Tag: Charlie Valencia

MMA Top 10 Bantamweights: Dominick Cruz Tightens His Hold

Filed under: WEC, Rankings, BantamweightsIf there was any doubt that Dominick Cruz was the best bantamweight in mixed martial arts, he erased that doubt Wednesday night by defeating the tough but ultimately overmatched Joseph Benavidez in a split decis…

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If there was any doubt that Dominick Cruz was the best bantamweight in mixed martial arts, he erased that doubt Wednesday night by defeating the tough but ultimately overmatched Joseph Benavidez in a split decision that gave Cruz his second victory over the No. 2 fighter in the division.

Benavidez is a great fighter (he’s 12-0 when fighting anyone other than Cruz), but it’s his friend and training partner Urijah Faber who has handed Cruz his only career loss, and is likely to fight Cruz again some time early next year, this time for the bantamweight title.

Once Faber makes the move down to bantamweight, I think he’ll be a Top 10 fighter in the class — and he might just beat Cruz again and move to the top. For now, he’s absent from the Cruz-dominated bantamweight rankings, which are below.

Miguel Torres Looks to Snap Losing Streak Against Charlie Valencia at WEC 51

(Miguel may have lost a pint of blood, but he *gained* a pint of valuable life experience. / Photo courtesy of Sherdog.)
There was a time when Miguel Torres looked absolutely untouchable in the WEC bantamweight division. But after two consecutive sto…

Miguel Torres bloody face Benavidez WEC 47
(Miguel may have lost a pint of blood, but he *gained* a pint of valuable life experience. / Photo courtesy of Sherdog.)

There was a time when Miguel Torres looked absolutely untouchable in the WEC bantamweight division. But after two consecutive stoppage losses to Brian Bowles and Joseph Benavidez, the former champion finds himself in an odd position — in the middle of the 135-pound pack, fighting up the ladder like everybody else. Torres will return to competition at WEC 51 (September 30th; Broomfield, Colorado) against Charlie Valencia, who is 5-3 in the WEC and has picked up three-straight decision victories against Seth Dikun, Coty Wheeler, and Akitoshi Tamura. Not a bad resume, but Torres doesn’t plan on adding his name to it. In fact, he’s already planning to, well, return to the old Miguel. As he tells MMA Fighting:

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‘Angry’ Miguel Torres Wants Return to Aggressive Roots at WEC 51

Filed under: WECMiguel Torres is angry. Or, to quote him more accurately, he’s “a pissed off Mexican right now.”

Torres, the former WEC bantamweight champion, learned Friday his next fight will come Sept. 30 against Charlie Valencia at WEC 51 in Broo…

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Miguel Torres is angry. Or, to quote him more accurately, he’s “a pissed off Mexican right now.”

Torres, the former WEC bantamweight champion, learned Friday his next fight will come Sept. 30 against Charlie Valencia at WEC 51 in Broomfield, Colo. And he told MMA Fighting just moments after he agreed to the bout that he’s ready for a style change – this time reverting back to his old form. There’s something to be said for not fighting angry, but for Torres, the formula had been working.

“Now I’m looking to come back and use my old style and stay aggressive,” Torres said, “and just beat the (crap) out of people.”

Torres (37-3, 5-2 WEC) took a 17-fight winning streak and three straight defenses of the bantamweight belt into the main event of WEC 42 last August. But Brian Bowles handed him the first knockout of his career and left Las Vegas with the title. Seven months later, hoping to show his first loss in nearly six years was a fluke, Torres was cut – badly – by Joseph Benavidez. Blood gushing from his forehead, which would later require plastic surgery, Torres was soon tapping out from a guillotine – his first submission loss and his first successive defeats.

Miguel Torres to Face Charlie Valencia in WEC 51 Co-Main Event

Filed under: WEC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsAfter dropping two straight fights, former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres will look to find his way back into the winning column and ultimately back into title contention when he faces Charlie Valencia…

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After dropping two straight fights, former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres will look to find his way back into the winning column and ultimately back into title contention when he faces Charlie Valencia at WEC 51, MMA Fighting has learned from sources with knowledge of the situation.

The bout will serve as the co-main event of the evening, sources have confirmed.