WEC Adding Flyweight Division
by Brett Jones on Jan 6, 2009 11:05 PM EST
33 comments
Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Cannon Jacques.
When I asked Luke to discuss Flyweights, I did so thinking that it would be a good way for people to better understand a division in MMA that has little to no representation in the United States. My feeling is that aside from horse jockeys, you'd be hard pressed to find adult male humans who weigh 125lbs. or less in North America. Apparently, then, WEC is scouring racetracks (or, more realistically, SHOOTO), as MMAWeekly is reporting the organizations intention to introduce their own flyweight division this year:
MMAWeekly.com sources on Tuesday revealed that the WEC is adding a 125-pound flyweight division. With WEC 38 in San Diego just three weeks away, no 125-pound bouts are expected for that fight card. The promotion's next event, likely in March, is a more apt candidate to host the WEC's new commitment to flyweight fighters.
The addition of a flyweight division is interesting for a variety of reasons. While SHOOTO currently houses the world's best in the division, it's unlikely that the WEC will be able to build the division around a Shinichi Kojima or Mamoru Yamaguchi. This leads me to speculate that WEC's sights are set on 2008 Olympic Gold Medal wrestler Henry Cejudo, who competed in Beijing at 121lbs. Cejudo has reportedly been training at a boxing gym, however recent rumors suggested that Cejudo could have faced KID Yamamoto at the recent K-1 Dynamite event. Not only would Cejudo enter the UFC with the greatest wrestling credentials, he would also be an easier main-stream sell given his Olympic backstory and his ability to speak English fluently (a characteristic many of the division's early competitors will likely lack).
Regardless of Cejudo's involvement, the addition of the Flyweight division will add even more excitement to a brand known for entertaining cards, top to bottom. It will surely require a lot of promotion by ZUFFA to get the division off the ground, particularly if Cejudo is not involved, but the hardest of the hadcore fans are surely joining me in an ear-to-ear grin at the thought of some of the potential match ups we could see this year and beyond.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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In my haste to put this together before passing out for the night, I forgot to mention a guy who is, to me, a mortal lock to be added to the division: Rambaa Somdet.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Jan 6, 2009 11:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nice Post
I figured after the announcement that the 185 and 205 divisions would be eliminated that the WEC would add a 125lb. division.
The WEC is going to have to add some talent from Japan because the 125lb division is dominated by the Japanese. I would love them to start off the division by signing Kojima to it but he seems like Aoki too big in Japan to leave his home country.
It will be nice for a change to watch some of these guys on live TV instead of low quality DVD copies.
Also good point about Rambaa M-16 Somdet I saw his last fight at PFC and I’ve never seen someone throw leg kicks as punishing in an MMA fight.
by tylerdurden1 on Jan 6, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
nice a guy like myself could compete in MMA!
and get ready to whoop some ass
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Jan 6, 2009 11:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I can't wait.
I'm just a dude who's trying to put it together.
by mma_dude on Jan 6, 2009 11:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Very nice.
Did you know we are in high demand, Laura?
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jan 7, 2009 12:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The only American flyweights I can even think of are the two guys that Mamoru back-to-back owned in ‘05. They’re definitely going to have to import. It will be interesting to see if American fans will show enthusiasm in the lowest weight class.
by ilostmydog on Jan 7, 2009 12:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
American Flyweights
Sam Thao is currently in our Top 25, and Omar Choudhury will be in our next update.
There was also a guy named Nick Cottone who we recently ranked, but fell out due to inactivity.
by JCS_FM on Jan 7, 2009 12:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, Cottone is still in.
Until next update.
FightMatrix.com
by JCS_FM on Jan 7, 2009 12:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Are there guys in the WEC bantam division that should be fighting at 125? Fighters fighting as batams because its the only game in town? It gets real hard for me to tell who is too small or too big when you start getting into the under 145 divisions.
by JAMSmusic on Jan 7, 2009 12:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The English-speaking world is not prepared for MAMORU
by smoogy on Jan 7, 2009 12:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dammit smoogy, you beat me to it!
