W.E.C. 36 11/05/08: No Hype, Just Good Plain Fights

There is a lot going on in the world of MMA over the next week and a half.  Many dues are being paid, breaking down the UFC superfight,  between Captain America Randy "The Natural" Couture and Brock "The Behemoth" Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight Belt.

The predictions and analysis are overwhelming to say the least.  There are some great points being generated for both sides of the argument and it really has added some interest to the fight, which putting it gently is heavily controversial.

This fight really is more interesting by its design, and the motives behind the matchup, than by the matchup itself.  The predictions and sides being taken are making it more interesting than it really is. 

The fight should be great regardless of ones loyalties or personal feelings about how it came to pass that a guy with little to no experience in the sport is getting a shot at a legend who happened to have abandoned his belt long ago. 

Really, neither guy deserves to fight for a title.  The UFC has a dedicated Heavyweight Champion.  It just so happens that title has an asterisk, describing it as interim, because Randy wanted to be a movie star, or teach the UFC a lesson in court, instead of proving he is the deserving of the title UFC Heavyweight Champ.  

Randy is a legend, there is no doubt, but what true champion turns his back on his own title?  Really? 

Sometimes the shadow of such a monumental event can become an eclipse to a lesser known, lesser hyped showcase of MMA talent and skill. 

Lesser versed MMA followers may or may not know that there is a card this very evening taking place on VS that may just outclass the heavyweight superhype card everyone is focused on.

With matchups between names like:

Faber-Brown   TITLE FIGHT

Filho-Sonnen  TITLE FIGHT-no longer due to the champ not making weight- :(

Pulver-Garcia  TITLE FIGHT OR NOT-BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE ON THIS ONE

There are guaranteed to be more fireworks tonight than one over hyped fight can provide.  One might even argue any one of these lesser known fights may do the job by itself, much less lumping them together pitting fight card against fight card for comparison.

This is not to disrespect great fighters like KenFlo and Joe Daddy who are guaranteed to steal the night from the big boys.  It is only to say, lets make sure we give credit where it is due.  The WEC card is a phenomenal card destined to impress. 

There are some great fights taking place this evening that aren't getting much attention from the masses of simple minds.  Most of the focus is on a fight that the UFC is spoon feeding those same masses. 

Like a shepard to his sheep Dana is herding us into the corral and banking on the fact that no one would dare miss the spectacle he has put together.  No one in their right mind would deny the marketing prowess of the UFC and miss this "Biggest fight in MMA history" as they like to call it.

The thing is there is a wolf in the corral, tonight's WEC event.  Sure Dana and Zuffa own that wolf, but one might wonder if it wont grab a couple sheep and show them what a great fight card really looks like.  Why isn't this card being blown up?  It is sure to be an outstanding night of fights. 

Uriah Faber is one of the most dynamic fighters you will ever see.  He is very much like Anderson Silva in the way that he really has no competition to speak of anymore.  He is just waiting around for the day some cat will show up and really give him a run for his money.  Until then the California Kid will just have to settle for handing out whoopins or move up in weight.  Tonight he puts his belt on the line. 

The controversy surrounding the last fight between Filho and Sonnen is more than compelling.  Sonnen was winning that fight pretty handily from some points of view.  Apparently the official felt he tapped, verbally or physically or not at all is the controversy. 

From where this writer was sitting it never happened and the fight was stopped prematurely.  Filho retained his title.  Tonight they meet again.  This is motivation enough to garner some heavy attention.  Alas, Filho did not make weight and the title will be put on hold.  There is a great fight in store regardless.

Jens Pulver never disapoints.  He has plenty of mouth, plenty of talent, plenty of pop in that hand of his.  Hes a great guy who is abrasive at times, but never lets us down when he steps in a ring.  The kid is re inventing himself and it is a treat to watch.  Never a dull moment. 

Leonard Garcia laid his soul on the floor of the octagon in a fight with Roger Huerta in one of the most impressive displays of drive and heart one will ever see.  This kid endured everything Huerta could produce and kept moving forward and answering, smiling the whole time. 

A chin of adamantium, don't be surprised if he springs blades from his knuckles and shreds Pulver.  The kid is a superhero at heart.  Expect the fight of the night. 

The end of the Huerta fight produced one of the finest displays of sportsmanship you will ever find, the two embraced and dropped to their knees, hands on eachothers heads paying credit to one another for the war that had been waged.

This will totally wrap up one MMA fans evening.  That fan will more than likely be more glued to the TV tonight than in a week and a half. 

It may seem disrespect of an over hyped card is the point here.  Maybe it is.  One thing is for sure.  There is much more disrespect when a card like the one being fought tonight is pushed to the wayside, for only the well versed MMA fan to enjoy, all the while pushing a card that has more bark than bite.  

The masses should be getting this card pushed on them every bit as much as the Heavyweight bout taking place November 15th. 

The sad question must be asked, and it really has already been answered.  Do the bums who will pay $50 bucks when they are told to, really love the sport, or are they just following the herd?  Will they tune in if the headliner doesn't say Lidell, Slice, or Lesnar?  Do they really support the sport, or are they just waiting for a train wreck? 

True MMA fans will watch every fight when possible, regardless of the names fighting.  True MMA fans know a surprise fight is just a Mike Goldberg "And here we go" away.  Some of the true gem fights of the sport had nothing to do with headliners. 

One thing is for sure.  The true MMA fans will need to be rounded up tonight, we wont be in the corral with the rest of the sheep waiting for Lesnar-Couture to happen.  We will be busy off in the pasture watching some damn good fights that most of the mainstream world knows nothing about.

Your obviously not one of those sheep being referenced or you would not have made it this far into this article.  Hats off to you, cant wait to see what we will be talking about tomorrow after tonight's event.