The Weekly Wrap: Aug. 29 - Sept. 4

DirecTV drops Versus

On a week that originally was going to feature WEC 43, DirecTV pulled the Versus network from its channel lineup. The network and satellite provider could not reach an agreement on rights fees, and it remains unclear when or if the impasse will be resolved. That means WEC events -- including new episodes of the “Wreckage” series with never-before-seen fights that have been airing in recent weeks -- are suddenly no longer available in about 17 million homes.

WEC 43 was moved to Oct. 10, the first Saturday night WEC on Versus, after headliner Benson Henderson suffered an undisclosed injury. Tickets went on sale this week for the new date in San Antonio. Officials have dismissed the DirecTV showdown as having anything to do with the postponement; the Wrestling Observer reported that Versus, owned by cable and Internet giant Comcast, actually wanted the show to remain on Sept. 2 because MMA fans would put more pressure on DirecTV to resolve the issue. The rival Dish Network responded to the situation by offering Versus to its subscribers on a free trial basis for three months.

The change comes as the WEC sets in motion a plan to hold an event every month through next summer. In addition to Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone on Oct. 10 and Mike Thomas Brown vs. Jose Aldo on Nov. 11, the promotion looks to do Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz in December and lightweight champion Jamie Varner’s return against the Cerrone-Henderson winner around the same time. The Wrestling Observer reported that the WEC will do 10 events on Versus in 2010, plus one or two pay-per-views, and will seek Canadian television clearance to stage a show there next year. UFC President Dana White has also talked of having some of the WEC’s top fighters at lower weights compete at UFC events.