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
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 7 August 9, 2003The WEC Super Heavyweight division was abolished in December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.
Heavyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Mike Kyle WEC 9 January 16, 2004Title vacated.2 Mike Serr WEC 10 May 21, 2004Title vacated.3 James Irvin WEC 12 October 21, 2004Irvin vacated the title to fight in the Light Heavyweight division.4 Brian Olsen WEC 18 January 13, 2006The WEC Heavyweight division was abolished in December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.
Light Heavyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 6 March 27, 2003Shamrock vacated in August 2003 to fight for Strikeforce.2 Richard Montoya WEC 11 August 20, 20043 Jason Lambert WEC 13 January 22, 2005Lambert vacated in October 2005 to fight for the UFC.4 Scott Smith WEC 17 October 14, 2005Smith vacated in May 2006 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter.5 Lodune Sincaid WEC 20 May 5, 20066 Doug Marshall WEC 23 August 17, 20067 Brian Stann WEC 33 March 26, 20088 Steve Cantwell WEC 35 August 3, 2008The 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:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 9 January 16, 2004Leben vacated to participate The Ultimate Fighter.2 Joe Riggs WEC 15 May 19, 2005The WEC Middleweight title was vacated in December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.3 Paulo Filho WEC 29 August 5, 2007The 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:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Nick Diazdef. Joe Hurley WEC 6 Lemoore, CA, USA March 27, 2003Diaz vacated the title to focus on fight for the UFC.2 Shonie Carterdef. J.T. Taylor WEC 8 Lemoore, CA, USA October 17, 20033 Karo Parisyan WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA May 21, 2004Parisyan vacated the title to focus on fighting for the UFC.4 Mike Pyledef. Bret Bergmark WEC 17 Lemoore, CA, USA October 14, 20051. def. Shonie Carter at WEC 18 on Jan 13, 2006 in Lemoore, CA, USAThe WEC Welterweight title was vacated in December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization.5 Carlos Conditdef. John Alessio WEC 26 Las Vegas, NV, USA 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, USAThe 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:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Kurt Pellegrinodef. Mac Danzig WEC 4 Uncasville, CT, USA Aug 31, 2002Pellegrino vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events.2 Gilbert Melendezdef. Olaf Alfonso WEC 10 Lemoore, CA, USA May 21, 2004Melendez vacated the title to focus on fighting in other events.3 Gabe Ruedigerdef. Olaf Alfonso WEC 12 Lemoore, CA, USA 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, USA4 Hermes França WEC 19 Lemoore, CA, USA 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, USAThe WEC Lightweight title was vacated in December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization and brought França over to the UFC.5 Rob McCulloughdef. Kit Cope WEC 25 Las Vegas, NV, USA January 20, 20071. def. Richard Crunkilton at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA6 Jamie Varner WEC 32 Albuquerque, NM, USA 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- Benson Henderson WEC 43 San Antonio, TX, USA October 10, 20097 Benson Henderson WEC 46 Sacramento, CA, USA January 10, 20101. def. Donald Cerrone at WEC 48 in April 2010, in Sacramento, CA, USA8 Anthony Pettis WEC 53 Glendale, AZ, USA December 16, 2010The WEC Lightweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 16, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger.
Featherweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Cole Escovedodef. Philip Perez WEC 5 Lemoore, CA, USA October 18, 20021. def. Anthony Hamlett at WEC 8 on Oct 17, 2003 in Lemoore, CA, USA2 Urijah Faber WEC 19 Lemoore, CA, USA 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, USA3 Mike Brown WEC 36 Hollywood, FL, USA 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, USA4 José Aldo WEC 44 Las Vegas, NV, USA 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, USAThe 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.
Bantamweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Eddie Winelanddef. Antonio Banuelos WEC 20 Lemoore, CA, USA May 5, 20062 Chase Beebe WEC 26 Las Vegas, NV, USA March 24, 20071. def. Rani Yahya at WEC 30 on Sep 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA3 Miguel Torres WEC 32 Albuquerque, NM, USA 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, USA4 Brian Bowles WEC 42 Las Vegas, NV, USA August 9, 20095 Dominick Cruz WEC 47 Columbus, OH, USA 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, USAThe 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.
North American Title histories
North American Heavyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 10 May 21, 2004
North American Middleweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 12 October 21, 20042 WEC 14 March 17, 2005
North American Lightweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 10 May 21, 2004
Native American Title histories
Native American Super Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: Unlimited
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 13 January 22, 2005
Native American Lightweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 WEC 15 May 19, 2005
Tournament winners EventDateDivisionWinnerRunner-upWEC 13January 22, 2005Heavyweight Brandon Vera Mike WhiteheadWEC 17October 14, 2005Light Heavyweight Scott Smith Tait Fletcher
Records Most wins in title bouts Victories Champion Division V D NC L 6 Urijah Faber Featherweight 6 0 0 3 4 Miguel Torres Bantamweight 4 0 0 1 Carlos Condit Welterweight 4 0 0 0 3 Doug Marshall Heavyweight Light Heavyweight 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 Gabe Ruediger Lightweight 3 0 0 1 Mike Brown Featherweight 3 0 0 1 Jamie Varner Lightweight 3 0 0 1 Benson Henderson Lightweight 3 0 0 1 Dominick Cruz Featherweight Bantamweight 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hermes França Lightweight 3 0 0 0 José Aldo Featherweight 3 0 0 0
Most consecutive title defenses Defenses Champion Division Period 5 Urijah Faber Featherweight March 17, 2006 – November 5, 2008 3 Carlos Condit Welterweight March 24, 2007 – December 3, 2008 Miguel Torres Bantamweight February 13, 2008 – August 9, 2009 2 Gabe Ruediger Lightweight October 21, 2004 – March 17, 2006 Hermes França Lightweight March 17, 2006 – December 2006 Doug Marshall Light Heavyweight August 17, 2006 – March 26, 2008 Jamie Varner Lightweight February 13, 2008 – January 10, 2010 Mike Brown Featherweight November 5, 2008 – August 9, 2009 José Aldo Featherweight November 18, 2009 – September 30, 2010 Dominick Cruz Bantamweight March 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 Divisionchampions Interimchampions Tournamentschampions Total 30 - 2 32 3 - - 3 1 - - 1
See also List of WEC events List of current mixed martial arts champions List of Bellator MMA champions List of Dream champions List of EliteXC champions List of Invicta FC champions List of ONE Championship champions List of Pancrase champions List of Pride champions List of PFL champions List of Shooto champions List of Strikeforce champions List of UFC champions Mixed martial arts weight classes
References
External links Current Title Holders at WEC.tv