Comments on: WEC 35: The WEC delivers yet again

By: Guy Gaduois

Guy Gaduois — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:12:09 +0000

Sometimes I miss out on good MMA performances because the production gets in the way. Watching Inside MMA on HDNet is a classic case in point; they’re doing their best to bring MMA highlights, but sometimes it’s via jitter-cam, sometimes we see back of the head-vision or guillotine productions, where half or better of the action is missing.
These same miscues on major productions like Dream, EliteXC, UFC or Affliction is inexcusable. Bad announcing – making the wrong call, cheerleading or misdirecting the viewer is also detrimental to the production, detrimental to the product.
I have every right as a consumer to want the best product in place for my entertainment value. Shine_box, you can watch MMA on a 40 year old, 12″ b/w portable battery powered TV with a fuzzy antennae connection, broadcast in Esperanto with a malfunctioning horizontal control for all I care. Good for you, I’m glad you’re happy.
The rest of the technologically able world, with all the modern conveniences of this century really appreciate the sport we love being presented in the best possible light. It’s not rocket science – it’s supply and demand, cream rising to the top. Entertainment isn’t supposed to be aggravating – that’s why we have work.

By: John E

John E — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:05:01 +0000

Oops, too fast on the trigger. “ALWAYS entertaining”, was what I was going to write.

By: John E

John E — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:03:38 +0000

I don’t watch every UFC nowadays, but I make sure to watch every WEC. I don’t know how they do it, but it’s ALWAYS

By: Justin B

Justin B — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:51:12 +0000

Each champion was in a bad prediciment in one way or another during there match. Could of turned out bad for the WEC if condit would of lost his belt. He needs to stay in that promotion for a while longer. Chris Lytle could beat Condit let alone GSP, Fitch, Alves, Koscheck, or Sanchez. Varner looked like he could hold his belt for a while. Marcus Hicks is a tough guy.

By: Mike K

Mike K — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:47:56 +0000

WEC 35 was easily one of the most entertaining events I’ve seen in a long time. TKO’s ended every single fight televised. It was impressive and fast paced.

This is what I was able to take away from the event:

1) Brian Stann is nowhere near ready to move to the UFC (this only matters if the rumors of the LHW in the WEC moving to the UFC is true). He was the only fight I really cared to see, and I was so unimpressed by him. On the other hand, damn was I impressed by Cantwell.

2) Varner is unbelievable and I want to see him against “Cowboy” Cerrone. I was completely shocked at how much he was able to control the bout.

3) Hicks gained more from this loss than he could have ever imagined. The man can take a shot… or two… or three… and more. But it also shows that his guillotine should not be his only weapon.

4) Condit is beatable. Though his conditioning needs improvement. He talks about how he can beat any WW in the UFC, but after last night… yes, he was impressive, but GSP would ruin him.

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:43:46 +0000

Stann’s Cantwell’s first loss.. Cantwell’s Stann’s first loss..

you gotta love this sport..

By: shine_box

shine_box — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:46:25 +0000

Comparing WEC’s presentation with everyone else is almost painful, because as a fan of MMA, watching the other promotions is like undergoing dental work.

Geez, comments like this just depress me. How sir, are you a fan of MMA if the only MMA you can watch painlessly involves the quality of the production values? Here’s a thought, base it on the quality of the fights!
Affliction, WEC, UFC, Elite, DREAM, MFC, the former IFL all have great fights to watch, I don’t let something aesthetic like production values affect my opinion, and MMA is NEVER like going to the dentist, it’s always completely awesome.
Org loyalty is for fanboys, embrace them all and just enjoy all the MMA goodness!!

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:43:57 +0000

WEC is my favorite fight promotion, and it seems to just keep getting better. Mir is the best announcer out there. Articulate, and great at explaining things to those of us who are not experts.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:28:09 +0000

Didnt stann weigh in at 201?? Could he make the cut to 185?? that might be a better weight for him, he looked small compared to cantwell.

By: JOe K.

JOe K. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:09:28 +0000

One thing I like about the WEC commentators is there consistant. Goldberg and Rogan are so biased and they change midway through the fight of who they are rooting for. I think Rogan changes his mind and wants to go with the winner and then Goldberg his lap dog follows. Their trademark sayings are getting old. They should slow down on the hyperbole of their opinions and just call the fight.

That is whats so great with the WEC commentators they seem to keep neutral. They actually have dead air because they are so into the fights. They keep it technical and honest. Not completely abandoning calling the fight to go into some back story of the fighters or their theories on how Judo is hard to assimilate succesfully into the MMA style, or how loud slaps on a leg kick don’t hurt as much, or how when fights smile when they get hit it means they’re hurt, or how incorrectly the rubber guard is performed, or how one fighter is leagues above the other fighter in some style… Keep calling the fight and slide the opinions in!

I think Rogan is actually trying to become more neutral. He’s said to have read MMA blogs (so he probably reads the criticism) . I know he cares about the sport and is still a solid announcer, he just gets too excited and extreme with his opinions (he seems like an extreme guy). I think he has to go against his instinct about too much of a fan when he calls the fight.

