WEC officially adds flyweight division in wake of the dissolution to welterweight class
by James Iannotti on Feb 3, 2009 5:15 PM EST
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World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) announced back in September that it would no longer support light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, deciding instead to focus on lighter weight classes such as welterweight (170 pounds), lightweight (155 pounds), featherweight (145 pounds) and bantamweight (135 pounds).
Now Zuffa has officially added flyweight (125 pounds) to that list of divisions.
With this move, the WEC will become the first major mixed martial arts organization in the United States to promote matches and recognize a champion in the flyweight division.
This is good news for the WEC in wake of the recent changes. Many fans wondered if the existing roster would be enough to support the promotion on its own. Now with the addition of flyweight, the WEC will be able to tap into an already established division.
And what better time to introduce fans to the likes of Yuki Shoujou, BJ Kojima and the real Afro Samurai Mamoru Yamaguchi?
It will also enable the promotion to showcase more lighter fighters more often on its cards and continue to build stars. Under the old format, several talented up-and-comers either didn’t fight frequently enough or were buried on the non-televised portion of the cards.
However, when one door opens another usually closes. The promotion not only introduced the new weight class today, but they also officially eliminated the existing welterweight division (what was left of it).
That announcement probably didn't come as much of a surprise to most since Carlos Condit, the reigning WEC welterweight champion, was already scheduled to face Martin Kampmann in the main event at UFC Fight Night 18.
His original WEC opponent Brock Larson, will join Condit in the UFC when he reportedly battles Jesse Sanders at the same event on April 1.
Not that the Octagon was experiencing a shortage of talented welterweights, but adding Condit and Larson will only further diversify the UFC roster and promote even better match-ups.
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No one giving dap to flyweights? No fans of the fro, m16 or Miki? This is great news IMO. Also I think they should also add female weight divisions and get rid of 155.
by NameNotRequired on Feb 3, 2009 7:44 PM EST reply actions
now all you guys can start training your little sisters for the WEC!! 16 year old girl fights coming soon!
by brendan on Feb 3, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
Why the hate brendan? How is this so different from 135 where you have guys like torres?
by NameNotRequired on Feb 3, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
I think the WEC should scrap the WW division and add a super heavyweight division. That way the UFC will cover all the main divisions, while WEC can get the super fast light guys with the occassional Super heavy fight. Just my thoughts anyways.
by c-war on Feb 3, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
im just goofin around name… ive never really liked the lighter weight classes too much because they very very rarely have any KO’s, mostly just decisions but that being said alot of those are pretty hectic!
by brendan on Feb 4, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Name, speaking for myself, I don’t have hate for the 125’s, but as of this moment, I also have absolutely no interest. There are a few great 135 lb. fighters, but as we saw in Penn vs. GSP, 10 lbs. is a lot. 125 is just too damn small. I don’t have much interest in midget matches. A female division would make much more sense to me.
by naturalshadow on Feb 4, 2009 1:04 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t expect there to be a lightweight division in the WEC after 2010.
by Simcmo on Feb 3, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Well you’d be wrong because unlike the other divisions the WEC eliminated there are more than enough quality fighters at 155 to support the UFC and WEC.
by tyler on Feb 3, 2009 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
cool, they needed to.and i agree with nnr they should add the women to the wec.
by roy on Feb 3, 2009 7:46 PM EST reply actions
I hope it doesnt look like little kids fighting.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Feb 3, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you’re not too familiar with Shooto’s 125lb. division.
The fighters don’t look like little kids.
by tyler on Feb 3, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
I won’t be surprised if the women start fighting in WEC soon, too. Didn’t Dana mention it might be the place for Carano/Cyborg?
by Fred on Feb 3, 2009 9:37 PM EST reply actions
At that size, the speed will be amazing. Every fight will look like the last Faber Pulver fight. LITTLE TINY FISTS OF FURY, Like a rolling ball of hot knives. YES; Like a monkey knife fight!
by redrhino24 on Feb 3, 2009 9:46 PM EST reply actions
They should do a pride/dream style tournament to decide the first flyweight champ.
by nick on Feb 3, 2009 9:57 PM EST reply actions
The thing is flyweight sounds small to MMA fans, but the even though the weight classes in MMA have the same names as boxing the weights are different. In MMA Welterweight is 170lbs but in boxing WW is 147…MMA’s featherweight!! 175 lbs is LHW in boxing.
No one would ever call Tommy Hearns tiny. Flyweight in MMA translates to featherweight in boxing where such fighters as Sandy Saddler, Willie Pep, Salvador Sanchez,and Alexis Arguello and Henry Armstrong fought. All legends.
MMA Flyweight=Boxing’s Featherweight= more great fights and fighters…
by Teep on Feb 3, 2009 10:42 PM EST reply actions
It sounds small because it is small. 125 is small even for a woman.
by naturalshadow on Feb 4, 2009 1:09 AM EST up reply actions
So, everybody needs to be huge to be in MMA?
And I take it your women are all over (way over) 125lbs?
by Teep on Feb 4, 2009 2:42 AM EST up reply actions
Actually not at all. I just don’t put down athletes of any size who train their butts off for their sport. Especially legends like Henry Armstrong or Salvador Sanchez, not that you have any idea in the world who they are…
I take it you’re a big guy? Big as in big pasty beer gut…
by Teep on Feb 4, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
Oh yeah and it’s you’re. You + are = you’re…
“Your” lol
by Teep on Feb 4, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not about putting down the fighters, I am sure there are a few good fighters at 125, it is about entertainment. Judging by the above posts, there seems to be an even split of people who will be excited, and people who think the fighters are just too small, and would rather see other changes. I am part of the latter group. There may be a few exciting fights, but I think if they are adding a new division, I would much rather see a women’s division.
I am a bit pasty, but no beer gut.
by naturalshadow on Feb 4, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions
“people who think the fighters are just too small”…to small to what?
Why don’t you give it a shot?
You might like how the smaller guys fight. When I first started watching WEC I was stoked. I saw guys scrapping, using suplexes, it was great. Good MMA is good MMA.
I don’t understand the hesitation about getting behind the lighter weights. For years the lighter weights in boxing have traditionally been the most exciting. Julio Cesar Chavez was only 140 lbs, and he was PforP the best. Even Tyson at the time said it…
Athletes come in all sizes, not just WWE supersized McBehemoths.
by Teep on Feb 4, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
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