The Soul of the WEC at stake in Faber vs. Assuncao?
by Zak Woods on Jan 9, 2010 2:00 PM EST
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Jonathan Snowden of Heavy.com states what he thinks is really at stake in the upcoming Urijah Faber-Raphael Assuncao fight:
That leaves us with a great fight, and one more important than it appears on its face. If Faber loses, WEC officials may not have the freedom to test popular young stars this way much longer. There will be pressure from others in Zuffa, in the media, and from television partners like VERSUS to keep the fighters that draw ratings and box office strong. The WEC vision, the concept of matching the world's best regardless of "Q" ratings or nationality is at stake. Faber is fighting not just to win, but for the soul of the WEC, the last bastion of pure sport left in MMA.
I certainly believe that there is a lot at stake for both Faber and the WEC, but the last pure bastion of the sport? To channel a line from the morally ambiguous Munich, "I don't know if we were ever that decent."
But let's not get trapped talking about purity or innocence or virtue or righteousness or whatever you want to call it; let's talk about what is at stake for Faber and by extension the WEC this Sunday night.
Michael David Smith already detailed how important Faber is for the WEC's bottom line. Yet Urijah is 2-2 since 2008 with his both his victories coming against the over-the-mountain Jens Pulver. Ultimately any fighter's popularity is connected to success inside the cage and no amount of UFC appearances, No Fear or Amp commercials can change that.
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I like Faber and hope he does well, but if he does get beat down in extreme fashion what’s next? Is Jose Aldo the next poster boy for the WEC?
it will be interesting to see where they put their top promotional dollars. Donald Cerrone headlined three cards in 2009 so he is a possibility, but the winner of Varner-Henderson and Cruz-Bowles could be possibilities.
Hopefully the WEC will diversify their promotional dollars/efforts regardless of who wins on Sunday night
watchkalibrun.com
Snowden needs to stop with the hyperbole, The WEC is run by Zuffa they put the best against the best period regardless of ratings or anything else.
If Faber losses so what someone else will step in his place and get the backing from the WEC that’s life, the WEC will put their backing to whoever is their most exciting and fan favorite fighters just like any other promotion.
My employment with Heavy aside, Zuffa as a whole doesn’t put the best against the best regardless of ratings or anything else. The WEC does, but the UFC most certainly doesn’t.
If they did, Lyoto Machida wouldn’t have been an afterthought for a title fight at 205, we’d see GSP vs. Fitch or Alves before he goes through Hardy and whoever comes next (Daley, Koscheck) and two fights wouldn’t have been enough for Diego Sanchez to jump more accomplished lightweights like Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar.
It’s also not as easy as “Faber loses, replace him with Aldo.” They’ve made him the face of the brand in every sense, putting him into the best promotional deal the company has (Amp Energy, No Fear) and not really given much of a push to anyone else.
You can’t just switch gears overnight… and as much as Cerrone headlined three events, he’s a bit of an abrasive dude and not the easiest guy to market, much like Varner. Torres makes the most sense, but he’s in danger of being in the same position as Faber if he loses to Bowles a second time…
by E. Spencer Kyte on Jan 10, 2010 1:20 AM EST up reply actions
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