With many fans looking forward to another WEC title defense from “The California Kid,” Faber will put his 145-pound crown on the line against Mike Thomas Brown at WEC 36 on Nov. 5 in Hollywood, Fla.
After a career spent largely in anonymity, Brown finally got his well-earned moment in the sun by knocking off Jeff Curran in June, earning a WEC title shot. The American Top Teamer will get his crack at Faber on Nov. 5.
3. Leonard Garcia (11-3)
Cleared of connections to a Texas cocaine ring, Garcia will meet Jens Pulver in a battle of heavy-fisted featherweights at WEC 36 on Nov. 5. He returned to the WEC in February and knocked out highly regarded Hiroyuki Takaya in 91 seconds.
4. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (18-6-2)
After dropping three of his last four fights as a lightweight, the colorful veteran abandoned the 155-pound division, where he had spent his entire career, to compete as a featherweight. In his debut at 145 pounds, Mishima made out fantastically, as he took a majority decision and the Deep featherweight title from Masakazu Imanari.
5. Jeff Curran (30-10-1)
Since dropping a decision to Brown in June, “The Big Frog” has decided to test the waters in the intensifying bantamweight division in the near future. Curran could make his 135-pound debut at WEC 37 on Dec. 3.
6. Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1)
After his disappointing featherweight title loss to Mishima in May, Imanari became a two-division Deep champion with a stealthy 29-second heel-hook victory over Hiroshi Umemura in a bout for the promotion’s bantamweight title on Aug. 17. Imanari will now keep his fingers crossed that he can land a big money bout on New Year’s Eve.
7. Hatsu Hioki (16-3-2)
Still rehabilitating after a woeful year in 2007, Hioki will look to close 2008 with a bang. The TKO featherweight champion will take on Shooto legend Rumina Sato on Nov. 29 and look to step into contention for a second title.
8. Hiroyuki Takaya (9-5-1)
After Takaya’s slated WEC 35 opponent, Cub Swanson, sustained a hand injury shortly before the event, International Fight League veteran LC Davis was served up as a late replacement. That would have salvaged a great bout. Unfortunately, Takaya’s management rejected the last-minute replacement, which resulted in the Japanese banger being removed from the card.
9. Takeshi Inoue (14-3)
Inoue was shocked by Savant Young in May, but the former Shooto world champion has not fallen out of favor with promoters and has been afforded the chance to regain his crown. “Lion Takeshi” will take on reigning Shooto 143-pound champion Hideki Kadowaki on Nov. 29, as he looks to become the first fighter ever to regain a Shooto world title.
10. Wagnney Fabiano (10-1)
It was a prayer answered by MMA’s premiere promotion for featherweights when the International Fight League’s only 145-pound champion announced he had signed with WEC. The talented Brazilian will get his chance to prove he’s a top-flight featherweight when he makes his promotional debut at WEC 37 on Dec. 3 against Akitoshi Tamura.