The WEC held its 36th show Thursday which saw a humongous upset of a 13 fight winning streak, and undefeated fighter mentally fall apart before our eyes leaving his career in jeopardy, and an odd goodbye to the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions.
Mike Thomas Brown (20-4) defeated Uriah Faber to halt his 13 fight winning streak and take the WEC Featherweight title. Brown was given more dap than most who are brought in to face the “California Kid,” as he came from the well disciplined American Top Team and cut weight well becoming much bigger and stronger than Faber. Brown used his size and reach to stun Uriah early with a strong right hand and shoved the Champ to the floor which only seemed to anger the young champion as he began to “let it all hang out” as he loves to do. Perhaps a little angry, Faber attacked with abandon and caught a hard left hook and while turned from his opponent, tried to throw a sidewinder elbow. A short right from Brown connected instead sending Faber to the floor where the end became academic. This time, the somewhat careless style cost him as Mike Thomas Brown is your new Champion and someone stopped Faber for only the 2nd time in his 23 fight career. Uriah, always a class act, gave full credit to his opponent calling him stronger and more effective. Also, he may or may not continue to “let it all hang out” as it is just the way he fights. My guess is the rematch will be even better than this one. Faber is already in the gym training for a rematch.
Chael Sonnen halted the BTT juggernaut known as Paulo Filho ending his undefeated record at 16-1. The Team Quest fighter lost via armbar to Paulo in their 1st meeting though he was winning the match, and didn’t actually tapout. The ref stopped the fight and Chael was upset feeling as though he wasn’t near injury and could have fought on. This time the ref would not play a factor. This would be Paulo’s 1st fight since leaving rehab and may have left Filho ill prepared to battle as he looked uninterested and sometimes even stared off in the distance during the fight as if he was looking to be somewhere else. It was so odd to see the once dialed in Brazilian just fall apart in front of a stunned crowd. Paulo came in 5 pounds overweight and thus his title was not on the line which seemed to punish Sonnen for "Ely's" mistake. Chael seemed to take that personally and his striking and takedown defense was superb as he coasted to an easy decision win. What is odd, is that in the final round, Filho seemed to be looking off in the distance and talking to an imaginary figure in the ring. Weird, weird, and more weird from a fighter once though to replace Anderson Silva as the world’s dominant Middleweight.
Razor Rob McCullough can’t get back to that title he once held as Donald Cerrone (9-0)defeated him by decision. The winner was to fight WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner who defeated McCullough for the belt. Now the "Cowboy" takes on "C-4" as the once feared Rob needs to do some rethinking about his style of fighting.
Well it was an odd goodbye as the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight ranks will now be absorbed into the UFC. Steve Cantwell, WEC Light Heavyweight Champion and former LH Champ Brian Stann are already signed up for UFC fights while it was thought Filho and Chael Sonnen would be right behind. Even with this embarrassing performance, I see Paulo joining the UFC and Chael’s stock just rose even higher. Unfortunately, WEC fan favorite Doug “Rhino” Marshall may not find spots in the UFC but undoubtedly will reemerge in other MMA promotions. Interesting event non the less and free if you have Versus.
Mike Thomas Brown (20-4) defeated Uriah Faber to halt his 13 fight winning streak and take the WEC Featherweight title. Brown was given more dap than most who are brought in to face the “California Kid,” as he came from the well disciplined American Top Team and cut weight well becoming much bigger and stronger than Faber. Brown used his size and reach to stun Uriah early with a strong right hand and shoved the Champ to the floor which only seemed to anger the young champion as he began to “let it all hang out” as he loves to do. Perhaps a little angry, Faber attacked with abandon and caught a hard left hook and while turned from his opponent, tried to throw a sidewinder elbow. A short right from Brown connected instead sending Faber to the floor where the end became academic. This time, the somewhat careless style cost him as Mike Thomas Brown is your new Champion and someone stopped Faber for only the 2nd time in his 23 fight career. Uriah, always a class act, gave full credit to his opponent calling him stronger and more effective. Also, he may or may not continue to “let it all hang out” as it is just the way he fights. My guess is the rematch will be even better than this one. Faber is already in the gym training for a rematch.
Chael Sonnen halted the BTT juggernaut known as Paulo Filho ending his undefeated record at 16-1. The Team Quest fighter lost via armbar to Paulo in their 1st meeting though he was winning the match, and didn’t actually tapout. The ref stopped the fight and Chael was upset feeling as though he wasn’t near injury and could have fought on. This time the ref would not play a factor. This would be Paulo’s 1st fight since leaving rehab and may have left Filho ill prepared to battle as he looked uninterested and sometimes even stared off in the distance during the fight as if he was looking to be somewhere else. It was so odd to see the once dialed in Brazilian just fall apart in front of a stunned crowd. Paulo came in 5 pounds overweight and thus his title was not on the line which seemed to punish Sonnen for "Ely's" mistake. Chael seemed to take that personally and his striking and takedown defense was superb as he coasted to an easy decision win. What is odd, is that in the final round, Filho seemed to be looking off in the distance and talking to an imaginary figure in the ring. Weird, weird, and more weird from a fighter once though to replace Anderson Silva as the world’s dominant Middleweight.
Razor Rob McCullough can’t get back to that title he once held as Donald Cerrone (9-0)defeated him by decision. The winner was to fight WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner who defeated McCullough for the belt. Now the "Cowboy" takes on "C-4" as the once feared Rob needs to do some rethinking about his style of fighting.
Well it was an odd goodbye as the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight ranks will now be absorbed into the UFC. Steve Cantwell, WEC Light Heavyweight Champion and former LH Champ Brian Stann are already signed up for UFC fights while it was thought Filho and Chael Sonnen would be right behind. Even with this embarrassing performance, I see Paulo joining the UFC and Chael’s stock just rose even higher. Unfortunately, WEC fan favorite Doug “Rhino” Marshall may not find spots in the UFC but undoubtedly will reemerge in other MMA promotions. Interesting event non the less and free if you have Versus.
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