Response Column: Five Reasons Why The WEC Should Not Merge With UFC

In case you missed it, fellow Bleacher Report writer Sean Schimling wrote an editorial Monday musing whether the WEC should merge with its mutually-owned 'big brother' UFC. While Sean poses some interesting arguments, I think he missed a few points. Instead of posting an extra-long comment in his article, I figured I’d contribute my first Bleacher Report-only post. (Keep in mind there has been no talk of a merger or even any rumors. This is all just MMA food for thought.)

-Reason 1: A merger would mean less MMA on TV. UFC is just about maxed out on Spike as it is and by having WEC on Versus, it means that another channel is running quality MMA programming for us to consume. Look at the WWE model. They have programming across two cable networks and a broadcast network, meaning more potential eyes on the product at various intervals. If someone doesn't watch USA but likes Sci-Fi, there's a chance to interact with them, either through the actual show OR commercials pimping the show. As we speak, I'm watching hockey on Versus and I've seen two WEC promos within 10 minutes. There are people out there that just don’t watch certain channels, so being able to reach them in their traditional viewing environment is important for the business.

-Reason 2: A merger would mean less opportunities for fighters. The UFC roster is a bit swollen with several hundred fighters under contract, meaning more talented guys don't get the chance to compete in front of our eyes that often. Combining the rosters wouldn’t mean more opportunities for talent, but less as it’s unrealistic to expect UFC to keep everyone on their rosters without creating a spin-off...which is essentially what WEC is. More up-and-coming fighters would lose their spots and their opportunity to create spots and I don't think that's good for the industry - especially with the ProElite groups now done. More groups equal more opportunities for fighters, which means the potential for better fights and a healthy industry, which includes bloggers like myself and Sean, magazines like FIGHT! and more.

-Reason 3: A merger would eliminate important rungs in the MMA ladder. Having WEC allows guys to ply their trade somewhere else if A) things aren't great in the UFC or B) if they're dominating the smaller circuits around the country. Think about it. WEC was never meant to be a competitor to the UFC, but an alternative and a supplement. That’s why they feature the lighter weight classes, have different announcers and have a different vibe. Jens Pulver wasn’t having a great run in the UFC, so he was able to drop down a weight class and compete against the best in the WEC. In addition, WEC is a great breeding ground for up-and-coming fighters that might not be ready for the big-time lights of the UFC. To throw them to the lions would be unfair for them and not using the system to its true capacity.

-Reason 4: Lighter weight fighters can be extremely entertaining. Sean suggests to scrap the bantamweight division. Why? The fights with those lighter weights are traditionally pretty good and will likely improve as the talent level deepens. I’m not a fan of eliminating divisions for the sake of doing so. Look at the talent we've got to know and love: Urijah Faber, Manny Tapia, Carlos Condit, Miguel Torres, Jamie Varner, etc. The cut of the WEC’s light heavyweight and middleweight divisions was done to help further bolster those rosters at the UFC level and to allow WEC to showcase weight classes that don’t get a ton of play on their broadcasts. Why should Faber have to jump a weight class to get main events? When the time is right, he'll do the right thing. There is some deep talent on the WEC roster and I feel 2009 is going to be big for showcasing a lot of it.

-Reason 5: The WEC is successful. Sean also suggests that the WEC won’t last past their December event, which I don’t understand. They run every few months or so on Versus, provide content for the somewhat-neglected WEC Wreckage program and Versus President Jamie Davis said that WEC was part of the reason the network got in the top five of all cable networks in growth with the crucial 18-35 male demographic and 18-49 overall. This isn't a ProElite situation. They're owned by the right people and everything they do is done with a specific intent. If you trust the UFC way, there is no reason to be concerned about the WEC.

With the various rosters of ProElite now looking for work, there is going to be a slew of fighters looking for chances in addition to the talent that is being developed in cages and mats across the world. Some will find work in the UFC, while others may make their way into the WEC. I personally think WEC would be best served by beginning a women’s division and taking on talents like Gina Carano and Cyborg Santos. That would allow Zuffa to still draw revenue and attention the ladies have started without going against their earlier statements that women’s MMA didn’t have a place in the UFC.

As the MMA business continues to mature and find its high-water mark, the time isn’t right to consolidate but rather look for ways to expand.

Josh Nason writes for RopesRingandCage.com and his first article for FIGHT! Magazine will be published soon. He can be reached at [e-mail].