So The WEC/UFC Merging Was Just A Rumor?
by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
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PrintRemember last week when it was reported that there have been talks about merging the WEC into the UFC? Well WEC big dog Reed Harris says it ain't happening according to the Las Vegas Sun:
It was the press that created that rumor," Harris said with a half laugh after Sunday’s WEC event at the Hard Rock. "Me and Dana talk about everything."How to present the WEC, whether to tie it closer to the UFC, make it a stand-alone organization. We’ve discussed all that stuff. But the truth is the WEC is doing very good. We’re growing exponentially every show."
So it's a rumor, but folk actually heard the words come out of Dana White's mouth according to the reports? This very same thing happened with the reports about Anderson Silva potentially moving up to the light heavyweight division while relinquishing his middleweight title.
Harris goes on about possibly expanding into Mexico which is something we covered last week, and WEC VP Peter Dropkick echoed those thoughts, a show similar to TUF, as well as the addition of the 125lb weight class:
The television ratings for the UFC have been huge down there, and we actually started the talks with Mexican officials before the UFC did. So there’s a real opportunity for something special to happen in Mexico.”The addition of a 125-pound flyweight division would also help the WEC’s commitment to smaller-framed fighters, Dropick said.
“It’s in the works, hopefully by the end of the year,” he said. “At first we weren’t so sure (there was enough interest), but we got a lot of fighters that want to sign.
Then final thoughts on a possible WEC/UFC merger:
“We had that opportunity to merge a long time ago,” Dropick said. “We have sponsors that are committed to this organization and a strong fan base that’s interested in the fights we put on.
“The day it doesn’t make sense, we’ll make a change. But currently, the WEC does make sense.”
I think a merger with the UFC has more positives than negatives, but I'll take WEC for FREE on Versus all day long as well.
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Why would Zuffa make that move? They have the WEC witch makes them money, why throw away an asset that prints money for you? They get mid-level guys for a reletivly cheap price, that all goes away when they merge. Stars in the WEC get paid, Faber has 3 houses he is not hurting for money right now. The WEC is pimping Torres more than anyone else on the roster, I am sure he gets paid over $100,000. I would like to see some fighters from the lightweight division swap back and forth though to me that would be interesting.
Why would Zuffa make that move?
Well…the WEC isn’t overly profitable…it’s not like they make money hand over fist with the promotion. The WEC will never have the name brand recognition that the UFC has…they could merge the WEC staff along with the fighters into the UFC…which would allow them to host even more events with the UFC marketing machine behind them…
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by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 13, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Even more events? I don’t think I can handle 3 UFC cards in one month. My head might explode. I think your right the WEC will never have the brand recognition the UFC does, but I believe that Reed Haris and Dana White want to expand on what the WEC is already. I think Dana wants to put a womens divison in the WEC in the next 2 to 3 years when the division gets a little deeper. I like the way the WEC is, it is a treat for hardcorce fans that don’t want to spend $200 in the nose-bleeds for a UFC and instead want to spend $75 on fun fast pace fights. I like it the way it is, but I can see why many people would want to see the two merge
by Erich Vowell on Aug 13, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
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