By: steak_knife

steak_knife — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:40:59 +0000

Great night of fights. Perfect pacing. Frank Mir’s commentary is vastly improved — he’s no longer declaring fights over the moment a submission is applied.

Carlos Condit is awesome, but proved he doesn’t belong in the UFC.

By: traingleman

traingleman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:56:33 +0000

I was really upset w Stann. He looked like he thought he was going to come out and intimidate Cantwell and beat him w another right hook thrown from the seat of hit pants that lands on the button!!! Cantwell was dead on when he said that he is predictable!!! Cantwell looked crisper,sharper and more well rounded!!! @ 21 he has a very bright future while Stann has a lot of work to do! I think Stann-Cantwell 3 shouldn’t be for a long time, as I don’t see why Stann deserves a rematch after being outworked and outclassed! Let him work his way back then see what happens! Great card though. Now I cannot wait til Saturdays UFC card that has the potential to be the best ever!

By: JZ

JZ — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:53:48 +0000

The WEC is the best product in the sport right now. While only a few of their fighters would be considered “Top Tier” they somehow never seem to have a dull moment. The promotions math making is basically impeccable. I can only hope this trend continues as the company continues.

By: Nolan

Nolan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:42:39 +0000

WEC put on a great show, and Steve Cantwell was looking like shades of Anderson Silva, I think he has a great future ahead of him.

By: Davey D

Davey D — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:40:59 +0000

I was glad to see another night of great fight’s presented by the WEC. I said Condit vs. Miura would be a war. One hell of a fight that was. Miura has very fast hand’s and his throw’s were punishing. Carlos simply outlasted him and proved he belongs in the WW top 10.

Bowles, Cantwell and Varner really proved that they some of the fighter’s not in the UFC too. Miguel Torres has a very good opponent next. Cantwell vs. Stann 3 could happen somewhere down the line. I hope we get to see The Worm vs. The Cowboy in December.

Larson vs. Condit 2 could be on that same card as well. I can’t wait for WEC 36 to come around.

By: Guy Gaduois

Guy Gaduois — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:14:26 +0000

Last night’s show again demonstrated that if you want a sport without pole dancers, strippers and blaring, bad music with homoerotic intros, the WEC is the frontrunner. The WEC offers the best ‘face’ for appealing to middle America and the mainstream sports fan.
Frank Mir is emerging as an integral part of the WEC’s appeal to the new fan as well; his analysis isn’t just a barrage of MMA terminology; he explains the set up, explains different strategies and is better and better every time out.
If I had to pick a dream team for announcing, it would be Ken Florian and Frank Mir and do without the mouths that roar.

But the essential element of WEC’s appeal is phenomenal product, not presentation. The fights are always tremendous matchups, with great athletes, and none of the presentation gets in the way of the sport. Even the inferior fighters are classier (Brian Stann is a classic example of an athlete who will improve – he’s just a good guy) and imminently more presentable in the mainstream. (Jamie Varner’s F-bombs when he won the belt notwithstanding.)

All this talk about EliteXC improving their production really needs to be taken with a grain of WEC – with the WEC as a template and example, EliteXC and even the Zuffa owned UFC’s production shortcomings are inexcusable and deplorable. Comparing WEC’s presentation with everyone else is almost painful, because as a fan of MMA, watching the other promotions is like undergoing dental work. How has the WEC made such a better overall sports presentation while others are seemingly in the stone age? Has anyone in these other promotions discovered fire or the wheel yet? Revolutionary stuff.

By: Derek B

Derek B — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:57:43 +0000

Def. the best fight card I’ve seen this year. Exciting fights, but I was a little disapointed most of the fights aired ended in the first round.

By: joetheacupuncturist

joetheacupuncturist — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:09:42 +0000

i think condit looked great, maybe his punches were a bit soft, but it was a looong fighht. his opponent just was real game and came with a shitload of samurai heart.

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:07:40 +0000

Something this show proved to me is that the light-heavyweight division in the WEC needs to go. Not to take anything away from Brian Stann and Steve Cantwell, but are these the guys that they really need representing them as champions? I’ve thought Stann to be fairly one-dimensional (and that dimension isn’t as developed as it needs to be), and Cantwell putting him away cements that notion. I know the UFC has a lot of light-heavyweight talent tied up, but with the WEC’s division limping along like it is, I see no reason not to cut it and focus on middleweight and below.

I agree with jaydog too… I could’ve watched Miura keep doing those judo throws all night!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:01:32 +0000

I agree. This card was awesome. And I never really thought about it, but maybe the WEC is something that should be appearing on network TV when EliteXC falls off the face of the earth. It’s more exciting, better produced, and they seem to have a loyal following. Plus, if they promote it as the minor-leagues, they will have people following them up to the UFC.

But Condit didn’t look great. And that knee he threw to end the fight didn’t look very powerful.