SamCaplan's Blog - Entries by category (265,011 views)

Updated tentative card for WEC on June 1

1 month ago

The current tentative lineup for the WEC's next show on June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. is as follows:

  • Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver for the WEC featherweight title
  • Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia for the WEC bantamweight title
  • Jeff Curran vs. Mike Brown
  • Donald Cerrone vs. Rich Crunkilton
  • Mark Munoz vs. TBA 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Crunkilton to face Cerrone at next WEC event

1 month ago

Rich "Cleat" Crunkilton is scheduled to return to the WEC's Octagon on June 1 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

Crunkilton's opponent will be Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, according to a recent profile article on Cerrone at the WEC's official website

A veteran of six WEC fights, Crunkilton last fought on March 26 in Las Vegas, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Sergio Gomez.

Cerrone, considered to be a top lightweight prospect, is a perfect 7-0 in his young mixed martial arts career. He has not fought since last September after being suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following a positive test for a banned substance.

The WEC show in June, which will be televised on VERSUS, is scheduled to be headlined by a featherweight title defense by Urijah Faber against former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

The WEC makes the USA Today

1 month ago

On my way to San Jose, Calif., I picked up a copy of the USA Today to read during the plane ride. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Wednesday's WEC event at least received some cursory coverage.

In the USA Today sports section, they run a column called "Update" that lists a bunch of shorter news stories that didn't warrant major headlines. At the bottom is a passage titled "Briefly," that says the following:

Challenger Brian Stann (6-0) defeated Doug Marshall (7-3) and captured the World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight title in Las Vegas. Stann won by TKO when he dropped Marshall with a powerful left hook 1:35 into the first round. 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Preview of tonight's WEC show on VERSUS

1 month ago

The news cycle has been crazy the last two days so I haven't had a lot of time to devote to previewing tonight's WEC card (9 p.m. ET on VERSUS).

While this isn't the promotion's best lineup on paper, I still think it's a good show and you can't judge a WEC card by how it looks on paper. Some of the best matchmaking in MMA takes place in the WEC so tonight's show could easily be a sleeper card.

Since I can't wait to kick back and watch this show tonight, I felt it would be a big mistake not to give my thoughts on what I am expecting from the televised bouts.

Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann for the WEC Light Heavyweight Title:


A lot of haters out there have ripped Brian Stann in the past but I'm a fan of the guy. And after meeting him in person last year, I developed even more respect for him.

Brian Stann is all about three things: his family, the U.S. Marine corps, and fighting. I hate when people rip him for talking up his experience in the military because it's a case of the WEC wisely promoting that aspect of his background and the media making the decision to ask him about it. If people don't like the fact that his military credentials are being promoted, blame the media and the WEC. But to expect the media or the WEC to try and downplay his military background is kind of naive.

All Stann has done is what is asked of him and has only taken what's been given to him. Is he ready for this spot? I think so. Granted, he doesn't have a lot of fights under his belt but his hands are very impressive. He's a big, strong fighter who is only going to get better once he's able to devote even more time to training.

When I interviewed Stann last year he mentioned on the record that he had questions about Marshall's character and that he feels Marshall sometimes looks for ways out of fights. Personally, I haven't seen that from Marshall but Stann is not the only person who has raised questions about Marshall's mental approach to fighting.

Marshall has improved a lot and I think he will have an advantage if the fight goes to the ground, but I see Stann keeping the fight on the feet and responding to critics by pulling off the upset.

Prediction: Brian Stann by second round TKO.

Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker

Baker was tapped as the replacement opponent for Sonnen after WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic in Brazil to receive treatment for several medical issues he's currently having.

Baker really impressed me when he defeated Jesse Forbes last September. He followed it up with a big win over Eric Schambari last December. I consider him to be one of the top middleweight prospects in MMA right now.

But the operative word is "prospect" and to be honest, I'm not sure he's ready for Sonnen. A year from now, I think Baker takes this fight. However, Sonnen just has more experience and could have an advantage on the ground.

