TUF alum Alex Schoenauer to make WEC debut on Sept. 10
The UFC is not the only subsidiary of Zuffa to have recently recruited several former fighters from the now-defunct International Fight League, as multiple reports indicate that light heavyweight Alex Schoenauer has been signed to the promotion as a replacement for Mark Munoz against Steve Steinbeiss at WEC 36 on Sept. 10. He joins Bart Palaszewski, L.C. Davis, and Wagnney Fabiano as IFL refugees that... [Read More...]
Report: IFL champ Wagnney Fabiano signs with WEC
The Brazilian magazine Tatame is reporting that the IFL’s last remaining champion, Wagnney Fabiano, has signed a contract to fight in WEC’s featherweight division. Fabiano apparently is already thinking about the current WEC featherweight champion, Urijah Faber: “Faber is the best of the world now. To beat him, I think you have to be in a good shape. He’s an expert fighter and he has... [Read More...]
Leonard Garcia vs. Jens Pulver added to WEC 36
A battle between former UFC lightweight competitors Jens Pulver and Leonard Garcia has officially been added by World Extreme Cagefighting to the undercard of its Sept. 10 event featuring Urijah Faber defending his WEC featherweight title vs. Mike Thomas Brown. The event, which will emanate from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Holly, Fla. will also featured WEC middleweight title defense by Paulo... [Read More...]
Report: Mark Munoz off of next WEC show
Former NCAA champion Mark Munoz will not be able to fight as previously scheduled during the WEC’s next scheduled show on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The news was revealed earlier in a report by MMAWeekly.com. According to MMA Weekly, the former Oklahoma State competitor if off the card vs. Steve Steinbeiss due to an undisclosed injury. Steinbess,... [Read More...]
Report: WEC signs Bart Palaszewski
Sherdog.com is reporting that Jeff Curran announced this past weekend during the opening of a new school in Crystal Lake, Ill. that one of his Team Curran member and lightweight competitor Bart Palaszewski has signed a six-fight contract with the World Extreme Cagefighting organization. Palaszewski had been a staple of the International Fight League’s 155 pound division before it closed operations... [Read More...]
Jeff Curran joining WEC’s bantamweight division
While speaking during the opening of his new fight gym in Crystal Lake, Ill. this past weekend, WEC competitor Jeff Curran made the announcement that he will be dropping down to promotion’s bantamweight division, according to an article on Sherdog.com. Nicknamed “The Big Frog,” Curran is 30-10-1, according to Sherdog’s fight finder. He has competed for PRIDE, the IFL, and King... [Read More...]
WEC 35 a near-sellout
WEC 35 was about as successful as an event can be from a fighting quality standpoint and was about as successful as it could be from an attendance perspective. According to information forwarded to FiveOuncesOfPain.com by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, WEC 35 this past Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had just two tickets that went unsold or unused. The total paid attendance for the... [Read More...]
WEC 35: The WEC delivers yet again
Is it possible for Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting to have a bad card? Sunday night was yet another shining example of why the WEC is the best representative of our sport to the mainstream public. Despite being held in a small concert venue at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, WEC 35 looked like a major league event: strong production; fast pacing; a display of a variety of fighting... [Read More...]
WEC 35: Tonight’s Television Preview
The past four weeks have been insane when it comes to all of the shows we’ve seen in MMA. It seems like with each passing week the audience becomes a little more burned out. As much as I love the WEC, at some point you need a break. That being said, tonight’s card on VERSUS (9 p.m. ET, check local listings for channel listing) is too good to miss with three title fights scheduled. I actually... [Read More...]
Undefeated John Franchi added to WEC featherweight division
World Extreme Cagefighting has been very active as of late when it comes to signing new talent and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned that undefeated featherweight prospect John Franchi is the latest to be added to the WEC roster. Franchi has signed a five fight deal with the promotion, according to Gary Marino of GVM Sports Management, speaking to Five Ounces of Pain. Trained by his co-manager, Ryan... [Read More...]
