List of World Extreme Cagefighting champions
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This is a list of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champions at each weight class.
In December 2006 World Extreme Cagefighting was bought by ZUFFA, the parent company of the UFC, to concentrate on the four smaller weight classes under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Over the next two years, the WEC would phase out weight classes above 155 lbs, with most of the fighters going to the UFC. The Lightweight division is the WEC's heaviest weight class.
Discontinued Title Histories
Super Heavyweight Championship
- Over 265 lbs (Over 120 kg)
| No. | Name: | Date: | Location: | Defenses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ron Waterman(def. James Nevarez) |
August 9, 2003 (WEC 7) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| The WEC Super Heavyweight division was abolished December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
Heavyweight Championship
- 206 to 265 lbs (93 to 120 kg)
| No. | Name: | Date: | Location: | Defenses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Irvin (def. Jody Poff) |
August 20, 2004 (WEC 11) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| Irvin vacates the title to fight in the Light Heavyweight division. | ||||
| 2 | Brian Olsen (def. Lavar Johnson) |
January 13, 2006 (WEC 18) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| The WEC Heavyweight division was abolished December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
Light Heavyweight Championship
- 186 to 205 lbs (84 to 93 kg)
| No. | Name: | Date: | Location: | Defenses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank Shamrock (def. Bryan Pardoe) |
March 27, 2003 (WEC 6) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Shamrock vacates the title August 2003 to fight for Strikeforce. | ||||
| 2 | Jason Lambert (def. Richard Montoya) |
January 22, 2005 (WEC 13) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Lambert vacates the title October 2005 to fight for the UFC. | ||||
| 3 | Scott Smith (def. Tait Fletcher) |
October 14, 2005 (WEC 17) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| Smith vacates the title May 2006 to participate in the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter. | ||||
| 4 | Lodune Sincaid (def. Dan Molina) |
May 5, 2006 (WEC 20) |
Lemoore, California | |
| 5 | Doug Marshall
|
August 17, 2006 (WEC 23) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| 6 | Brian Stann
|
March 26, 2008 (WEC 33) |
Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 7 | Steve Cantwell
|
August 3, 2008 (WEC 35) |
Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| The WEC Light Heavyweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 3, 2008 so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes. | ||||
Middleweight Championship
- 171 to 185 lbs (77 to 84 kg)
| No. | Name: | Date: | Location: | Defenses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Leben (def. Mike Swick) |
January 16, 2004 (WEC 9) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Leben vacates the title to participate in the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter. | ||||
| 2 | Joe Riggs (def. Rob Kimmons) |
May 19, 2005 (WEC 15) |
Lemoore, California | |
| The WEC Middleweight title was vacated December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
| 3 |  Paulo Filho(def. Joe Doerksen) |
August 5, 2007 (WEC 29) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| The WEC Middleweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 3, 2008, so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes. | ||||
Welterweight Championship
- 156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg)
| No. | Name: | Date: | Location: | Defenses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Diaz (def. Joe Hurley) |
March 27, 2003 (WEC 6) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Welterweight title vacated. | ||||
| 2 | Shonie Carter (def. J.T. Taylor) |
October 17, 2003 (WEC 8) |
Lemoore, California | |
| 3 |  Karo Parisyan
|
May 21, 2004 (WEC 10) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Parisyan vacates the title to focus on fighting for the UFC. | ||||
| 4 | Mike Pyle (def. Bret Bergmark) |
October 14, 2005 (WEC 17) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| The WEC Welterweight title was vacated December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
| 5 | Carlos Condit (def. John Alessio) |
March 24, 2007 (WEC 26) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| The WEC Welterweight division was absorbed into the UFC on February 3, 2009, so the WEC could further concentrate on lighter weight classes. | ||||
Lightweight Championship
- 146 to 155 lbs (66 to 70 kg)
| No. | Name | Date | Location | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilbert Melendez (def. Olaf Alfonso) |
May 21, 2004 (WEC 10) |
Lemoore, California | |
| Lightweight title vacated. | ||||
| 2 | Gabe Ruediger (def. Olaf Alfonso) |
October 21, 2004 (WEC 12) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| 3 | Hermes Franca
|
March 17, 2006 (WEC 19) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| The WEC Lightweight title was vacated December 2006 when Zuffa purchased the organization. | ||||
| 4 | Rob McCullough (def. Kit Cope) |
January 20, 2007 (WEC 25) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| 5 | Jamie Varner
|
February 13, 2008 (WEC 32) |
Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|
| Ben Henderson (def. Donald Cerrone for Interim Title) |
October 10, 2009 (WEC 43) |
San Antonio, Texas | ||
| 7 | Ben Henderson (def. Jamie Varner for Undisputed Title) |
January 10, 2010 (WEC 46) |
Sacramento, California |
|
| 8 | Anthony Pettis |
December 16, 2010 (WEC 53) |
Glendale, Arizona | |
Featherweight Championship
- 136 to 145 lbs (61 to 66 kg)
| No. | Name | Date | Location | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Escovedo (def. Philip Perez) |
October 18, 2002 (WEC 5) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| 2 | Urijah Faber
|
March 17, 2006 (WEC 19) |
Lemoore, California |
|
| 3 | Mike Brown
|
November 5, 2008 (WEC 36) |
Hollywood, Florida |
|
| 4 | Jose Aldo
|
November 18, 2009 (WEC 44) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| The WEC Featherweight division was absorbed into the UFC on October 28, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger. Jose Aldo was promoted to UFC Featherweight Champion | ||||
Bantamweight Championship
- 126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)
| No. | Name | Date | Location | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Wineland (def. Antonio Banuelos) |
May 5, 2006 (WEC 20) |
Lemoore, California | |
| 2 | Chase Beebe
|
March 24, 2007 (WEC 26) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| 3 | Miguel Torres
|
February 13, 2008 (WEC 32) |
Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|
| 4 | Brian Bowles
|
August 9, 2009 (WEC 42) |
Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 5 | Dominick Cruz
|
March 6, 2010 (WEC 47) |
Columbus, Ohio |
|
| The WEC Bantamweight division was absorbed into the UFC on December 16, 2010, as part of the UFC-WEC merger. Dominick Cruz defeated Scott Jorgensen to become the first UFC Bantamweight Champion | ||||
WEC Tournaments
| Event | Weight class | Winner | Runner-up | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEC 13 | Heavyweight | Brandon Vera
|
Mike Whitehead
|
January 22, 2005 |
| WEC 17 | Light Heavyweight | Scott Smith
|
Tait Fletcher
|
October 14, 2005 |
By Nationality
| Country | Titles |
|---|---|
| United States
|
32 |
| Brazil
|
3 |
| Armenia
|
1 |