The Ohio Athletic Commission added a new division to the ranks of amateur MMA. Now the commission will oversee bouts in a cruiserweight division of 206 to 225 pounds.

Bernie Profato talked to MMA Weekly  about the decision:

"For fighters just starting out, we saw them in some difficult bouts, especially with a fighter that was 210 fighting someone 250 or more," said Profato on Monday.
...
"Let's see how it catches on with the amateurs before we suggest anything to the pros," said Profato. "I feel the pros are established and this weight may not make any difference."

WKR does have some mixed feelings about this. The OAC's explanation makes sense but we've always been of the mind that if we are going to create new divisions then let's make every division have a 10lbs. difference --in other words split welterweight into a 165lbs. and 175lbs. division--  with the big jumps going from light heavyweight and heavyweight where the talent pool shrinks drastically. Of course there are arguments to add a 195lbs. division or split heavyweight into two divisions. In essence, the OAC's decision fulfills the latter.

Detractors will state that this is the beginning of the fracturing of MMA, that more weight classes equals more titles, which in turn creates a watered down product. That may end up being true in the future, but look at the bright side. A professional crusierweight division may make "Cro Cop" relevant again!

No?

Can't a fella dream?

Looking for activities during WEC 47 or do you just need a break from the Convention Center? Then WKR has you covered with information about local events, sites, districts and food. Here is an updated version of our "what to do while in Columbus" post.

- There is of course the Arnold Sports Festival. That's right, the Govenator gives back to the city that helped launch his career. The Festival starts this Friday and contains such events as cheer-leading and weightlifting (full schedule here). The Festival takes place at the Columbus Convention Center, right off of High Street.

- World Extreme Cagefighting will hold the weigh-in at the Convention Center on Friday at 5:00pm ET. There will also be a fighter Q&A with Urijah Faber and Donald Cerrone on Friday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm at Exhibit Hall C. Finally there will be autograph sessions on Friday from 11:00am to 2:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am to noon and 2:00 to 4:00pm, and Sunday from 11:00am to 2:00pm in the Convention Center.

- Randy Couture will hold a MMA workshop in Exhibit Hall C from noon to 3:00pm on Friday.

- After the weigh-in the fighters will head over to the The Frog Bear & Wild Boar from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

- On Friday night you can head over to the L.C. Pavilion to check out the Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Festival, which features a whopping nineteen amateur MMA fights. Gates open at 7:00pm and the first bout at 7:30pm. If you arrive early you may have a chance to meet WEC fighters Brian Bowles and Mike Brown as well as Kurt Angle or Dean Lister. Tickets cost $30-$60 and may be purchased here.

- Since WEC 47 is taking place at Nationwide Arena (home to the Blue Jackets) there are a host of activities, bars and restaurants in the Arena District. For more information then our brief outline check out their website. But WKR prefers a different venue to snack that is just a few blocks away...

- If you are looking for something to eat or just want to binge on chocolate and ice cream you can go to the North Market. Don't worry it's about a block away from the Convention Center and has some of the best food around. The North Market is the historical market for Columbus, but now it is home to a bunch of local businesses that sell anything from chocolate to ice cream to specialty meats to international food to artisan bread to crazy beer. And who doesn't like crazy beer? WKR suggests you try Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, pastries from Mozart's (Arnold loves Mozart's) or head over to Lac Viet Market for Vietnamese food.

- For those who are looking for a break from the Arena District you can either head North or South up High St. If you have kids we suggest heading South as COSI may provide a nice respite for the kids. If you are looking for something a little more artsy you should head north on High St.  and till you reach the arts district called the Short North (only about two miles). WKR suggests you check out the Short North on Saturday, March 6th as the district will be holding their Gallery Hop where over forty venues will feature local art including bars and restaurants. The hop officially begins at 4:00pm and officially ends at 10:00pm.

- Now if you really keep going north on High Street you will eventually arrive at the Ohio State University. OSU is essentially its own city so there isn't really a lot I can point out without writing a whole other post so I will let you in on my favorite places. On the south tip of Campus there is a district called the Gateway. It hosts a bunch of bars  where a lot of drunk college kids go. Now if you want to smoke inside (since there is a smoking ban) go to my favorite hookah bar on the north side of campus called the Shisha Lounge.  Most Buckeye fans love the football stadium, called the 'Horseshoe' and the rotunda is definitely worth checking out as it is a historical landmark but my favorite thing is the Jesse Owens memorial in front of the stadium.

- If you are looking for more information regarding Columbus' bars and restaurants go here

- For those that think Skyline Chili is an Ohio thing you are correct. However, Skyline is from Cincinnati and that cities historical heritage. WKR suggest passing on this Ohio, um, delicacy unless you are really inebriated and need firecracker food to soak up the C2H5OH.

- One last thing, WKR will be in attendance on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you'd like to meet up to share a beer and talk some MMA, media coverage, movies, video games or the historical effects of the Battle of Cannae, shoot us an email at watchkalibrun@gmail.com. Or you can check hit us up on twitter.com/watchkalibrun and Facebook.

WEC 47 isn't the only mixed martial arts event in Columbus, Ohio this weekend.

On Friday, March 5th the Arnold Sports Festival will hold their first Amateur MMA Festival at the L.C. Pavilion, which features a whopping nineteen amateur fights. Doors open at 7:00pm with the first bout beginning at 7:30pm. Tickets cost $30-$60 and may be purchased here.