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Jan 7, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Mamoru has talked about wanting to fight in WEC. I’d love to see it.
by FRANKIE on Jan 7, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Its great to see Zuffa getting the flyweights involved. Smaller guys make more exciting fights.
by EazyEismydad on Jan 7, 2009 1:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
They make for more energetic fights, and generally faster ones.
There’s no questioning that. There are still those of us who like to see the big men square off, just for the palpable danger felt with every punch.
But you’re absolutely right: it’s great to see the lighter weights get represented by the world’s best MMA brand.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Jan 7, 2009 8:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is good news. I’m about 5’6 – 5’7 and I weigh I 125 pounds w/o cutting weight. I’m not anorexic or anything, just damn skinny. In high school I once cut down to 112 for pre-season wrestling practice, though I never ended up trying out for the team.
I’m no were near competing professionally in the WEC at all, but it’s nice that some of the smaller guys are getting recognized in a major organization.
by EnsignFrog on Jan 7, 2009 1:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
This is awesome news.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
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by Richard Wade on Jan 7, 2009 1:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Fantastic! This is a great opportunity for the smaller guys.
by skeed on Jan 7, 2009 2:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Palace Fighting Championships
Don’t forget about them as well, they have an excellent working relationship with the UFC and they have a few flyweights who may jump over, such as Ulysses Gomez and Rambaa Somdet.
by Nick Travaglini on Jan 7, 2009 5:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
That’s just the beginning. The division needs some serious development in America, but there are some solid flyweights already training at the best camps in America. I suspect Greg Jackson’s Johnny Dodson will get the nod right away. Somdet is a lock, though not sure about Ulysses.
by Luke Thomas on Jan 7, 2009 6:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Question for Luke
You once said on WAR that Mike Easton could diet down to 135lbs., and he confirmed this on that show. What do you suppose the chances are of him cutting to 125lbs. and competing in this division?
UWC stuff aside.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Jan 7, 2009 6:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Easton could make it, but it’s not a good fit for him. The fight with Dodson proved Easton’s simply not fast enough to compete with guys who are naturally flyweights. Easton’s best served where his speed is his ally, so anything less than 135lbs is not ideal.
by Luke Thomas on Jan 7, 2009 6:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome post. Rec'd.
Any time you lower the static physical attribute threshold for a sport, you exponentially increase the available talent pool. Great news for Zuffa, and better news for MMA in general.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Jan 7, 2009 8:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
wasn't there...
… a guy on one of the recent TAPOUT episodes, that was a 125’r? the hawaiian guy? i’d imagine they’d sign him based on that alone.
regardless, i’m excited to see anyone they sign.
by woooburn on Jan 7, 2009 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
nevermind!
apparently that dude fights at 145. oops
by woooburn on Jan 7, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Another great move for the WEC.
Now they only need a women’s division (eventually a couple) and the WEC will be complete.
by Rundownloser on Jan 7, 2009 3:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Interesting you mention a women’s division.
Not that the big names such as Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg will compete at 125lbs., but arguably the greatest female fighter in the world, Megumi Fuji, fights at 125lbs. (or so). There’s certainly a division out there at that weight class if ZUFFA were to pursue it, though I’d imagine they’d build any women’s division around the aforementioned fighters and keep it at Featherweight 145lbs.
Good for Gina and Cris, but not particular great for the other talented female fighters who are more accustomed to competing at 125lbs. or 135lbs.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Jan 7, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that the best that they could do as far as women’s divisions would be a 125, 135, and 145 (years down the line, perhaps a 105, 115, and 155). Though at first, it would probably only be 145, for Gina and Cris.
And mega-ups on the Megumi Fuji call. Couldn’t agree more.
by Rundownloser on Jan 7, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Megumi Fuji
could whup some man ass at 125.
Gimme 1 Round!
by skwirrl on Jan 7, 2009 6:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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