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In this column, I thought I would try something different and take a concept from pro wrestling and apply it to MMA and discuss the possibilities of the concept. In under a month, the WWE will be holding their annual WWE Draft, where the stars of Raw, Smackdown and ECW could be packing up and going to another brand if they are drafted. For this column, I’m going to implement the WWE Draft and use it in a format to hold a UFC/WEC draft. To make this concept work, I’ll choose one fighter from each weight class in the UFC and WEC to switch companies, although the UFC brass runs the WEC. To make things fair, I will not choose any heavyweights from the UFC since there is no heavyweight division in the WEC, in turn, I will not choose any bantamweight or featherweight fighters from the WEC since those divisions do not exist in the UFC.

 

Light Heavyweight Fighters

 

UFC Acquisition From WEC: Mark Munoz (4-0-0)

 

As he displayed at the last WEC event on June 1^st, Mark Munoz is a rising fighter in the light heavyweight world who is becoming a dangerous striker. Although he only has four professional fights, three have ended by knockout or submission, showing that he does have the finishing abilities the UFC likes to have in their contracted fighters. Also, with the loss of Tito Ortiz and the injuries to Chuck Liddell and James Irvin, bringing in a fresh and undefeated light heavyweight like Mark Munoz could put some new blood in the division.

 

WEC Acquisition From The UFC: Wilson Gouveia (10-5-0)

 

Wilson Gouveia is a UFC fighter who has had a chance to breakthrough to the upper tier in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division a few times, but has failed to do so. The WEC would benefit from bringing in Wilson Gouveia because he is still an improving light heavyweight fighter, but might make a better impact in a company whose light heavyweight division is not as stacked. Wilson Gouveia is a fighter who has won nine of ten fights by either knockout or submission and could pose a challenge to current WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann.

 

Middleweight Fighters

 

UFC Acquisition From WEC: Paulo Fihlo (16-0-0)

 

Although Paulo Filho is the current WEC Middleweight Champion and is currently undergoing rehabilitation, I would bring in Paulo Filho to the UFC for a fight with current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Most MMA fans don’t see anyone in the UFC Middleweight Division who could pose a threat to Anderson Silva right now, but a Paulo Filho/Anderson Silva fight would draw more interest than any other potential fight right now. The only real issue in putting the fight together is that due to the close relationship between Anderson Silva and Paulo Filho, as both stated they would never fight each other.

 

WEC Acquisition From UFC: Rich Franklin (23-3-0)

 

I choose Rich Franklin for two reasons, he lost to current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva twice now and since he suffered two losses to the same fighter, the UFC won’t likely give Rich Franklin a third fight against Anderson Silva and the UFC Middleweight Title. So why not move to the WEC and bring some major drawing power to an organization that is growing by the second. Also, I do not believe there would be any complainers if Rich Franklin fought WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho on a WEC on Versus event.

 

Welterweight Fighters

 

UFC Acquisition From WEC: Brock Larson (23-2-0)

 

Prior to getting into my pick of Brock Larson, I must mention that he already fought in the UFC once before, gaining a victory at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 7. In the early days of WEC On Versus, Brock Larson was built up as a star who would wind up challenging WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, but lost to him after an arm bar. Since that title loss, Brock Larson went onto defeat John Alessio, but has yet to return in any form to the WEC. With the pending retirement on Matt Hughes, Brock Larson could become a fine addition to the UFC Welterweight Division.

 

WEC Acquisition From UFC: Karo Parisyan (18-5-0)

 

The UFC Welterweight Division is so stacked with contenders right now that I’m beginning to fear that Karo Parisyan will never get his title opportunity, especially after his knockout loss to Thiago Alves at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 13. So why not bring Karo Parisyan in and go up against current WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit. Just imagine the judo and jiu-jitsu skills of both fighters, this fight may even be as good as the Karo Parisyan/Nick Diaz fight from UFC 49.

 

Lightweight Fighters

 

UFC Acquisition From WEC: Rob McCullough (16-4-0)

 

It is just a matter of time before Rob McCullough gets his WEC Lightweight Title fight rematch with Jamie Varner, but I’d really like to see Rob McCullough come to the UFC and challenge the likes of BJ Penn, Sean Sherk, Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin and others. Also, the WEC fans seemed to turn on the Rob McCullough/Kenneth Alexander fight from WEC 34, so it may be a good move to put Rob McCullough in a fight in front of a whole new crowd, the UFC fans.

 

WEC Acquisition From UFC: Tyson Griffin (11-1-0)

 

If you look at the record of current WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber, you will notice that he only has once career loss. That one career loss was to Tyson Griffin, which occurred at Gladiator Challenge 42, which took place in September 2005. After the big money fight recently between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver, a potential rematch between Urijah Faber and Tyson Griffin could possibly draw an even bigger crowd and TV ratings if the rematch were to occur.