Posted on 05/30/2008 5:21:48 AM PDT by SShultz460
Nine pm. Sunday. June the 1st.
That could be the time and date that future MMA scribes point to when asked how the featherweight and bantamweight divisions closed the popularity gap with the sport's more traditional weight classes. Let me tell you now, tradition goes out the door when you're talking about a card headlined by a featherweight super fight between reigning champion Urijah Faber and the legendary Jens Pulver.
Throw in a bantamweight title bout pairing Japanese sensation Yoshiro Maeda and pound- for- pound phenom Miguel Torresand you could be looking at the WEC's coming out party as North America's purveyor of low-weight, high-level MMA.
So read up and be sure to tune in to the Versus Network to catch all the action. Just make sure you avoid the hockey analysis, I hear the sight of Don Cherry's wardrobe causes instant blindness.
Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver
Hot on the heels of the UFC delivering its first lightweight super fight in years, the WEC follows suit by giving fight fans the first North American featherweight super fight ever. While it certainly took long enough for the division to gain traction stateside, current WEC featherweight kingpin Urijah "The California Kid" Faber is quickly becoming one of the sport's most charismatic figures while challenger Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver is simply looking to rediscover his superstar status.
It wasn't all that long ago that Pulver (22-8-1) ruled the UFC lightweight division and seemed set for a lengthy run at the top having dispatched supposed conqueror B.J. Penn in what would prove to be his final title defense. A nasty contract dispute and several losses later found Pulver's career and personal life in a tailspin. A sudden fall from grace for one of the sport's nice guys but the fall would prove a precursor to the rise as Pulver has revitalized his career as a featherweight in the booming WEC.
Much of the WEC's boom has to do with Faber (20-1) who has served as the one constant since Zuffa stepped in and started running the show. That has certainly turned out for the best as Faber's Ritalin-fueled fisticuffs have endeared him to fans while sending him up the sport's pound-for-pound rankings. His ascent could end against Pulver, a foul fate considering much of the WEC's popularity has been built on Faber's name. Faber is coming off a come-from-behind win over perennial featherweight contender, Jeff Curran, but it would be in Faber's best interests this time around to avoid falling behind on the cards in the first place as Pulver is the type who will put an opponent away with dynamite punches before hearing the judge's scorecards.
The outcome of this bout comes down to Pulver's ability to avoid Faber's takedowns and keep this bout standing where his superior technique, range and power would leave Faber severely overmatched. We've all seen solid takedown defense from Pulver in the past but keeping a sparkplug like Faber at bay may be asking too much of a fighter who has been in his fair share of wars. The early going should be heavy with fireworks, but Faber should eventually seize control and pound out a TKO stoppage.
Following the bout, expect Faber and Fabio to stand cageside and exchange opinions on their favorite hair conditioners.
Miguel Torres vs. Yoshiro Maeda
With the featherweight division seemingly well on its way stateside, the WEC appears to be turning its attention to the bantamweight division which is currently being run by the man with MMA's best wolf-cut, Miguel Torres. Originally scheduled to take on Manny Tapia, that bout had to be nixed for a second time after Tapia suffered another training camp injury. The short notice special goes to recent WEC acquisition Yoshiro Maeda who is coming off a KO win over Charlie Valencia which went about as smoothly as the Reagan years.
Appearing overmatched against the explosive Valencia, Maeda (23-4-2) managed to pull off the Akihiro Gono special with a crushing body kick that merged most of Valencia's ribs with his spine. A surprising turn for Maeda who became known in Japan for coming out like hell on wheels only to doom himself with one foolish mistake after another.
There will be no room for error against the clinical precision of Torres (33-1). Still an unknown to many MMA fans, Torres has spent several years as North America's best bantamweight, the only problem was that he had nowhere to fight. Once the WEC decided to put their weight behind the division, Torres quickly came on board and turned heads with his oil slick grappling and savvy Muay Thai. A casual submission win over an undefeated Jeff Bedard led to a title shot against fast-rising prospect Chase Beebe.
While no one could ignore Beebe's valiant effort, Torres was simply too much for the youngster and put him away in the first round with a guillotine choke so funky it put George Clinton to shame. Now all that's left for Torres is taking over the division and winning over fans who remain somewhat skeptical of MMA's lighter weight classes. The test starts with Maeda, an opponent who will come out from the opening bell and bring the fight to Torres.
