WEC announce 3 title matches
MMA fans can look forward to Christmas coming a bit earlier this year in the form of the WEC’s December 12th card – entitled, “WEC: Faber vs. Curran” - from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. In what may be the most impressive card in the organization’s six-year history, champion Urijah “The California Kid” Faber will square off against challenger Jeff “Big Frog” Curran for the WEC Featherweight title.
Faber (19-1-0) claimed the WEC title in March 2006 and has since completely smashed through his formidable competition, placing him near the top of any list mentioning MMA’s young stars. His fast-paced, powerful, yet still extremely technical fighting style has continued to leave fans in awe and opponents in varying stages of unconsciousness, but he faces what is likely his toughest contest yet against MMA veteran Jeff Curran.
Curran boasts an impressive and international record of 28-8-1 going into the fight. He’s gone the distance with both Matt Serra and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, while holding wins over Rafael Assuncao and Charles Bennett. He made his WEC debut on August 5th, scoring a decisive unanimous decision victory over Stephen Ledbetter and heads into this bout riding a six fight win streak. Though confident in his abilities, Curran is well aware that he needs to perform his best to take the title from the champion.
As if that alone weren’t a formidable main event, there will be two more title bouts on the card. WEC Light Heavyweight champion “The Rhino” Doug Marshall defends his belt against undefeated Cuban wrestler Ariel Gandulla and former Pride star and current WEC Middleweight champion, Paulo Filho, will face an opponent still to be decided. Rounding out the main card is the return of MMA veteran Jens Pulver to his natural 145lb. weight class to compete against rising talent Cub Swanson.
The heavy-handed Marshall (6-2-0) has yet to let a fight go to the judges’ hands and he has no attention of starting with this fight. Though he may be one of the shorter fighters in the 205-pound weight class, Marshall more than makes for his lack of reach by bringing a savage intensity into each fight. However, he will have to on the top of his game against Gandulla’s athletic and explosive wrestling.
Paulo Filho (15-0-0) is arguably the best middleweight fighter in the world and has yet to lose in his mixed martial arts career. With his impressive track record and oppressive ground game, look for his as of yet unnamed opponent to have their hands full.
After a legendary career at lightweight in the UFC and Pride, Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver is back in the featherweight division to expand upon his 7-0 record in the weight class. Pulver likely has thoughts of a title shot dancing through his head, but he’ll first have to get through a very tough and impressive youngster in Cub Swanson (11-1-0). Swanson hasn’t lost a bout since July of ’04, compiling eleven straight wins in all, with the most recent two being in the WEC. A win over Pulver would catapult him up the title ladder but he’ll have to deal with a hard hitting, experienced, and rejuvenated Jens Pulver.
The remaining bouts on the card will be released in the future and the current ones are still subject to revision. With a main card like this, though, it would be hard to expect anything but greatness from the entire event.
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