It's easy to overlook Sonnen because he doesn't do anything that stands out. He also has what I will refer to as an off-beat personality. I even tried to interview him this week but he was just so wound up that I didn't feel like I could submit the article as planned to CBSSports.com. I just think that Sonnen's vast experience and well-rounded abilities makes him too tough of a test for Baker to pass.

Prediction: Sonnen via second round submission.


Marcus Hicks vs. Ed Ratcliff

It might be a blessing in disguise that tonight's WEC show isn't as stacked as some of their previous shows because it means we get to see this fight. You've got two undefeated (Hicks is 7-0 and Ratcliff is 6-0) lightweight prospects going head-to-head for a possible future lightweight title shot in what I expect to be the fight of the night.

This fight also makes for an interesting clash in styles. Hicks is a gritty inside boxer while Ratcliff incorporates a lot of traditional martial arts striking into his MMA game. So you've got an inside fighter vs. an outside fighter. Watch this fight closely because I think some of what we will see from Cung Le and Frank Shamrock on Saturday night could mirror this fight.

I expect Hicks to give up some range in this bout which means that if he wants to hit Ratcliff with hooks and uppercuts that he's going to have to take risks and close the distance. One mistake and Ratcliff could catch him with a big kick. The thing is, if Hicks successfully closes the distance, much of Ratcliff's arsenal will be useless if he can't get any extension on anything.

Hicks is also the more well-rounded of the two, as he's the better grappler in my eyes.

I would really like to abstain from making a prediction here but I always find it boring when other writers try to take the easy way out. There's just something about Hicks' pitbull style that I think will earn him the win but I wouldn't be surprised to see Ratcliff win either.

Prediction: Hicks via unanimous decision.

Tim McKenzie vs. Steve Cantwell

I've talked to a lot of West Coast fighters and in a lot of my conversations with them, the name Tim McKenzie usually comes up. The guy has a lot of credibility within the industry and is a strong addition to the WEC's light heavyweight division. A win vs. Cantwell could put him in position to face the winner of Marshall vs. Stann.

McKenzie used to train out of one of the best camps in the country in Trevor and Todd Lally's Arizona Combat Sports. But he left after deciding to move back to California and I'm not sure whether the change in training will be a factor or not.

Regardless, I still consider him an overwhelming favorite against Cantwell, who really looked overmatched against an inexperienced fighter in Stann at WEC 26 last March. Despite it being just Stann's third-ever fight, he was still able to steamroll Cantwell and TKO him just 41 seconds into the fight.

Prediction: McKenzie via first round TKO.

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Baker to face Sonnen at March 26 WEC event

1 month ago

Undefeated (6-0) middleweight Bryan Baker has been tapped to replace Paulo Filho as an opponent for Chael Sonnen at the WEC's next event on March 26 in Las Vegas.

The news was first reported by Thomas Gerbasi on the WEC's official website

Filho had been slated to defend the WEC middleweight title vs. Sonnen in a rematch from their 2007 fight last September but had to pull out after checking into a rehabilitation clinic in Brazil.

In addition to Baker vs. Sonnen, a WEC light heavyweight title match featuring champion Doug Marshall and challenger Brian Stann will headline the show. 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Card finalized for WEC 33

2 months ago

World Extreme Cagefighting sent out a recent release to finalized its next card scheduled for March 26 in Las Vegas. The show will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and will be televised on VERSUS (starting at 9 p.m. ET).

It should be noted that in spite of his comments to Tatame.com, WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho is still slated to face Chael Sonnen. According to Filho's manager Ed Soares, Filho has pulled it together and will remain on the card.

