UFC 120: Does Carlos Condit's Win Help Give The WEC More Legitimacy?

With his stunning knock out victory over the very durable Dan Hardy, the question still remains unanswered, is Carlos Condit for real? Is the WEC for real? I have a resounding yes for both.

The WEC is a brand of MMA associated with Zuffa, I always explain to the causal fan that it is a "lighter weight UFC". The WEC has a bunch of animals fighting under their banner. The likes of Jose Aldo, who just happens to be in the midst of the pound for pound talk.

They have Urijah Faber, who is the Chuck Liddell of the WEC, huge star in California and an excellent fighter. Benson Henderson is a guy who is flying under the radar because he hasn't fought anybody in the top ten in the lightweight division, but do not let that fool you.

Henderson is an elite fighter and will rival anybody in the big show if he gets his chance. He puts a relentless pace on guys who initially end up breaking by the end of the fight.

The WEC, like most MMA companies, get over shadowed by the UFC. The UFC has control on the market of MMA right now. No matter what you read on the Underground or Sherdog, UFC is number one and puts on the best show head to toe. Some cards fall flat, but they have so many of them that is going to happen. Is every football game on Sunday the best game you have ever watched? No. That goes with every sport, MMA is not an exception to that.

The legitimacy of the WEC shouldn't be questioned, they have always put on great fights and did I mention that these fights are free?

The legitimacy of Carlos Condit has came into questioned more so than the WEC. Condit dominated in the WEC, former champion and he comes into the UFC fighting a very tough Martin Kampmann and drops a split decision. So what do us fans do? Write him off. There were countless threads on the forums saying " What happen to Condit?" "Condit is not ready for the big time" " Condit overrated?"

I dismissed these opinions as just people only remembering the last fight. This guy fought 28 times before coming into the UFC, he fought 9 fighters who were or are in the UFC before getting there. He has a decision loss to Jake Shields who most people think will be getting the next title shot. Condit also dropped a few submission losses early in his career, those are his only setbacks.

He finished every single fight he had in the WEC, he has had two nominations for fight of the year and trains with a top of the food chain camp (Greg Jacksons)

Carlos Condit resume is one of the most impressive in the UFC, considering his age and his style of fighting. I think after this victory over Dan Hardy, Condit is ranked 7th in the Welterweight division.

The WEC could really benefit from being partners with the UFC. Cross promotion is an idea being kicked around between the two brands and I love this idea. Nobody wants to see Jose Aldo fight Frankie Edgar more than me. Ben Henderson finally getting his chance to prove himself. "Cowbody" Cerrone going to war with the UFC's lightweight division. Jamie Varner being welcomed back to the UFC. Urijah Faber moving up to 155 and rematching Tyson Griffin.

The WEC has three divisions (Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight) out of the those three divisions, they have two number one fighters in the world.

Yeah, I'd say The WEC is pretty legit.