WEC’s best thrilled by UFC Merger
Anthony Pettis: I was speechless [when I heard the news] this morning. It’s crazy, said lightweight title contender Anthony Pettis….
Anthony Pettis:
I was speechless [when I heard the news] this morning. It’s crazy, said lightweight title contender Anthony Pettis. I was training hard, but now I’m pushing even harder. There’s so much to look forward to in this next year.
It’s crazy, Pettis said. It’s not even real yet, and it’s not going to be real until it finally happens. I’ve heard the rumors for a year and a half. The possibility of headlining a pay per view is huge.
Ben Henderson:
I’m not so affected by the pay-per-view stuff. No matter the venue, I still have to go out there and perform and get my hand raised, Henderson told Sherdog. I could be fighting in the back of a 7-11, and I still have to go out and do my best.
Miguel Torres:
It’s definitely bittersweet, because I’ve been with the WEC a while, and I’ve been fighting since ’98. I think I’m a pioneer, but now the future is open to me, said Torres. I think it’s really good. It’s going to give us lighter guys more attention. We’ve sort of been viewed as second-tier fighters, and now we’ve got the opportunity to show the world that we belong in the UFC.
Urijah Faber:
I’m excited, man. I’ve been pushing for [the merger] for a while now. We WEC guys haven’t been getting the credit or the exposure that we deserve. It’s also going to mean better paydays, which is obviously great, Faber said. Not having to explain the difference, or lack of a difference, to the fans is going to be nice. I’m looking forward to the satisfaction of there finally being no difference between the UFC and the WEC. I didn’t think there was a difference before, except the initials, but now it’s official.