are simply revered as nothing more than bruisers and thugs. And, in some circles, even mindless barbarians.
Taylor’s behavior only gave credence to those theories. Yet, White’s decision to nix Taylor has attempted to contradict those theories. Regardless of what transpires inside the octagon, White sent a clear cut message to the mass public as well as the rest of the fighters in the UFC. That message was simply that such behavior will not be tolerated.
In the world of professional sports, so many athletes tarnish their name and the name of their sport because of their behavior outside of the sport. In the recent past, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick fell victim to off the field problems and as a result, he now resides in an 8×11 cell.
But Taylor also wasn’t the only one to fall victim to the perils of Sin City. Las Vegas seduced the NFL’s “Pacman” Jones more than a year ago and prohibited him from pursuing an immediate future in football. While these may just be isolated incidents, each one grabs major headlines and sticks out in the forefront of most people’s minds. Despite most of the positives generated by these sports, these incidents batter them with a black eye.
Going, going, gone
Nowadays, the name of a home run king cannot be uttered with out the word steroid following that name. In a lesser publicized move, the EliteXC banned women’s fighter Carina Damm for one year after she tested positive for steroids. The move took place this past April and nullified a scheduled women’s bout on the past EliteXC television event. Without many women grabbing headlines in the sport, it was a bold move for the EliteXC to take such a drastic measure.
The WEC also got into the act and issued a six month medical suspension to Urijah Faber because of an injury to his hand that was sustained during his last bout with Jens Pulver. Now how many organizations would prohibit a player/fighter from participating because of a medical injury?
It was pretty much a known fact that former Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre was on a steady diet of Demerol throughout his NFL career. Nonetheless, no NFL representative ever stepped in and even questioned the status of his health, nonetheless how many pills he was popping at halftime.
Although some may look on the sport of mixed martial arts as one of brutality, it is doing an excellent job of showing it is anything but that. White’s most recent move to ban Taylor is just the latest to show that the UFC wants to be recognized as an organization equipped with a conscious.
A lasting theory?
Now, would White had move such a move if Rampage Jackson had kicked out the window of a limousine? That question doesn’t have to be answered even though White gave the impression that such behavior will not be tolerated. And he evidenced the fact, showing that Taylor is not above the law.
A great deal of athletes in this day and age adhere to a mindset that would repute White’s actions. Lucrative contracts, millions of adoring fans and astronomical endorsement deals lead a lot of athletes to believe as though they can behave however they choose. That way of thinking may suffice in other organizations, but White has made a stand claiming that it will not be part of the UFC.
As the sport of mixed martial arts continues to grow, White is likely to get more opportunities to test his theory. For it is only a matter of time before someone decides to let the fame, fortune and perhaps even the luster of Las Vegas get the better of them. It will be then when the world will get to see if White can duplicate the same sentiment he expressed in his decision to dismiss Taylor.
Affliction, Dream, EliteXC, IFL, Pictures, Recent News, UFC, WEC
Faber-less WEC opens the door for new stars to shine
June 5th, 2008
The WEC will have to find a new poster boy for its ever growing organization over the next six months. Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber, the WEC’s most recognized face, will be on the shelf with an injured hand. The California Kid could receive medical clearance before his six-month medical suspension is up, however it is a certainty that he won’t be stepping back into the cage in the immediate future.
The injury came during Faber’s victorious decision over Jens Pulver in which Faber pummeled him for five straight rounds. Usually more reliant on his wrestling skills, Faber continually used his quick hands to batter the body of Pulver. As a result, Pulver was also issued a six-month medical hiatus because of an orbital injury in his right eye compliments of Faber.
The epic battle between the two also couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Approximately twenty four hours before Faber moved his record to 20-1, Kimbo Slice did his best to sully the name of MMA in front of a national television audience. A day after the EliteXC put on a show more comparable to the WWE, Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (33-1) also helped the MMA cause. Torres also emerged victorious in a five round grudge match against Yoshiro Maeda. That twenty-five minute battle coupled with the Faber-Pulver clash not only helped both MMA and the WEC that night, but it could have a lasting effect.
Now it is up to other fighters to claim the spotlight inside the cage. On the heels of Faber’s latest victory, WEC just announced a trio of matches that will take place during its next Las Vegas extravaganza on August 3rd. During this triple championship affair, new fighters will have the opportunity to ride the wave of momentum that was created last weekend.
The fighter with perhaps the best chance of stepping to the same podium on which Faber now stands is welterweight champion Carlos Condit. Condit (22-4) has made quite a splash since signing with the WEC. He’ll headline the August 3rd event when he defends his welterweight championship against Japan’s Hiromitsu Miura. Miura will have his work cut out for him as Condit hasn’t much trouble mowing down opponents in the WEC. Furthermore, the WEC recently recognized Condit’s prominence and rewarded him with another four fight contract.
Condit may be one of the more underrated welterweights in MMA, nevertheless the WEC doesn’t seem him in such a light. In fact, the way he has been dominating recent opponents is very emblematic of the way Faber manhandled his competition. Although ‘The Natural Born Killer’ may not have the flair of ‘The California Kid’, he could very well find himself as one of the new poster boys fro the WEC.
Light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (6-0) also seems to be headed down a similar path. He’ll also be a part of the triple championship card when he squares off against Steve Cantwell (5-1). Stann has been laying people out ever since his arrival in the WEC, including Cantwell whom he disposed of in 41 seconds in March of 2007.
There’s nothing an audience loves more than a knockout, particularly when it involves bigger fighters. If Stann can continue a repeat his past performances, his popularity should also threaten to rise to the ranks of a Faber. But before he can truly attempt to reach that status, the WEC will have to supply Stann with more formidable opponents.
Rounding out the trio of matches already set for the August 3rd event will be a matchup between lightweight champion Jamie Varner (14-2-1) and Marcus Hicks (6-0). Coming off his toughest match in the WEC, lightweight champion Varner will be facing another rising star. This match figures to be a win-win situation for the WEC as both fighters are up and coming. Hicks holds a nine year age advantage over the 23 year old Varner, although Varner has the edge in experience. Both fighters are undefeated in WEC competition and another notch in the win column will unquestionably boost their status among the WEC elite.
More bouts for the August 3rd fight card, will be introduced in the future, but none figure to have the hype which the Faber-Pulver bout carried into last weekend. However, the hype generated by that Faber-Pulver bout should generate more widespread interest. It is now up to this new set of fighters to keep that interest level high. No one person can truly carry any organization, particularly in the world of sports. But what athletes can do is raise the bar and hope that their peers can also climb to that elevated status.
So while WEC’s next big event will not include its most recognizable face, it could have the makings of another historic event. But that is a something that will have to be decided inside the cage. Regardless of how much hype is pumped into an event, it all comes down to one man against another. The EliteXC learned that painful fact as it stumbled in its attempt to sensationalize the sport. But the WEC bailed MMA out of the proverbial gutter with a sensational effort one day later. On August 3rd, the organization will get another prime opportunity to solidify its status in the world of mixed martial arts. Faber-less as it may be, someone else in the WEC should be ready to create a new wave of momentum in sin city.
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