WEC 32
Encyclopedia
WEC 32: New Mexico was a mixed martial arts (MMA)
event held by World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
that took place on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. For the first time under Zuffa ownership, the show was held in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
and not the usual spot of Las Vegas, Nevada
. The event drew an estimated 268,000 viewers on Versus
, a record low for the WEC.
Miller defeated Farrar via TKO (punches) at 1:39 of Round 1.
Maeda defeated Valencia via TKO (body kick) at 2:29 of Round 1. Although preliminary, this bout aired on the live broadcast.
Page defeated Jorgensen via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).
Wheeler defeated Hawkins via submission (flying armbar) at 1:57 of Round 2.
Grispi defeated Hominick via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:55 of Round 1.
Garcia defeated Takaya via TKO (punches) at 1:31 of Round 1. Although preliminary, this bout aired on the live broadcast.
Tapia defeated Banuelos via split decision (28–29, 30–27, 29–28).
The fight was originally announced as a split draw, Banuelos being awarded the victory 29–28 on referee Cecil Peoples' scorecard, and the two others being 30–27 for Tapia and a 28–28 draw, though a scorecard error was realized, and corrected to the ultimate outcome of a split decision for Manny Tapia.
Torres defeated Beebe via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:59 of Round 1 to become the new WEC Bantamweight champion.
Varner defeated McCullough via TKO (strikes) at 2:54 of Round 3 to become the WEC Lightweight Champion. This fight, however, was not without controversy. In the third round, McCullough dropped Varner with a looping right hook, and proceeded to land effective ground and pound. The initial right hook knocked Varner's mouthpiece out, and after both fighters got back up to their feet, Varner signaled to the referee for a time-out for him to retrieve his mouthpiece. Steve Mazzagatti, the referee, granted Varner about 30 seconds to get his mouthpiece, which gave him time to recover.
Condit defeated Prater via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48 of Round 1 to retain WEC Welterweight Championship.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
that took place on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. For the first time under Zuffa ownership, the show was held in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and not the usual spot of Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. The event drew an estimated 268,000 viewers on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
, a record low for the WEC.
Preliminary card
- Featherweight bout:
Micah Miller vs. Chance Farrar
Miller defeated Farrar via TKO (punches) at 1:39 of Round 1.
- Bantamweight bout:
Yoshiro MaedaYoshiro MaedaYoshiro Maeda is a Japanese mixed martial artist that has competed for Pancrase, DEEP, Pride, WEC and DREAM. He fought for the WEC Bantamweight Title at WEC 34 against Miguel Torres...
vs. Charlie ValenciaCharlie ValenciaCarlos Enrique Valencia is an American mixed martial artist . He has fought for the WEC and UFC in their bantamweight divisions..-Early life:...
Maeda defeated Valencia via TKO (body kick) at 2:29 of Round 1. Although preliminary, this bout aired on the live broadcast.
- Bantamweight bout: United States Damacio PageDamacio PageDamacio James Page is an American mixed martial arts fighter and who currently competes in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. United States Scott JorgensenScott JorgensenScott Roger Jorgensen is an American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Bantamweight division and is a member of the Twisted Genetiks Fight Team based out of Boise, Idaho. He is considered a perennial top 5 ranked bantamweight fighter...
Page defeated Jorgensen via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).
- Bantamweight bout: Coty WheelerCoty WheelerCoty Wheeler is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He lost his fight to Charlie Valencia at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009.Wheeler lost to Will Campuzano via unanimous decision on January 10, 2010 at WEC 46...
vs. Del Hawkins
Wheeler defeated Hawkins via submission (flying armbar) at 1:57 of Round 2.
- Featherweight bout: United States Josh GrispiJosh GrispiJosh Richard Grispi is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC featherweight division.-Background:Grispi started mixed martial arts training when he was 13. It was suggested to him by his dad as an outlet when he got kicked out of a paintball facility after repeated scuffles with...
vs.
Canada Mark HominickMark HominickMark Hominick is a Canadian mixed martial artist, former TKO Featherweight Champion, and current UFC fighter. Hominick is currently ranked as the #4 featherweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly.-Mixed martial arts career:...
Grispi defeated Hominick via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:55 of Round 1.
- Featherweight bout: Leonard GarciaLeonard GarciaLeonard Garcia is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He previously fought for the UFC in the lightweight division before moving down to the featherweight division in the World Extreme Cagefighting...
vs. Hiroyuki TakayaHiroyuki Takaya|-| Win|align=center| 16–9–1| Kazuyuki Miyata| Decision | Dream: Japan GP Final| |align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Tokyo, Japan, Japan| Defended DREAM Featherweight Championship|-| Loss|align=center| 15–9–1| Robbie Peralta| Decision...
Garcia defeated Takaya via TKO (punches) at 1:31 of Round 1. Although preliminary, this bout aired on the live broadcast.
Main card
- Bantamweight bout: Manny TapiaManny TapiaManny Tapia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter from Chino, California who trains out of Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California...
vs. Antonio BanuelosAntonio BanuelosJuan Antonio Banuelos is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
Tapia defeated Banuelos via split decision (28–29, 30–27, 29–28).
The fight was originally announced as a split draw, Banuelos being awarded the victory 29–28 on referee Cecil Peoples' scorecard, and the two others being 30–27 for Tapia and a 28–28 draw, though a scorecard error was realized, and corrected to the ultimate outcome of a split decision for Manny Tapia.
- Bantamweight Championship bout: Chase BeebeChase BeebeChase Beebe is an American professional mixed martial artist from Chicago, Illinois. He has recently fought for the World Extreme Cagefighting organization, where he was the Bantamweight Champion. He lost that belt on February 13, 2008, to fellow Midwestern MMA fighter Miguel Torres...
(c) vs. Miguel TorresMiguel Torres (fighter)Miguel Angel Torres is an American mixed martial artist who fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. He is a former WEC Bantamweight champion. Prior to fighting with the WEC, Torres also held the bantamweight title for the US Shooto organization, as well as for the Ironheart Crown...
Torres defeated Beebe via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:59 of Round 1 to become the new WEC Bantamweight champion.
- Lightweight Championship bout: Rob McCulloughRob McCulloughRobert Alexander McCullough IV is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a five-time World Muay Thai Champion, and is a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He currently trains out of Huntington Beach, CA at HB Ultimate Training Center...
(c) vs. Jamie VarnerJamie VarnerJames Christopher Varner is a mixed martial artist who fought for World Extreme Cagefighting. He is a former WEC Lightweight champion.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:...
Varner defeated McCullough via TKO (strikes) at 2:54 of Round 3 to become the WEC Lightweight Champion. This fight, however, was not without controversy. In the third round, McCullough dropped Varner with a looping right hook, and proceeded to land effective ground and pound. The initial right hook knocked Varner's mouthpiece out, and after both fighters got back up to their feet, Varner signaled to the referee for a time-out for him to retrieve his mouthpiece. Steve Mazzagatti, the referee, granted Varner about 30 seconds to get his mouthpiece, which gave him time to recover.
- Welterweight Championship bout: Carlos ConditCarlos ConditCarlos Joseph Condit is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a welterweight.Condit initially received national attention for his run as the final WEC Welterweight Champion...
(c) vs.
Carlo PraterCarlo PraterCarlo Prater is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division, having formerly competed at welterweight...
Condit defeated Prater via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48 of Round 1 to retain WEC Welterweight Championship.