WEC Likely to Eliminate 170-pound Class

An announced World Extreme Cagefighting 39: Brown vs Garcia championship rematch between WEC welterweight title-holder Carlos Condit and Brock Larson has been scrapped – and the WEC's entire welterweight division could be eliminated, as well.

Cancellation of Condit vs. Larson II was first reported by fiveouncesofpain.com, which also stated that Condit is headed to the UFC and could headline UFC: Ultimate Fight Night 18 against Martin Kampmann.

World Extreme Cagefighting 39: Brown vs Garcia is scheduled for March 1 in Corpus Christi, Texas. UFC: Ultimate Fight Night 18 takes place April 1, likely in Nashville, Tenn.

The elimination of the WEC's 170-pound class comes just a few months after the organization scrapped its light heavyweight and middleweight classes. The top fighters from each division were transferred to the UFC, and multiple sources told MMAjunkie.com the same will happen with the WEC's top welterweights.

On Wednesday morning, the WEC posted an announcement that Condit vs. Larson II was initially canceled because of a sprained wrist suffered by Condit.

Throughout 2008, UFC President Dana White and other Zuffa LLC officials reiterated the WEC's commitment to the sport's lighter weight classes. To help distinguish between the two organizations, overlapping divisions have been axed. However, according to a recent report by MMAWeekly.com, the WEC could fill the talent void with the addition of a new 125-pound flyweight division.

If the elimination of the welterweight division comes to fruition, the only division left in both organizations will be the 155-pound class. (BJ Penn currently holds the lightweight belt in the UFC, and Jamie Varner holds the title in the WEC.)

In any manner, Condit brings some immediate depth to the UFC's already star-studded 170-pound division. WAMMA's rankings committee currently ranks Condit the eighth best 170-pounder in the world, and the 23-year-old fighter has won seven consecutive fights. He owns previous victories over UFC veterans such as John Alessio and Frank Trigg.

His first test in the UFC could be a stiff one. Martin Kampmann, a former UFC middleweight contender, recently dropped to welterweight and scored a second-round TKO of Alexandre Barros. The Xtreme Couture fighter has now won 10 of his past 11 fights, all but one via stoppage.

Source: mmajunkie.com