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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Gina Carano Headed to WEC? Not so fast....

Although UFC president Dana White has recently made public comments that he would be willing to entertain the prospect of former EliteXC star Gina Carano competing in the Octagon, it's not the Ultimate Fighting Championship he's talking about.

White said that he's not ready to put women's fights in the UFC, but he would give Carano a run in the UFC's sister promotion, the WEC.

"I heard that," confirmed WEC vice president Peter Dropick on Monday.

There's still a hang-up in having Carano fight even in the WEC.

"First off, I don't know if anyone knows really what the contractual situation is with any fighter from those other organizations," he said, referring to ProElite-owned promotions like EliteXC. "I think until that is flushed out, we would... we really don't have anything at this point."

That's not to say that Dropick isn't interested. On the contrary, he's very interested in adding more talent - including Carano - to the WEC's roster of athletes. "We'd be open to having some of the better fighters and the most exciting fights. (Carano) is certainly a star and she certainly has drawing power. So, we'll see how that plays out."

For now, like many EliteXC fighters, Carano is in limbo, trying to figure out just what her contractual status is while ProElite keeps toying with the idea of whether it will continue on or not.

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posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:09 AM 





Sunday, November 2, 2008

Do EliteXC Fighters Fit the WEC Mold? Maybe...

World Extreme Cagefighting vice president Peter Dropick was recently asked if the WEC had any interest in signing fighters from the now defunct EliteXC promotion... specifically K.J. Noons, Nick Diaz, and Wilson Reis.

"I know our matchmakers are look at any fighters that are available. I don't know their contractual situations. There are a handful of guys that make sense, and there are some that just wouldn't make sense," Dropick replied.

Although he couldn't really commit to any specific fighters due to EliteXC and its fighters still being mired in a web of legal entanglements, the VP did sound like he was interested in bringing some of the top EliteXC talent to the WEC.

"I don't know specifically if we've talked to anyone or legally if we can talk to anyone at this point, but absolutely we're keeping an eye on that situation. We want the best guys in the world and those guys that are available we've got a lot to offer them."

One of the biggest questions surrounding EliteXC's collapse has been what will happen to the female fighters. Gina Carano has developed a certain amount of star power, and EliteXC had also attracted a number of other top female fighters like Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Sarah Kaufman, Tonya Evinger, Kelly Kobold, and others among them.

Unfortunately for the female EliteXC fighters and their fans, it doesn't appear that the UFC's sister promotion currently has any more interest in their services than does the UFC itself. Asked if there had been any discussion about bringing any of the female fighters into the WEC fold, Dropick simply replied, "No, there hasn't."

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posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:00 AM 





Tuesday, October 28, 2008

WEC vs. UFC? The door is open...

It hasn't been done thus far, but World Extreme Cagefighting vice president Peter Dropick told the media on Tuesday that it is a possibility... that being a WEC fighter vs. a UFC fighter.

"You know, Dana (White, UFC president) has said from the beginning that anything's possible," said Dropick, before adding, "Currently, we don't have plans for it, but if there's the right match-up or the right scenario, I think everyone is open to it."
It will happen in a way because the WEC, following its November and December events, will be closing up shop on its 185- and 205-pound divisions.

"From there (following December), (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva will take a look at who he is going to move over to the UFC and who they'll release."

One name that is consistently brought up to challenge the UFC's fighters is WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit. The promotion has had a difficult time finding new challengers for Condit and he's got to be tiring of rematches.

He proudly says that he is a WEC fighter and wants to continue to defend his crown as WEC champion, but there will have to come a day when he's exhausted enough of the competition that he'll be ported over to the UFC. Who knows, maybe he will be part of the first WEC/UFC unification bout.

Dropick certainly left it open. "It's the same family. (Dana) said that from day one, but currently we don't have any plans on paper to do that."

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posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 2:35 PM 





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