WEC Flyweight Division on Hold, Debut Planned for 2010
World Extreme Cagefighting’s attempt to add a 125-pound flyweight division to join its three existing weight classes remains stalled, with WEC matchmaker Sean Shelby telling Sherdog he’s hopeful the division, which was expected to be added earlier this year, will finally debut in 2010:
“When I first came in earlier this year, my goal was to build up the divisions we already had. We have built quality depth into 135 and 145, and I am working on 155 now. With the number of fights we are doing now, 125 is just not a viable division for us at this moment.
“Every fight we would be doing at 125 would take a spot from our already established divisions. We have worked hard to create the depth we have, and I just don’t want to sacrifice that. We will do the flyweights, but it has to be the right time.
“When we feel we can support the division the way it needs to be supported, then we will bring in the best flyweights in the world. We will be doing more shows next year, and, as [WEC General Manager] Reed [Harris] stated, we will be doing pay-per-view as well, so hopefully we will see the 125ers sometime in 2010.”
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The WEC should just merge with the UFC already so the UFC can bring more attention to the 145,135 and soon flyweight divisions, it’s a win win situation for all i think.
Honestly, yeah.
Not to sound like a world-class douchenozzle here, but the WEC ITSELF will be fortunate to be seen sometime in 2010, let alone a 125 division…
i agree buddy ;)
ya because in the next 3 or so months the WEC is just going to vanish off the face of the MMA landscape……. This ISN’T Afflicition MMA this is a ZUFFA ran company things will be “ok” for awhile, Now I see the pros and cons of the situation that you speak but from the business side of the situation if the WEC merges into the UFC, you have to re negotiate fighters contracts tv deals have to be acknowledged monies have to be accounted for, plus the fighters that you choose not to take, will most likely go to you competitor’s who like the lower weighted fighters as well, I’m speaking of FEG and Strikeforce who are co promoting with one another, sooo the “longer” that WEC stays in business, not only is it best for all of MMA but ZUFFA from a business aspect, ya can lose a little money upfront but the long term damage of the “merger” might cost you more long term money, it is a tricky choice of when to “fold” the WEC I do believe that it will happen at some point but not in the next few months..
Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’d be fine with Zuffa running the WEC as a seperate promotion. I posted awhile back that I thought it would be cool for Zuffa to greenlight different WEC weightclasses, like 195 or 220, or even some sort of super mutant class for fans of those sideshow-type acts like Bob Sapp or HMC or Zuluhino, just to try and draw some extra attention to the WEC, and maybe fill some MMA gaps that the UFC might have.
Unfortunately I don’t see that happening, and I’m thinking that by this time next year, the WEC brand will be on the Zuffa discard shelf right next to PRIDE…
Rather than 195, 220, or “Super Hulk” they should bring in Women’s 145, and 135 to WEC. The only problem with that is, right now most of the top Women are with Strikeforce, or in Japan.