WEC announces Torres vs. Tapia for title on Dec. 3; MW and LHW divisions gone in 2009

[Grabaka]

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WEC announces Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia for title on Dec. 3; will drop middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in 2009

September 26, 2008 by Sam Caplan
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World Extreme Cagefighting made two major announcements via its website on Friday morning.

First, the promotion has formally announced that Miguel Torres will defend his WEC bantamweight title against Manny Tapia on Wednesday, December 3 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Monday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. ET.

The promotion also announced that the Dec. 3 show will be the final time it promotes fights in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. In 2009, the WEC will only promote fights in the welterweight (170 lbs.), lightweight (155 lbs.), featherweight (145 lbs.) and bantamweight (135 lbs.) weight classes.

Torres won the title at WEC 32 in Albuquerque, N.M. this past February when he submitted Chase Beebe with a guillotine choke at 3:59 of round 1. The jiu-jitsu black belt hails from East Chicago and has a career MMA record of 34-1.

Torres and Tapia had been scheduled to fight at WEC 34 in Sacramento this past June but Tapia was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury. Torres instead defended his title against Yoshiro Maeda and retained the belt after a doctor called a stop to the fight following the third round due to a swollen eye sustained by Maeda.

Tapia is a veteran of 11 career fights and is undefeated with a record of 10-0-1. He is 2-0 while competing for the WEC with wins over Brandon Foxworth and Antonio Banuelos.

The WEC’s decision to discontinue its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions means that fighters such as current WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell and middleweight champion Paulo Filho could be relocated to the UFC. Other fighters such as Brian Stann, Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, and Jake Rosholt are candidates to be transferred as well.

Well, we knew the they were going to drop the MW and LHW divisions, so that doesn't come as much of a surprise. I wish they had gone the other route and dropped some guys from the UFC to the WEC, but I'm sure they would have had a tough time getting guys to make the move. At least we get to see Filho against top MW now, though.

I'm not too excited about the Torres/Tapia fight. I think Torres should beat him pretty easily. Tapia's a solid fighter and all, but he's has to be a bit rusty from not fighting since February. Plus, I just don't think he's close to the level of Torres with his striking or ground game. Tapia is basically getting the title shot by default. WEC is still trying to build up Bowles, Maeda just lost against Torres, and Curren has yet to make his FW debut.

[brutus]

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Well, we knew the they were going to drop the MW and LHW divisions, so that doesn't come as much of a surprise. I wish they had gone the other route and dropped some guys from the UFC to the WEC, but I'm sure they would have had a tough time getting guys to make the move. At least we get to see Filho against top MW now, though.

I'm not too excited about the Torres/Tapia fight. I think Torres should beat him pretty easily. Tapia's a solid fighter and all, but he's has to be a bit rusty from not fighting since February. Plus, I just don't think he's close to the level of Torres with his striking or ground game. Tapia is basically getting the title shot by default. WEC is still trying to build up Bowles, Maeda just lost against Torres, and Curren has yet to make his FW debut.

we're gonna have to see the UFC drop a few of the MW's and to behonest I dont see any of the LHW's having great success in the switch. I would love to see some of them get beat up but that'll happen in time. patience is good lol.

[brvheart]

from mmaweekly

- WEC SHUTS DOWN 205 & 185-POUND WEIGHT CLASSES
Friday, September 26, 2008 - by Damon Martin - MMAWeekly.com

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World Extreme Cagefighting has officially announced the abolishment of their 205lb and 185lb divisions following their Dec 3 event. The promotion made the move official today via their website while also announcing a bantamweight title fight between champion, Miguel Torres, and top contender Manny Tapia.

The long rumored move has the company focusing solely on the lower weight classes including welterweight (170lbs), lightweight (155lbs), featherweight (145lbs) and bantamweight (135lbs).

“With every fight, the WEC has proven itself to be a powerful and growing presence in sports, both with our live events and our programming on Versus,” said Peter Dropick, WEC Vice President, Operations and Production. “Exciting matchups like Torres vs. Tapia on Dec. 3 and the incredible fights we have planned for 2009 under this new structure will no doubt establish WEC as the home of the best lighter weight fighters in the world.”

Industry insiders have speculated for months as to when the move would actually happen and according to officials at the WEC, 2009 will move the focus to the lighter weight classes with the light heavyweight and middleweight classes leaving the promotion.

The WEC made no statement as to what would happen to the fighters currently competing in those weight classes, but it has long been assumed that at least champions like Paulo Filho and Steve Cantwell would make the move along with fighters such as Brian Stann, who has a tremendous fan following.

Current middleweight champion, Paulo Filho, is still slated to defend his WEC title in November against Chael Sonnen, but that may be the last scheduled fight for the weight class.

MMAWeekly.com will continue to track this story along with fighters who could potentially make the move to the UFC in the future.

[2mcgrath]

i want them to give franklin a shot at filho,i think franklin would beat him,i know some people dont think so, but i do.i dont think filho is a #2 or #3 mw imo. flame on lol

[brvheart]

thanks for merging that ;)

[Grabaka]

No problem mang. The title in my thread was long, so it was easy to miss the part about dropping the MW and LHW divisions.

[brutus]

thanks for merging that ;)

No problem mang. The title in my thread was long, so it was easy to miss the part about dropping the MW and LHW divisions.

I can't believe I missed it. Dang it. I need to pay more attention. lol.

[LionHeartWarchild]

**** yeah, this should be a great fight! Torres is one of my favorite fighters and I'm starting to like Tapia, the guys a little beast. I'm really pumped to see who else will be on the card. Whoever said that Franklin would beat Filho and doesn't rank him in the top 3 MW's...I TOTALLY AGREE, finally someone who isn't on the Filho wagon. He's a good fighter but he's not all he's cracked up to be, and I think he'll get exposed. I hope Sonnen wrecks him as well, he had that last fight won untill that armbar!