"UFC absorbs WEC, adds lighter weight classes"
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
Looking to expand its brand, the UFC is absorbing its sister World Extreme Cagefighting circuit.
The consolidation immediately gives the mixed martial arts juggernaut two more weight classes — featherweight (145 pounds) and bantamweight (135 pounds) — while the WEC lightweights will be rolled into the UFC's existing 155-pound division.
The merger adds some 60 to 70 new fighters to the UFC ranks, swelling the roster to 260.
Those extra resources will help make it easier for the UFC to continue spreading its tentacles round the globe. And given the UFC has bigger name value than the WEC, it will get more bang for its buck from the WEC fighting alumni.
