It is difficult to argue that any organization, including the UFC, puts on more exciting fights than the WEC. Yes, I understand they are both Zuffa owned brands, however, the WEC consistently offers better fights if not more meaningful ones. The recent talk of Zuffa transitioning the remaining WEC divisions into the UFC and dissolving the WEC brand has been a hot button topic within MMA over the last few weeks. And I for one am all for it as I feel that it can only bolster the UFC brand and offer the smaller weight divisions more notoriety that they clearly deserve.
My argument begins with the clear fact that Zuffa does not have enough headliners to drive all their cards. Adding 2 or 3 additional divisions with strong champions can only help bolster pay per views as you have more champions to headline shows. We can already see the turmoil the lack of headliners has caused for the UFC over the next few months. Especially UFC 105, which sticks out like a tourist at Rocky Point. The headliner of that show is Randy Couture v Brandon Vera. I dare you to find a more random fight. Then with the dissolution of the Rampage Jackson/UFC relationship, the Tennessee card is left without it's main draw. These kind of things would and could be avoided by having a stronger roster with more exciting fighters and additional headlining draws such as Urijah Faber, Mike Brown, and Miguel Torres.
Another reason for the permeation of WEC into the UFC, WEC does not really make a whole lot of money. Which in turn does not make the fighters much money. Guys on the undercard of a UFC will often times make 2 to 3 times more than some WEC main eventers. Guys like Torres, Brown and Faber should be making the kind of money they deserve, as they draw eyeballs much better than many UFC fighters who make much more.
Dana White has stated that the WEC will stay intact for the near future, but an integration is inevitable. For this blogger, that moment cannot come soon enough.
My argument begins with the clear fact that Zuffa does not have enough headliners to drive all their cards. Adding 2 or 3 additional divisions with strong champions can only help bolster pay per views as you have more champions to headline shows. We can already see the turmoil the lack of headliners has caused for the UFC over the next few months. Especially UFC 105, which sticks out like a tourist at Rocky Point. The headliner of that show is Randy Couture v Brandon Vera. I dare you to find a more random fight. Then with the dissolution of the Rampage Jackson/UFC relationship, the Tennessee card is left without it's main draw. These kind of things would and could be avoided by having a stronger roster with more exciting fighters and additional headlining draws such as Urijah Faber, Mike Brown, and Miguel Torres.
Another reason for the permeation of WEC into the UFC, WEC does not really make a whole lot of money. Which in turn does not make the fighters much money. Guys on the undercard of a UFC will often times make 2 to 3 times more than some WEC main eventers. Guys like Torres, Brown and Faber should be making the kind of money they deserve, as they draw eyeballs much better than many UFC fighters who make much more.
Dana White has stated that the WEC will stay intact for the near future, but an integration is inevitable. For this blogger, that moment cannot come soon enough.
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