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verification. (January 2010) |
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.
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. James Nevarez |
WEC 7 Lemoore, CA, USA |
August 9, 2003 | 1. def. Ricco Rodriguez at WEC 16 on August 18, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
The WEC Super Heavyweight division was abolished on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Jude Hargett |
WEC 9 Lemoore, CA, USA |
January 16, 2004 | |
Title vacated. | ||||
2 |
![]() def. Rafael del Real |
WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 21, 2004 | |
Title vacated. | ||||
3 |
![]() def. Houssain Oushani |
WEC 12 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 21, 2004 | 1. def. Doug Marshall at WEC 15 on May 19, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
Irvin vacated the title to fight in the Light Heavyweight division. | ||||
4 |
![]() def. Lavar Johnson |
WEC 18 Lemoore, CA, USA |
January 13, 2006 | 1. def. Mike Kyle at WEC 20 on May 5, 2006 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
The WEC Heavyweight division was abolished on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Bryan Pardoe |
WEC 6 Lemoore, CA, USA |
March 27, 2003 | |
Shamrock vacated on August 2003 to fight for Strikeforce. | ||||
2 |
![]() def. Abraham Baxter |
WEC 11 Lemoore, CA, USA |
August 20, 2004 | |
3 |
![]() |
WEC 13 Lemoore, CA, USA |
January 22, 2005 | |
Lambert vacated on October 2005 to fight for the UFC. | ||||
4 |
![]() def. Tait Fletcher |
WEC 17 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 14, 2005 | 1. def. Justin Levens at WEC 18 on January 13, 2006 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
Smith vacated on May 2006 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter. | ||||
5 |
![]() def. Dan Molina |
WEC 20 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 5, 2006 | |
6 |
![]() |
WEC 23 Lemoore, CA, USA |
August 17, 2006 | 1. def. Justin McElfresh at
WEC 27 on May 12, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA 2. def. Ariel Gandulla at WEC 31 on December 12, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
7 |
![]() |
WEC 33 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
March 26, 2008 | |
8 |
![]() |
WEC 35 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
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. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Mike Swick |
WEC 9 Lemoore, CA, USA |
January 16, 2004 | |
Leben vacated to participate The Ultimate Fighter. | ||||
2 |
![]() def. Rob Kimmons |
WEC 15 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 19, 2005 | |
The WEC Middleweight title was vacated on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
3 |
![]() def. Joe Doerksen |
WEC 29 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
August 5, 2007 | 1. def. Chael Sonnen at WEC 31 on December 12, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
The WEC Middleweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 3, 2008, so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Joe Hurley |
WEC 6 Lemoore, CA, USA |
March 27, 2003 | |
Diaz vacated the title to focus on fight for the UFC. | ||||
2 |
![]() def. J.T. Taylor |
WEC 8 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 17, 2003 | |
3 |
![]() |
WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 21, 2004 | |
Parisyan vacated the title to focus on fighting for the UFC. | ||||
4 |
![]() def. Bret Bergmark |
WEC 17 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 14, 2005 |
1. 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. | ||||
5 |
![]() def. John Alessio |
WEC 26 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
March 24, 2007 |
1. def.
Brock Larson at
WEC 29 on Aug 5, 2007 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. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Mac Danzig |
WEC 4 Uncasville, CT, USA |
Aug 31, 2002 | |
Pellegrino vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events. | ||||
2 |
![]() def. Olaf Alfonso |
WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 21, 2004 | |
Melendez vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events. | ||||
3 |
![]() def. Olaf Alfonso |
WEC 12 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 21, 2004 |
1. def. Jason Maxwell at
WEC 14 on Mar 17, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
4 |
![]() |
WEC 19 Lemoore, CA, USA |
March 17, 2006 |
1. def. Brandon Olsen at
WEC 21 on Jun 15, 2006 in Highland, CA, USA |
The WEC Lightweight title was vacated on December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization and brought França over to the UFC. | ||||
5 |
![]() def. Kit Cope |
WEC 25 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
January 20, 2007 |
1. def. Richard Crunkilton at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
6 |
![]() |
WEC 32 Albuquerque, NM, USA |
February 13, 2008 |
1. def.