WEC bantamweight champion, Brian Bowles, and former featherweight champion, Mike Brown,will both be in attendance for fans to meet from 7:00 to 7:30pm. Kurt Angle and Dean Lister will also be in attendance.

SBN coverage of WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz

Updated with additional information.

MMA fans may watch WEC 47's weigh-in live at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio on March 5th at 5pm ET.

The Convention Center plays host to the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio (you can purchase tickets here) and WEC 47 coincides with the popular fitness festival. The weigh-ins will be open to all Festival attendees and the WEC will hold a fighter Q&A with Urijah Faber and Donald Cerrone at Exhibit Hall C on Friday, March 5 from 2 to 3pm. There will also be autograph sessions on Friday from 11am to 2pm, Saturday from 10am to Noon and 2 to 4pm, and Sunday from 11am to 2pm in the Convention Center. Randy Couture will also have a MMA demonstration on Friday during the Festival.

After the weigh-in the fighters will head over to the The Frog Bear & Wild Boar from 6-8 pm.

One last thing, WKR will be in attendance at the weigh-in and at the bar. If you'd like to meet up to share a beer and talk some MMA, media coverage, movies, video games or the historical effects of the Battle of Cannae, shoot us an email at watchkalibrun@gmail.com. Or you can check hit us up on twitter.com/watchkalibrun and Facebook.

SBN coverage of WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz

(How *gasp* far *gasp* is it to *gasp* Wendy's? A hundred yards!? **** that!)

Sad news Ohio MMA fans.

Tim Sylvia will not be fighting Brandon Lee Hinkle. Sylvia tweeted the news saying,

"Hinkle fight is off something else is in the works now."

In fact, Sylvia won't be fighting in Ohio at all as the Adrenaline MMA event has been canceled though it could be rescheduled for April. That would be nice for the locals, as the old saying goes, "April knockouts to 47 year old boxers bring May flowers"

WEC 47 won't be the only MMA game in town on the first weekend of March in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Arnold Sports Festival will host a night of amateur MMA fights at the LC Pavillion on March 5th at 8:00pm. The card will include three amateur title fights in addition to sixteen other amateur fights.

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Arnold Sports Festival -- the largest multi-sport festival in the nation -- will host an amateur mixed martial arts event for the first time in 2010.

The Amateur MMA Festival will be held on Friday, March 5 at LC Pavilion in downtown Columbus. The card will feature up to 20 bouts of high-level amateur mixed martial arts competition.

The Amateur MMA Festival is one of 44 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports, that make up the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival. The Arnold Sports Festival presents fitness and fun for all ages March 4-7. The 700-booth Arnold Sports Festival, professional and amateur bodybuilding contests -- including the 22nd Annual Arnold Classic -- and professional and amateur Strongman competitions highlight a weekend that has steadily grown since debuting in 2989 as a one-day bodybuilding competition.

Entire press release after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

The Ohio Athletic Commission will not sanction the rumored fight between Tim Sylvia and Wes Sims as the executive director has ruled the bout "non-competitive". 

Bernie Profato explained his reasoning to MMA Junkie:

"The commission felt the fight was not going to be competitive at this time after comparing [Sims' and Sylvia's] records and the opponents both fighters had faced. And even though it was 2004, Sylvia previously stopped Sims at 1:36 of the first round."

For curious fans you can watch the fight here.

Interesting that the commission ruled the bout "non-competitive". While Sims looked out of shape when he fought Bobby Lashley at Strikeforce: Miami in January we are talking about Tim Sylvia, who KO'd by a 47 year old boxer... In fairness to Tim he rebounded with a solid win over Jason Riley in a state where there actually is an athletic commission.

Sims and Sylvia are expected to remain on the card. The OAC has already approved Brandon Lee Hinkle to fight Tim Sylvia. Wes Sims is expected to fight Kerry Schall.

Update: Sylvia responded to the news with this tweet:

"Damm u guys know more about me then I do they said he sucks. So I can't fight him cause it's a mismatch."

The entire WEC 47 card is now official.

Main Card

• Champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz (for bantamweight title)
• Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Torres
• Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez
• L.C. Davis vs. Deividas Taurosevicius
• Karen Darabedyan vs. Bart Palaszewski

Preliminary Card

• Chad George vs. Scott Jorgensen
• Erik Koch vs. Chad Mendes
• Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Pettis
• Leonard Garcia vs. Diego Nunes
• Bendy Casimir vs. Ricardo Lamas
• Courtney Buck vs. Fredson Paixao

WEC 47 takes place in Columbus, Ohio at Nationwide Arena on March 6th. The event also coincides with the popular Arnold Sports Festival. Live weigh-ins will occur at the Festival on March 5th.

Also, the WEC released a new youtube video preview for WEC 47. Check it out below.

Having Reed Harris explain some of the context of the fight, as well as the history and talents of the fighters, is an excellent move by WEC. It serves the dual purpose of introducing the meaning of the fight to fans (and is a mirror of the UFC's packaging) while also putting a face on the organization as a whole. In this case Reed Harris. There is just one thing that may cause you to scratch your head. Harris is only talking about Miguel Torres and Joseph Benavidez. 

Obviously Miguel is the big draw but considering that Torres lost to Brian Bowles and Benavidez lost to Cruz --the two main event participants-- may cause some complaints from the diehards. Overall though, its a good move.

SBN coverage of WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz