WEC officials previously announced a headliner of WEC 135-pound champion Brian Bowles (8-0) vs. Dominick Cruz (14-1) and a co-main event of Miguel Torres (37-2) vs. Joseph Benavidez (11-1).
Additionally, the WEC recently confirmed former UFC champion Jens Pulver (22-12) will come out of retirement to fight Javier Vazquez (13-4). Rounding out the main card are Deividas Taurosevicius (12-3) vs. L.C. Davis (15-2) and Leonard Garcia (13-5) vs. Diego Nunes (13-1).
On paper, WEC 47 is one of the deepest cards in the promotion’s history
Zuffa LLC (the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s parent company) purchased the WEC, formerly a successful California-based promotion, in 2007, moved it to Las Vegas, and soon took the show on the road to new markets.
Like the three UFC events from 2007-2009, WEC 47 coincides with the Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports/fitness exhibition in Columbus.
Lesnar cleared to fight again
Out of action since July due to a sometimes mysterious illness, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar announced this past week that he’s been cleared to fight again.
Lesnar (4-1), a former WWE star who’s quickly become the UFC’s top pay-per-view draw, blamed his ailments (initially diagnosed as everything from swine flu to mononucleosis) on a high-protein diet that led to diverticulitis.
“The experience gave me a different perspective on life and my family,” Lesnar said. “I’m a young guy. These things aren’t supposed to happen. I consider myself a healthy human being. I definitely have to re-evaluate (my diet).”
Lesnar could fight as soon as May 29 at UFC 114, where he’s likely to meet the winner of a March 27 Shane Carwin-vs.-Frank Mir fight.
Ohio’s Sims to fight former WWE champ
Wes Sims, a Lancaster-based fighter who previously fought for the UFC and its reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” has been selected to fight former WWE United States champion (and current TNA wrestler) Bobby Lashley at Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Miami” event.
Two other potential opponents for the fast-rising Lashley (4-0) were nixed, and Strikeforce officials chose Sims (22-12-1) just 10 days before the event.
It’s a big opportunity for Sims, a 6-foot-8 heavyweight who’s experienced a wildly inconsistent MMA career. The event takes place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., and Lashley vs. Sims airs live on the Showtime broadcast (10 p.m.).
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008 and 2009 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to www.MMAjunkie.com.
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