UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson was an event ripe with nostalgia. Nearly twelve years had passed since the octagon graced the land of the rising sun, and the site of UFC 144, the Saitama Super Arena, was the venue for the last ever Pride Fighting Championships card. However, there is another fallen fight promotion with ties to Saturday night’s event, but it didn’t use a ring.
[caption id="attachment_169" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Benson Henderson won the UFC title at UFC 144. Photo via MMAFighting.com"]
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Like Pride was in 2007, World Extreme Cagefighting was bought by Zuffa in 2006 and fully merged with the UFC in 2010. December’s WEC 53 was the organization’s swan song, and it featured a title fight between then lightweight champion Benson Henderson and challenger Anthony Pettis.
The fight was an absolute barnburner, with the fight even on many scorecards heading into the last period. In the fifth round, Pettis put an exclamation point on the fight, his career, and the WEC’s run as a whole by executing one of the flashiest and memorable moves in MMA history: the “Showtime kick.”
Fast forward to February 2012, and Henderson has won the UFC Lightweight Title while Pettis is likely the next challenger. Déjà vu, anyone?
It hasn’t been an easy road though, for either man. Pettis had a title shot all but wrapped up until a controversial draw in a championship bout at UFC 125 warranted an immediate rematch that left Pettis waiting. A tough loss in the meantime set him back farther, but he has since fought his way back to the top where Henderson, who won three fights in a row to get a title shot, currently sits.
The success of WEC fighters like Henderson and Pettis, as well as Carlos Condit (who also holds a UFC title), Donald Cerrone, Danny Castillo, and of course all the sub-lightweight competitors guarantees the WEC a lasting legacy despite its physical departure.
Remember when people said the WEC lightweights couldn’t hang in the UFC? Remember when Jim Miller said it? Remember when Clay Guida said it? Remember who beat both of those guys in a row? (Hint: he holds the UFC belt right now). The WEC is the little engine that could.
As we see World Extreme Cagefighting alumni having success in the octagon, take a minute to remember the great moments that occurred in the little blue cage. Remember the “Showtime kick.” Remember “The Korean Zombie” and Leonard Garcia throwing down. Remember Dominick Cruz’s slick dance moves and the rise of José Aldo. Remember that there were dozens of others as well, but don’t forget: with these guys on the roster, we can look forward to countless more.
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