List of World Extreme Cagefighting champions explained

This is a list of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champions at each weight class.

In December 2006 World Extreme Cagefighting was bought by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, to concentrate on the four smaller weight classes under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Over the next two years, the WEC would phase out weight classes above 155 lbs, with most of the fighters going to the UFC. By the time of the WEC's absorption into the UFC at the end of 2010, the only remaining weight divisions were Lightweight, Featherweight and Bantamweight.

World Title histories

Super Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: Unlimited

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 7
align=center August 9, 2003
The WEC Super Heavyweight division was abolished on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.

Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 2501NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left Mike Kyle
align=center WEC 9
align=center January 16, 2004
Title vacated.
2align=left Mike Serr
align=center WEC 10
align=center May 21, 2004
Title vacated.
3align=left James Irvin
align=center WEC 12
align=center October 21, 2004
Irvin vacated the title to fight in the Light Heavyweight division.
4align=left Brian Olsen
align=center WEC 18
align=center January 13, 2006
The WEC Heavyweight division was abolished on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.

Light Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 2001NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 6
align=center March 27, 2003
Shamrock vacated on August 2003 to fight for Strikeforce.
2align=left Richard Montoya
align=center WEC 11
align=center August 20, 2004
3align=left Jason Lambertalign=center WEC 13
align=center January 22, 2005
Lambert vacated on October 2005 to fight for the UFC.
4align=left Scott Smith
align=center WEC 17
align=center October 14, 2005
Smith vacated on May 2006 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter.
5align=left Lodune Sincaid
align=center WEC 20
align=center May 5, 2006
6align=left Doug Marshallalign=center WEC 23
align=center August 17, 2006
7align=left Brian Stannalign=center WEC 33
align=center March 26, 2008
8align=left Steve Cantwellalign=center WEC 35
align=center August 3, 2008
The WEC Light Heavyweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 3, 2008 so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes.

Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 1851NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 9
align=center January 16, 2004
Leben vacated to participate The Ultimate Fighter.
2align=left Joe Riggs
align=center WEC 15
align=center May 19, 2005
The WEC Middleweight title was vacated on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.
3align=left Paulo Filho
align=center WEC 29
align=center August 5, 2007
The WEC Middleweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 3, 2008, so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes.

Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 1701NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left Nick Diaz
def. Joe Hurley		align=center WEC 6
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center March 27, 2003
Diaz vacated the title to focus on fight for the UFC.
2align=left Shonie Carter
def. J.T. Taylor		align=center WEC 8
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center October 17, 2003
3align=left Karo Parisyanalign=center WEC 10
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center May 21, 2004
Parisyan vacated the title to focus on fighting for the UFC.
4align=left Mike Pyle
def. Bret Bergmark		align=center WEC 17
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center October 14, 20051. def. Shonie Carter at WEC 18 on Jan 13, 2006 in Lemoore, CA, USA
The WEC Welterweight title was vacated on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.
5align=left Carlos Condit
def. John Alessio		align=center WEC 26
Las Vegas, NV, USA		align=center March 24, 20071. def. Brock Larson at WEC 29 on Aug 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
2. def. Carlo Prater at WEC 32 on Feb 13, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM, USA
3. def. Hiromitsu Miura at WEC 35 on Aug 3, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
The WEC Welterweight division was absorbed into the UFC on February 3, 2009, so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes.

Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 1551NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left Kurt Pellegrino
def. Mac Danzig		align=center WEC 4
Uncasville, CT, USA		align=center Aug 31, 2002
Pellegrino vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events.
2align=left Gilbert Melendez
def. Olaf Alfonso		align=center WEC 10
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center May 21, 2004
Melendez vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events.
3align=left Gabe Ruediger
def. Olaf Alfonso		align=center WEC 12
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center October 21, 20041. def. Jason Maxwell at WEC 14 on Mar 17, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA
2. def. Sam Wells at WEC 17 on Oct 14, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA
4align=left Hermes Françaalign=center WEC 19
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center March 17, 20061. def. Brandon Olsen at WEC 21 on Jun 15, 2006 in Highland, CA, USA
2. def. Nate Diaz at WEC 24 on Oct 12, 2006 in Lemoore, CA, USA
The WEC Lightweight title was vacated on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization and brought França over to the UFC.
5align=left Rob McCullough
def. Kit Cope		align=center WEC 25
Las Vegas, NV, USA		align=center January 20, 20071. def. Richard Crunkilton at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
6align=left Jamie Varneralign=center WEC 32
Albuquerque, NM, USA		align=center February 13, 20081. def. Marcus Hicks at WEC 35 on Aug 3, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
2. def. Donald Cerrone at WEC 38 on Jan 25, 2009 in San Diego, CA, USA
-align=left Benson Henderson
align=center WEC 43
San Antonio, TX, USA		align=center October 10, 2009
7align=left Benson Henderson
align=center WEC 46
Sacramento, CA, USA		align=center January 10, 20101. def. Donald Cerrone at WEC 48 in April 2010, in Sacramento, CA, USA
8align=left Anthony Pettis
align=center WEC 53
Glendale, AZ, USA		align=center December 16, 2010
The WEC Lightweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 16, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger.

Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 1451NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left Cole Escovedo
def. Philip Perez		align=center WEC 5
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center October 18, 20021. def. Anthony Hamlett at WEC 8 on Oct 17, 2003 in Lemoore, CA, USA
2align=left Urijah Faberalign=center WEC 19
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center March 17, 20061. def. Joe Pearson at WEC 25 on Jan 20, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
2. def. Dominick Cruz at WEC 26 on Mar 24, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
3. def. Chance Farrar at WEC 28 on Jun 3, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
4. def. Jeff Curran at WEC 31 on Dec 12, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
5. def. Jens Pulver at WEC 34 on Jun 1, 2008 in Sacramento, CA, USA
3align=left Mike Brownalign=center WEC 36
Hollywood, FL, USA		align=center November 5, 20081. def. Leonard Garcia at WEC 39 on Mar 1, 2009 in Corpus Christi, TX, USA
2. def. Urijah Faber at WEC 41 on Jun 7, 2009 in Sacramento, CA, USA
4align=left José Aldoalign=center WEC 44
Las Vegas, NV, USA		align=center November 18, 20091. def. Urijah Faber at WEC 48 on April 24, 2010 in Sacramento, CA, USA
2. def. Manny Gamburyan at WEC 51 on Sep 30, 2010 in Broomfield, CO, USA
The WEC Featherweight division was absorbed into the UFC on September 30, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger. José Aldo was awarded the inaugural UFC Featherweight Championship on November 20, 2010.[1]

Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 1351NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=18%Datewidth=47%Defenses
1align=left Eddie Wineland
def. Antonio Banuelos		align=center WEC 20
Lemoore, CA, USA		align=center May 5, 2006
2align=left Chase Beebealign=center WEC 26
Las Vegas, NV, USA		align=center March 24, 20071. def. Rani Yahya at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
3align=left Miguel Torresalign=center WEC 32
Albuquerque, NM, USA		align=center February 13, 20081. def. Yoshiro Maeda at WEC 34 on Jun 1, 2008 in Sacramento, CA, USA
2. def. Manny Tapia at WEC 37 on Dec 3, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
3. def. Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 40 on April 5, 2009 in Chicago, IL, USA
4align=left Brian Bowlesalign=center WEC 42
Las Vegas, NV, USA		align=center August 9, 2009
5align=left Dominick Cruzalign=center WEC 47
Columbus, OH, USA		align=center March 6, 20101. def. Joseph Benavidez at WEC 50 on Aug 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
2. def. Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53 on Dec 16, 2010 in Glendale, AZ, USA
The WEC Bantamweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 16, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger. Dominick Cruz won the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship when he defeated Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53.[2]

North American Title histories

North American Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 2651NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 10
align=center May 21, 2004

North American Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 1851NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 12
align=center October 21, 2004
2align=left
align=center WEC 14
align=center March 17, 2005

North American Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 1551NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 10
align=center May 21, 2004

Native American Title histories

Native American Super Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: Unlimited

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 13
align=center January 22, 2005

Native American Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 1551NaN1

width=1%No.width=19%Namewidth=15%Eventwidth=20%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1align=left
align=center WEC 15
align=center May 19, 2005

Tournament winners

EventDateDivisionWinnerRunner-up
WEC 13January 22, 2005Heavyweight Brandon Vera Mike Whitehead
WEC 17October 14, 2005Light Heavyweight Scott Smith Tait Fletcher

Records

Most wins in title bouts

Victories ChampionDivisionVDNCL
6 Urijah FaberFeatherweight6003
4Bantamweight40 01
Welterweight40 00
3 Doug MarshallHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight		0
3		0
0		0
0		1
1
Lightweight30 01
Mike BrownFeatherweight3001
Jamie VarnerLightweight3001
Lightweight30 01
Featherweight
Bantamweight		0
3		0
0 		0
0		1
0
Lightweight30 00
Featherweight30 00

Most consecutive title defenses

DefensesChampionDivisionPeriod
5 Urijah FaberFeatherweightMarch 17, 2006 – November 5, 2008
3 Carlos ConditWelterweightMarch 24, 2007 – December 3, 2008
Miguel TorresBantamweightFebruary 13, 2008 – August 9, 2009
2 Gabe RuedigerLightweight October 21, 2004 – March 17, 2006
Hermes FrançaLightweightMarch 17, 2006 – December 2006
Doug MarshallLight HeavyweightAugust 17, 2006 – March 26, 2008
Jamie VarnerLightweightFebruary 13, 2008 – January 10, 2010
Mike BrownFeatherweight November 5, 2008 – August 9, 2009
José AldoFeatherweight November 18, 2009 – September 30, 2010
Dominick CruzBantamweightMarch 6, 2010 – December 16, 2010

Champions by nationality

The division champions includes only linear champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions. Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will also be counted once. Runners-up are not included in tournaments champions.

Country Division
champions 		Interim
champions 		Tournaments
champions 		Total
align=left align=center 30align=center - align=center 2align=center 32
align=left align=center 3align=center -align=center -align=center 3
align=left align=center 1align=center - align=center - align=center 1

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New UFC Champion Jose Aldo officially awarded title belt. mmajunkie.com. November 20, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023091540/http://mmajunkie.com/news/21481/new-ufc-champion-jose-aldo-officially-awarded-title-belt.mma. October 23, 2012.
  2. Web site: WEC 53: Dominick Cruz, Scott Jorgensen Fight To Be First UFC Bantamweight Champion. sbnation.com. December 14, 2010.

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