Marcus Hicks at
WEC 35 on Aug 3, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
- |
![]() def. Donald Cerrone for interim title |
WEC 43 San Antonio, TX, USA |
October 10, 2009 | |
7 |
![]() |
WEC 46 Sacramento, CA, USA |
January 10, 2010 |
1. def. Donald Cerrone at WEC 48 in April 2010, in Sacramento, CA, USA |
8 |
![]() |
WEC 53 Glendale, AZ, USA |
December 16, 2010 | |
The WEC Lightweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 16, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Philip Perez |
WEC 5 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 18, 2002 |
1. def. Anthony Hamlett at WEC 8 on Oct 17, 2003 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
2 |
![]() |
WEC 19 Lemoore, CA, USA |
March 17, 2006 |
1. def. Joe Pearson at
WEC 25 on Jan 20, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
3 |
![]() |
WEC 36 Hollywood, FL, USA |
November 5, 2008 |
1. def.
Leonard Garcia at
WEC 39 on Mar 1, 2009 in Corpus Christi, TX, USA |
4 |
![]() |
WEC 44 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
November 18, 2009 |
1. def.
Urijah Faber at
WEC 48 on April 24, 2010 in Sacramento, CA, 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] |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Antonio Banuelos |
WEC 20 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 5, 2006 | |
2 |
![]() |
WEC 26 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
March 24, 2007 |
1. def. Rani Yahya at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA |
3 |
![]() |
WEC 32 Albuquerque, NM, USA |
February 13, 2008 |
1. def.
Yoshiro Maeda at
WEC 34 on Jun 1, 2008 in Sacramento, CA, USA |
4 |
![]() |
WEC 42 Las Vegas, NV, USA |
August 9, 2009 | |
5 |
![]() |
WEC 47 Columbus, OH, USA |
March 6, 2010 |
1. def.
Joseph Benavidez at
WEC 50 on Aug 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV, 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] |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Anthony Arria |
WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 21, 2004 | 1. def. Carlos Garcia at WEC 12 on October 21, 2004 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Will Bradford |
WEC 12 Lemoore, CA, USA |
October 21, 2004 | |
2 |
![]() |
WEC 14 Lemoore, CA, USA |
March 17, 2005 | 1. def. Victor Parfenov at WEC 16 on August 18, 2005 in Lemoore, CA, USA |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Gabriel Cruz |
WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 21, 2004 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Andre Roberts |
WEC 13 Lemoore, CA, USA |
January 22, 2005 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() def. Poppies Martinez |
WEC 15 Lemoore, CA, USA |
May 19, 2005 |
Event | Date | Division | Winner | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
WEC 13 | January 22, 2005 | Heavyweight |
![]() |
![]() |
WEC 17 | October 14, 2005 | Light Heavyweight |
![]() |
![]() |
Victories | Champion | Division | V | D | NC | L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 |
![]() |
Featherweight | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
4 |
![]() |
Bantamweight | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
![]() |
Welterweight | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 |
![]() |
Heavyweight Light Heavyweight |
0 3 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
![]() |
Lightweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
Featherweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
Lightweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
Lightweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
Featherweight Bantamweight |
0 3 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 0 | |
![]() |
Lightweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
![]() |
Featherweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defenses | Champion | Division | Period |
---|---|---|---|
5 |
![]() |
Featherweight | March 17, 2006 – November 5, 2008 |
3 |
![]() |
Welterweight | March 24, 2007 – December 3, 2008 |
![]() |
Bantamweight | February 13, 2008 – August 9, 2009 | |
2 |
![]() |
Lightweight | October 21, 2004 – March 17, 2006 |
![]() |
Lightweight | March 17, 2006 – December 2006 | |
![]() |
Light Heavyweight | August 17, 2006 – March 26, 2008 | |
![]() |
Lightweight | February 13, 2008 – January 10, 2010 | |
![]() |
Featherweight | November 5, 2008 – August 9, 2009 | |
![]() |
Featherweight | November 18, 2009 – September 30, 2010 | |
![]() |
Bantamweight | March 6, 2010 – December 16, 2010 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
30 | - | 2 | 32 |
![]() |
3 | - | - | 3 |
![]() |
1 | - | - | 1 |