L.C. Davis added to Sunday’s WEC card
L.C. Davis is the latest former IFL fighter to find a new home with Zuffa, according to a report by MMAjunkie.com. Davis, who competed as a featherweight in the IFL, will be fighting for the WEC on Aug. 3 against Hiroyuki Takaya. Davis is replacing Cub Swanson, who is off the card due to a broken hand sustained during training. Davis is a product of legendary MMA trainer Pat Miletich’s Miletich... [Read More...]
Shogun’s possible return
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been out of action since his September 2007 loss to Forrest Griffin. Shogun had knee surgery shortly after the fight. Apparently, the operation didn’t clear up all the problems. Shogun just had another knee surgery,” said Dana White. Not knowing exactly what the surgery is for, it’s hard to speculate how bad Shogun’s knee is, but what White... [Read More...]
Report: Mauricio Rua could return by October
USA Today caught up with injured UFC light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua during this past Saturday’s UWC event in the Washington D.C.-area. According to writer Sergio Non, Rua indicated to him that he believes he will be fully recovered from his ACL surgery by either October or November. Rua had been scheduled to fight Chuck Liddell at UFC 85 in London this June, but he had to... [Read More...]
Shogun out of fight vs. Liddell at UFC 85 after aggravating knee injury
A much-anticipated light heavyweight showdown between Chuck Liddell and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to take place at UFC 85 on June 7 in London is no longer scheduled to take place, according to Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com. Rua was forced to pull out of the fight after re-injuring his surgically repaired knee. The injury has been officially diagnosed as a ruptured ACL in his left knee and will... [Read More...]
Mike Swick vs. Marcus Davis at UFC 85?
MMAMania.com has learned that UFC Welterweight contenders Mike Swick and Marcus Davis will more than likely be squaring off at UFC 85 on June 7 at the O2 Arena in London, England. Davis has strung together an impressive win-streak, finding victory in all of his last 11 bouts. His last loss came at the hands of Melvin Guillard at The Ultimate Finale 2 in November of 2005. In recent interviews, “The... [Read More...]
Chuck Liddell sees no advantage for Shogun
Chuck Liddell talking about his fight with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Steve Sievert’s Brawl Sports Blog at the Houston Chronicle: “He’s a good fighter … had a great career in Pride, and I’ll be glad to show him again why UFC is better than Pride. I have the edge in the standup game and the wrestling game, too. His submission game is decent, but I don’t... [Read More...]
Shogun says he’s signed to fight Liddell in June
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell was quoted in an SI.com interview yesterday saying his next opponent could be Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Today, Rua is quoted on Tatame.com as confirming he’s signed on to fight “The Iceman”: “I confirmed this fight yesterday. Everything is set to June and I hope to make a great fight and represent well my new team, the... [Read More...]
Chuck Liddell’s next opponent “possibly Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua”
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, former UFC light-heavyweight champion, Chuck Liddell stated that his next opponent possibly would be former Pride standout, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. SI.com: So what’s next for you? Have you been told your next opponent? Liddell:Possibly Mauricia “Shogun” Hua. That’s what they’re saying. If it’s the June fight,... [Read More...]
Shogun and Sherk could fight on April’s UFC card in Montreal
Not a lot of official information has been released about the UFC’s upcoming card in Montreal on April 19, but if some of the rumors and reports floating around become true, Canadian fans attending the show live could be treated to a strong show. The UFC has not formally announced it, but all indications is that the show’s main event will consist of a welterweight title match between Matt... [Read More...]
Chute Boxe releases statement about Rua Brothers’ departure
Rudimar Fedrigo, one of the top guns at Chute Boxe with Rafael Cordeiro, has released a statement confirming the departure of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Murilo “Ninja” Rua from the Curitiba-based fight camp: We regret very much the departure of Murilo and Mauricio Rua, they are fighters brought up in the team and left to start their own team in the USA. We’d like to remind... [Read More...]