Luckily for Torres, he is Maeda's better as a striker and grappler. So regardless of where this bout ends up, Maeda will be hard pressed trying to mount any offense without putting himself in immediate danger. Don't bet on Maeda landing any more miracle body kicks as Torres gets the job done with a triangle choke midway through the first round. All hail the wolf-cut.
Mark Munoz vs. Chuck Grigsby
What we have here is your classic showcase scenario with the heavily-hyped prospect taking on a sturdy if unspectacular veteran on the main card of a televised event. Mark Munoz enters this fight as the former Division-I wrestling champion while Chuck Grigsby seems to be the guy brought in to play sacrificial lamb. In a sport where guys get hit in the face with regularity, sacrificial lambs are an all but dead species and Grigsby is in the midst of an eight-fight winning streak with all those wins coming via stoppage.
Suddenly, Grigsby (13-3) doesn't appear to be the hopeless clod being strung along for the sake of launching another fighter's career. He is a live underdog with all the motivation in the world.
Make no mistake, most everyone assumes Munoz (3-0) is quite possibly the future of the WEC's Lara Flynn Boyle-thin light heavyweight division. Hard to blame them since Munoz was a beast as a collegiate wrestler and now trains with an all-star team of coaches such as Tito Ortiz and Dean Lister. A neophyte wrestler would have a hard time finding better instruction for his high profile introduction to the MMA world and just how hard the butterflies are fluttering for Munoz could have a lot to do with how this supposed future champion pans out.
Considering how driven by competition most wrestlers are, it's more than safe to say that Munoz will come out focused on driving Grigsby through the mat and sending a message to anyone who thinks his lengthy WEC contract came a bit too early in his career.
That message should be delivered loud and clear as Grigsby simply lacks the tools to resist Munoz's juggernaut wrestling style and once this fight does hit the mat, there won't be many opportunities for Grigsby to lock up a convenient submission. This one turns ugly in a hurry as Munoz grinds out a TKO midway through the second round. Debut win in tow, all Munoz needs to do now is call out hall of fame left tackle Anthony Munoz. I smell crossover potential.
Kenneth Alexander vs. Rob McCullough
With the taste of Jamie Varner's fists presumably washed out of his mouth, former WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough begins the hard climb back to the title with his bout against up and comer Kenneth "The Machine" Alexander.
What is known about Alexander (5-2, 1 NC) is that he holds a decision win over McCullough from back when both men were still finding their footing in the sport. It's a real psychological edge for the underdog Alexander, who stumbled into this fight after having his submission loss to Donald Cerrone overturned due to a positive drug test. Not the most common way of erasing a past defeat but if it works, don't fix it.
What is in need of fixing is McCullough's spot in the WEC lightweight division which now seems unsure at best with a laundry list of up-and-comers. While there is a deluge of talent in the division, no one has set themselves apart and McCullough (15-4) may be first in line for a title shot assuming he can put away Alexander in impressive fashion. Otherwise, the title shot may end up going to miniature wrecking ball Marcus Hicks.
McCullough will need to stay true to the style that got him to the top in the first place: disciplined kickboxing with just enough wherewithal to know when it's time to step in the pocket and take care of business. Alexander would much rather get this bout down to the ground in a hurry and grind out an uneventful decision. However, despite losing to Varner, we did learn that McCullough's takedown defense has improved significantly as he stuffed almost every takedown attempt that came his way with ease.
The disparity in striking ability and McCullough's newfound takedown defense does not bode well for Alexander, who ends up laid out midway through the first round courtesy of a McCullough straight right doom hammer. Perhaps Alexander's mouthpiece will join Olaf Alonsos's in orbit. I have yet to receive confirmation from NASA that Olaf's mouthpiece has been defeated by gravity.
CBS on Saturday (Undercard will be shown live on Proelite)
and
WEC on Sunday
UFC/MMA Ping
Enjoy the weekend of fights!
I have:
Faber, Torres, Grigsby, and Razor Rob
Go Jens!
Add me to you’re MMA ping list please
Done deal bro
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