World Extreme Cagefighting
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World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.
The organization was started in 2001 by Scott Adams and Reed Harris. Between 2001 and 2006, most of their events were held in Lemoore, California and aired on HDNet.
In December 2006, Zuffa, parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, purchased the WEC. [1] With the purchase, the WEC continues as a separate promotion with its own roster of fighters. Scott Adams has been retained after the purchase as the organization's matchmaker. Reed Harris is also expected to stay on with the organization.
Zuffa however has made several changes to the promotion since its purchase. It will discontinue its pentagonal cage for a modified version of the UFC's eight-sided octagonal arena. The championships of fighters that are currently UFC fighters has been vacated. The promotion will also focus on lighter weight classes than the UFC has, abandoning their heavyweight (265 lb) and super heavyweight (over 265 lb) divisions and championships, and retaining their bantamweight (135 lb) and featherweight (145 lb) divisions, two divisions not currently present in the UFC.[2] The WEC will now air their events instead on Versus, formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network.[3]
[edit] Current champions
| Weight Class | Champion |
|---|---|
| Bantamweight |  Chase Beebe |
| Featherweight | Urijah Faber |
| Lightweight | Rob McCullough |
| Welterweight | Carlos Condit |
| Middleweight | vacant |
| Light Heavyweight | Doug Marshall |
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
| Professional mixed martial arts organizations | |
|---|---|
| Major promotions: | Ultimate Fighting Championship | PRIDE Fighting Championships | HERO'S |
| Other promotions: | Pancrase | KOTC | Rumble on the Rock | Icon Sport | Elite XC | EFC | WEC | MFC | ZST | DEEP | Cage Rage | Cage Warriors | FFC | IFL | TKO | Strikeforce | WWCN | Cage Fury | BodogFight |
| Defunct promotions: | IVC | RINGS | WFA |
| Sanctioning bodies: | Shooto | International Sport Combat Federation |