The full lineup is as follows:

  • Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen (WEC Middleweight Championship)
  • Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann (WEC Light Heavyweight Championship)
  • Brock Larson vs. John Alessio
  • Marcus Hicks vs. Ed Ratcliff
  • Rich Crunkilton vs. Sergio Gomez
  • Bryan Baker vs. Logan Clark
  • Kenji Osawa vs. Chris Manuel
  • Alex Serdyukov vs. Ryan Stonitch
  • Tim McKenzie vs. Steve Cantwell
  • Hiromitsu Miura vs. Blas Avena

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Jeff Curran rumored to be fighting Mike Brown on June 1 in Sacramento

2 months ago

Jeff Curran is scheduled to return to the WEC on June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. against newcomer Mike Brown, according to the rumors section of MMAWeekly.com.

The card, which will be televised on VERSUS, is expected to feature a WEC featherweight title match between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver.

Former NCAA wrestling champion Mark Munoz will also reportedly make his WEC debut on the card. 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Former NCAA national champion signs with the WEC

2 months ago

Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting has signed former NCAA wrestling champion Mark Munoz to its roster, the Vallejo Times-Herald is reporting.

According to the paper, Munoz signed a guaranteed six fight contract. Financial terms were not disclosed but the paper quotes the light heavyweight as saying the deal is a "high six-figure" contract.

The report specifies that he is scheduled to make his WEC debut on June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. at the Arco Arena. The show will be televised on VERSUS and is expected to feature a WEC featherweight title match between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver.

No word is available yet in regards to an opponent for Munoz and whether his fight will be televised. 

"Just for me, I feel humble and actually grateful that the WEC is willing to pay this much to have me fight for their organization," Munoz is quoted as saying in the article. "All the hard work for wrestling and the training, it's coming around. I just never really fathomed that it would come to this. I'm actually in shock and awe right now. I truly believe that God has opened a door for me."

Munoz, 3-0 in his mixed martial arts career, competed as a collegiate wrestler at Oklahoma State, a wrestling power in which the likes of current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture as well as Team Takedown members Jake Rosholt, Shane Roller, and Johny Hendricks have all competed for. 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Featherweight Mike Brown considering move to WEC

2 months ago

Featherweight fighter Mike Brown is considering a move to World Extreme Cagefighting, where he would possibly contend for the WEC featherweight title currently held by Urijah Faber.

Brown made the revelation to host Matt Peterson during a recent episode of the "New England Fights!" podcast.

"I'm in talks with the WEC now and am close to signing with them. It could be this week [that it's announced]," Brown stated during the interview.

Brown is 16-4 and trains with American Top Team in Florida. He is currently on a six fight win streak and has not lost since submitting to top 10 featherweight Masakazu Imanari in 2005 during a DEEP show in Japan.

His most notable win came in December of 2006 on a BodogFIGHT show in St. Petersburg, Russia when he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Yves Edwards. Since the Edwards fight, he has recorded victories over Eben Oroz this past November and Manny Reyes Jr. this past December.

While it was not addressed during the course of the interview, one issue that could prevent Brown from signing with the WEC in the timetable he suggested is that he also indicated in the interview he has one fight remaining on his contract with Bodog.

Bodog allows most of its fighters to compete outside of the contract, the Zuffa-owned WEC typically frowns upon working with fighters that have existing contracts with other promotions. Brown may need to satisfy his obligations to Bodog before fighting in the WEC.

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com

Next WEC event confirmed for March 26 in Las Vegas

2 months ago

Officials close to World Extreme Cagefighting have informed ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) that their next event has been confirmed for Wednesday, March 26 in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Headlining the show will be two title matches featuring WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho taking on Chael Sonnen and WEC light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall going against Brian Stann.

The two title matches are the only matches on the card confirmed thus far, however, MMAWeekly.com's rumors section indicates that bouts featuring Brock Larson vs. John Alessio, Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks, Ian McCall vs. Jeff Bedard, Kenji Osawa vs. Chris Manuel, Nissen Osterneck vs. Bryan Baker, and Dave Terrel vs. Ryan Stonitch are slated as well. 

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com