Notes from the WEC Conference Call

Peter Dropick, VP of the WEC, is calling this fight the biggest featherweight fight in history and one of the biggest fights in all of MMA. It’s hard to say whether it will be the biggest in MMA, but it’s certainly a big fight for the WEC and the light weight classest. Sponsors include No Fear and Anheuser Busch. Expect to see the Bud Light banner on the canvas Sunday night.

Asked how he was doing early in the interview, Urijah Faber says he’s “ready to rock.” He’s approaching this just like any other fight. “It’s a fight between two tough ass dudes and that’s the way I’m gonna keep it,” he says.

About him talking about taking the fight to the ground in past interviews, Jens Pulver says “We’ve gotta stand to start the fight…but I’m not gonna take bad shots to take the fight to the ground.” And it’s not all about the ground for Pulver either. “The biggest thing I want to get into is the clinches.” Pulver realizes it’s not going to be an easy fight though. “Urijah is too good…”

Pulver thinks Faber isn’t going to crack under the pressure of fighting at home because of all of the support. His biggest concern with Faber is him being fast and confident. “He can get out of anything he wants to.”

“This is not an easy sport…” says Faber. The pressure of fighting at home is the same as any other sport for him. “This is not a friendly environment, it’s a dangerous environment.”

Pulver says there difference between 145 and 155 is a catch 22 for him. He’s gotta be in shape to make weight, but he’s gonna be in shape and it’s his natural weight. He’s wrestled in the low 140’s and he’s a 145 pounder naturally. He’s shown that he can be a contender at 155 and his quick win over Cub Swanson certainly shows he’s ready to take on Faber at featherweight.

As far as making weight for Faber, he says there was rarely a weight class for him when he was in the 130’s. He says he’s putting on more weight now and walks around about 154 and sometimes up to 158lbs after a big dinner.

Asked if he thought the fight was champion versus legend, Faber says yes, definitely.
Regarding the lighter weight classes, Faber says “I’m so happy we have a place now and it’s doing a lot for the sport.” “I’m so happy to be one of the lead guys and in a position…I’m going to be a pioneer in the sport.” Talking more about the legend of Jens Pulver as a featherweight and a lightweight, Faber showed the ultimate respect. “If he puts me out cold, it’s not a lucky punch because he’s done it over and over again.”

“This is the biggest moment in my career” says Pulver. He also says his fight against Caol Uno and fighting in Vegas were both big moments, but the fight at WEC 34 is going to be the biggest for him.

As far as future WEC cards, Vegas is on the map says Dropick. Other venues in Nevada, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida are just a few of the next locations for the WEC. Versus is doing really well for sports and Dropick is happy to be partnered with the channel with their recent growth. He admitted that dates of WEC events are driven by the television schedules and the ratings for Sunday nights are good for the WEC. “So far it’s been great for us,” says Dropick.

“To Urijah and Jens credit…they’re pros, they’re marketable and we’ve gotten major exposure” says Dropick. Versus has also done a great job of marketing and promoting the WEC, says the VP. I definitely can’t disagree there. I’ve been seeing a lot of the WEC on TV. Dropick ends with “If you look at our chart, all it’s done is gone up…”

“I haven’t been up against anyone this explosive” says Pulver. He says he fought against guys at 160, but he hasn’t been up against anybody like this.

Then it’s asks what happened between the UFC show in Sacramento and the show in Columbus. There was barely a crowd reaction of Urijah Faber at his hometown and then the crowd exploded in Columbus when he was shown on the big screen at UFC 82. Faber credits the WEC, Versus, and the sponsors for doing a great job of showing him off between the two shows.

Dropick comes back to talk about the WEC and a PPV in 2009. He says I t doesn’t make sense to do things at the wrong times. He also talks a little about some UFC crossover fights that make sense at the right time.

Faber says his fight with a legend, Pulver, motivates him more.

Pulver says that he never wanted to fight at the higher weights, especially 170, just to be in the UFC in the past. He’s happy with the lower weights and representing wrestlers at 155 pounds and lower.

If the WEC is pushed off TSN in Canada due to game 7 of the NBA championship, the card will be broadcast on the alternate TSN channel.

Asked if they have anything else in the works aside from WEC Wreckage and the countdown shows on TV, Dropick says “it is the obvious next step.”

There will also be a preview lead-in show. Check the WEC website for more information.