[tl25jc]

Originally Posted by Whathehell

They are run as seperate entities under the same ownership.

its just that simple. Its wrong to think of it as a AAA

[Jipper]

It's kinda like what it was thought would happen with PRIDE if they hadn't gotten rid of it. Both owned by Zuffa but ran separately. WEC obviously on a smaller budget. I see Clementi Guillard loser challenging McCullough for the LW crown.

[IamAppreciated]

Originally Posted by Evan

Another thing people have to realize is that the WEC bantamwieght (145 lbs) title is probably just as valid as the UFC lightweight and welterweight titles simply because the UFC is just now building their lightweight division back to a solid status. Urijah Faber would be fighting under the UFC brand if they had room for a 145 lbs division. There is no marketable 145 lbs. title or division elsewhere in North America to my knowledge. If I'm wrong flame away, that's how we learn.

As for being a feeder show, the UFC has constantly used WEC fighters to fill in the ranks. Chris Leben and Mike Swick fought each other in the WEC before they were on the first season of TUF. Obviusly they also used KOTC vets among others, but Pro Elite's grabbing the other North American orgs. The WEC was intended to be the farm but with the smaller orgs under another banner it's having to sustain itself as a legitimate championship promotion. That's why you see Filho under that brand instead.

I guess in a way you can look at the WEC as the IBF is to the WBC in boxing. There aren't really any rule changes, but they are focusing on a different fighter pool in much the same way that different sanctioning bodies would focus on different fighters that were at their disposal.

that was before zuffa bought the WEC. now they want it to be at the same level as the UFC. they have repeatedly said the WEC is not a feeder/minor league. and 145 is featherweight, 135 is bantamweight

[hoosiermaniac]

i should add to my last that if my guess is right than they (ufc) are moving very slowly...and some of the moves they make seem stupid...
like Eddie Wineland, he was the 135lbs champion (very good fighter..by the way) and he lost to Chase Beebe in march and has not fought again....most fighters get one shot it seems. they win in their debut or they let them go...i find that strange. the stable of fighters in the wec is very small. all of the champions should be in the ufc imo.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by HighHeadKick

If that's what they're doing, then I don't like it. Look, the whole point of having a champion is to distinguish the best fighter in each weight class. Why create a dichotomy by having some good fighters in one organization, and the rest of the fighters in another? Isn't this what caused boxing to lose popularity, when there were 20 different world champions in each weight class? I really hope that Zuffa is just using the WEC to give the fighters some more exposure, so people will know who the hell they are when they move up to the UFC.

The exception are the 135lb and 145lb weight classes. Because the UFC doesn't use these weights, these are the best that the western world has to offer at these weights.

I agree, but really the tentpole fighter of the org is Urijah Faber to most American mainstream fans. Most of the fighters they have shown above 145 on WrekCage (yep that's how it's spelled) has been extremely green. With little credibility to lend to a title TUF is the best shot for these guys. Unless Filho does something nuts that gets blasted all over the news in a WEC match TUF is going to be the best way to get press for him down the line. I'd like to see another season of vets and Filho would be perfect for it.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by IamAppreciated

that was before zuffa bought the WEC. now they want it to be at the same level as the UFC. they have repeatedly said the WEC is not a feeder/minor league. and 145 is featherweight, 135 is bantamweight

D'oh. Much appreciated.

[Whitey_Ford101]

I said the same thing last year. You're right on.

[fightfan22]

after seeing the last few wec showings, anyone who thinks the org is aaa is either not a fan of mma or is balls deep in the ufc hype machine. the ufc has more depth in its weight divisions, thats all. there are some great contenders in the wec and some people in the ufc that would fare better in the wec.

[sdaccount]

Its not the the triple A of the UFC although at this time it may seem like that. Zuffa is trying to infuse as much talent in the WEC as they are in the UFC. In a few years, they want to have the 2 orgs competing against each other for belts etc. Right now, its not going to work because the WEC still needs to develop its fighters.

Yes, even to me, it seems like the UFC minor leagues as it does to a lot of other fans. If thats the case, then Zuffa is doing a piss poor job of marketing the WEC.

[fireball182]

its not minor league but if zuffawants to get a big fighter they wont put them in wec they would put them in the bigger name, but they have good fighters, mostly lighter weights, and put on good cards