Las Vegas, Nev.
(USA) – World Extreme Cagefighting® (WEC®) today announced the full
line-up of fights for WEC: FABER vs. BROWN. WEC: FABER vs. BROWN features
“The California Kid” Urijah Faber defending his Featherweight title
against hometown sensation Mike Brown, plus the rematch between WEC
Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho and talented contender Chael Sonnen.
In addition, WEC superstar Jens “Lil’ Evil” Pulver returns to the cage
against Leonard Garcia in what is sure to be one of the most exciting
bouts of 2008. WEC: FABER vs. BROWN, a card loaded with WEC champions,
contenders, and up and comers, takes place LIVE from the Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. on Wednesday, September, 10,
2008.
Tickets for WEC: FABER vs. BROWN are on sale now and are priced at
$175, $125, $100, and $50 (not including applicable services or taxes).
Tickets are available at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box
office and all Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone with a major
credit card, call Ticketmaster at (954) 523-3309. Tickets also are available
online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.
WEC: FABER vs. BROWN will be televised live nationally on VERSUS beginning
at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT. All live WEC events will be presented in Hi-Definition
(HD) and Spanish SAP where available. For more information and how to
find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.
WEC: FABER vs. BROWN also features a solid undercard with Danillo Villefort
vs. Jake Rosholt; Donald Cerrone vs. Rob McCullough; David Avellan vs.
Tim McKenzie; Ed Ratcliff vs. Danny Castillo, Alex Serdyukov vs. Johny
Hendricks, and Rani Yayha vs. Yoshiro Maeda.
With technique, tenacity, and charisma, “The California Kid” Urijah
Faber (21-1), has proven time and time again why he is considered one
of the best fighters in MMA today. Faber captured the WEC title in March
of 2006 with a decisive second round stoppage of Cole Escovedo. Since
then, he has continued to dominate the division, defending his crown
with first round wins over Joe Pearson, Dominic Cruz, and Chance Farrar.
His most recent victory came in his long-awaited superfight against
Jens Pulver, a bout where Faber displayed top notch striking and a champion’s
heart in defeating the future Hall of Famer by unanimous decision in
front 12,000 fans. But there is no rest for the man on top of the heap,
and on September 10, he will return to fight one of his toughest opponents
yet in Florida’s own Mike Brown.
Mike Brown (19-4) has compiled an impressive MMA record over his seven
year pro career, and his aggressive style in the cage has earned him
a large fan following. Brown is undefeated at the featherweight division
and looks to stay that way on September 10th.In his most recent bout
on June 1st, the well-rounded fighter from Coconut Creek, Florida earned
a title shot with an exciting three round win over a game Jeff Curran,
and he is undoubtedly going to have a hometown crowd in his corner when
he challenges Faber for supremacy at 145 pounds.
Considered by many to be the premier middleweight fighter in the world
today, WEC Champion Paulo ‘Eli’ Filho (16-0) has fought the best that
the 185-pound division has to offer, both here and abroad, and he has
yet to taste defeat. In 2007, Filho made his WEC debut in stirring fashion,
stopping Joe Doerksen in the first round to win the organization title.
He was pushed to the limit in his first title defense last December
though, when Chael Sonnen got him in trouble early and dominated the
first round. In the second round, Filho rebounded, catching Sonnen in
an armbar with only seconds to go in the frame. And while there was
some controversy over whether Sonnen verbally submitted or not, the
fight was halted with five seconds left in the round and Filho retained
his crown. Yet like a true champion, Filho respected the challenger’s
performance and didn’t want his victory to have any question marks surrounding
it, so he granted Sonnen a rematch.
Chael Sonnen (21-9-1) left quite an impression in his WEC debut last
December with his stellar performance against Filho. But this six-year
MMA veteran is no stranger to competing at the top levels of the sport,
having beaten world-class fighters such as Jason Miller, Jason Lambert,
Trevor Prangley, and Amar Suloev. Now approaching his prime as a fighter
at 31, Sonnen plans on bringing the belt home in his second shot on
September 10.
A true MMA pioneer who put the lighter weight classes on the map, Jens
Pulver (22-9-1) is looking to get back on track after an incredible
battle against Urijah Faber on June 1st. Pulver showed the world a true
champion’s heart when he went toe to toe with Faber for five rounds.
On Sept. 10, he has another tough battle when he takes on the always
aggressive Leonard Garcia.
With each successive fight, Leonard Garcia (15-3) proves why he is
one of the most exciting fighters in the sport today. Garcia was last
seen in the cage in February, when he knocked out Hiroyuki Takaya with
a flurry of punches in just one minute and 31 seconds. But he will be
tested like never before by former UFC® champion Jens Pulver when they
meet in September.
In a lightweight clash that may produce the next challenger to champion
Jamie Varner, “Razor” Rob McCullough (16-4) returns to the cage to take
on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (8-0, 1 NC) in what should be an exciting
war to remember. McCullough, a former WEC lightweight champion, is coming
off a decision victory over Kenneth Alexander in which he displayed
a versatile array of skills. But he will be matched in wits and fists
by the unbeaten Cerrone, who submitted Danny Castillo in 90 seconds
in June.
Also on this explosive night of world-class MMA action, ground wizard
Rani Yayha battles former world title challenger Yoshiro Maeda in a
bantamweight bout; unbeaten middleweight prospect and national wrestling
champion Jake Rosholt will make his WEC debut, against American Top
Team’s Danillo Villefort; undefeated light heavyweight up and comer
David Avellan takes on veteran Tim “The Wrecking Machine” McKenzie;
Johny Hendricks does battle with Alex Serdyukov, and once-beaten welterweight
Ed “9mm” Ratcliff will be stepping back into the cage against Californian
Danny Castillo.
Click here for the full fight card and our
predictions
|