On 106.7 WJFK this past weekend on "MMA Nation", I spoke with WEC General Manager about a range of issues from Brown vs. Faber II, WEC on pay-per-view, reaching out to Latino audiences and more. Here's what the WEC GM had to say:

1. He and his team at the WEC are committed to promoting the WEC brand and doesn't believe the UFC should simply envelop the WEC in order to get the lighter weight classes the attention that the UFC PR muscle machine can provide. With a couple more years to grow the brand, Harris believes the WEC will be "a household name".

2. Harris believes the WEC is now "the number two organization in the world" in the sport of MMA.

3. Zuffa is "unequivocally" committed to the WEC even if financially they aren't necessarily a major money maker. Harris also states in terms of growth projections, the WEC is where they believed they'd be by this time.

4. To better reach Latin audiences, Harris said the WEC does a media tour in Mexico after every WEC event with fighters in tow. The WEC also has numerous respectable television deals there. As for Latino audiences in the U.S., the WEC said there is a division within Zuffa that handles minority media outreach. He also appears to suggest the WEC is making slow inroads with these efforts. I argue more can be done to reach out to Latino media here and Harris somewhat agrees, but states their efforts are ongoing and will continue to improve over time.

5. Harris says he reads BloodyElbow.com everyday. Cised for that.

6. Beginning June 3rd, Versus will show a new series of 12 WrekCage shows with fights from previously unaired preliminary fights.

7. As far as doing shows on the East Coast, Harris expressed interest of doing shows in Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and back to Florida. He also noted smaller cities fit the bill for their shows given that their typical venue size holds roughly 6,000 to 8,000 people, the WEC has some flexibility in cities they are able to hold shows. He also says East Coast cities work out better for Versus because of their starting time.

8. June 7th's show ticket sales are tracking towards a sell out, according to Harris. The ARCO Arena in Sacramento holds approximately 12,000.

9. Harris forecasts that it will be a couple of years before the WEC is able to hold shows on the East Coast more than two or three times a year.

10. When a fighter wants to change weight classes from the UFC to the WEC, the decision ultimately begins with what Joe Silva wants to do. If a fighter moves, the WEC takes over their existing UFC contract. Harris says that the UFC and WEC are essentially one company and the two organizations are in contact with each other on a daily basis.

11. If given the choice of having women's divisions or simply featuring Gina Carano, Harris prefers to have divisions in the WEC. As of now, the WEC has no plans to start any women's division.

12. On the issue of the WEC holding a pay-per-view event, Harris said he's "comfortable" with the idea, but understands if the WEC does a PPV it's "got to be compelling enough to get people to pay for it." Versus apparently asked for this fight for supporting the WEC for the last two years.

13. On whether or not it's damaging for the WEC for it's top media darling Urijah Faber to lose his bid to recapture the featherweight strap from current WEC champ Mike Brown, Harris says no. He says the WEC is not built around one guy and that the organization is always prepared for a fighter to lose.

14. Harris offers no prediction on who will win Faber vs. Brown II, but says Faber is lifting weights for the first time ever in his career and has put on two to three pounds of muscle.

15. Harris says the WEC doesn't receive a lot of tape from managers, but the organization does watch YouTube and uses scouts to find talent. Harris says he himself also attends lots of local shows. He also is forced to admit he watches HDNet.

The rest of Saturday's show segments after the jump.

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Segment One - I open the show and have a talk with my producer Othello about pushing the show to the next level.

Segment Two - Interview with WEC GM Reed Harris.

Segment Three - UFC 98 preliminary card talk.

Segment Four - we give away a new copy of the UFC Undisputed 2009 video game with some botched MMA trivia.

Segment Five - UFC 98 main card talk.

Segment Six - show wrap-up.