The WEC went out with a bang on Thursday night, leaving MMA fans with memories of crazy kicks, talented fighters and another reliably exciting card. Who rose above?
No. 1 star -- Anthony Pettis: This was an easy choice. Pettis won the WEC lightweight belt by realizing that he was in a razor-close fight, and then hitting one of the craziest moves MMA fans have ever seen. His off-the-wall kick made Sportscenter's top plays and was nothing short of Matrix-esque. The scary thing about Pettis is that he's just 23 years old.
No. 2 star -- Eddie Wineland: The WEC's first bantamweight champ closed the promotion with a humongous slam knockout of Ken Stone. His first-round KO was Wineland's fourth win in a row. Though Urijah Faber is the obvious next contender for Dominick Cruz's belt, Wineland is making a case to be in the upper echelon of the UFC bantamweights.
No. 3 star -- Dominick Cruz: The new UFC bantamweight champ didn't finish Scott Jorgensen, but that has more to do with Jorgensen's stone chin than Cruz's lack of ability. Cruz executed a perfect gameplan, sticking and moving throughout the entire fight and taking down Jorgensen with ease. On Twitter last night, I heard fans say that Cruz didn't engage, and that's just crazy talk. Cruz engaged; Jorgensen just couldn't keep up with him. For those who don't like his quick-footed style ... haters gonna hate.
A special mention to the WEC: World Extreme Cagefighting earned the reputation of always giving fans exciting cards. Last night was no different. Though the main card had a few less-than-exciting rounds, the main events delivered. As that promotion ends and gives way to the UFC, one last kudos to the little promotion that could.
Sandy Koufax Julius Erving Bobby Jones Bill Tilden Eric Heiden
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