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Shane Roller
Shane Derrick Roller (born July 14, 1979) is a retired American mixed martial artist who is perhaps best known in his career for competing as a Lightweight for the UFC and WEC. Background Roller was born and raised in Bixby, Oklahoma along with his three brothers. Roller is known as one of the most decorated athletes in his state's history, a standout at Bixby High School while competing in wrestling, baseball, and football, lettering in each, and was the Tulsa World's 1998 Male Athlete of the Year. In baseball, he was a two-time letterman, playing shortstop, hitting in the lead-off spot, and was twice selected for the All-Metro Honorable Mention Team. In football, Roller played quarterback, running back, free safety, and was a three-time letterman. Roller was selected to play in the Jim Thorpe All-Star Game and was also selected as the 1997 Oklahoma Football Coaches Association All-Star Running Back. In wrestling, Roller was his high school's first four-time state champion and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bixby, Oklahoma
Bixby is a city in Tulsa and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 28,609 at the 2020 census and 20,884 in the 2010 census, an increase of 13.70 percent In 2010, Bixby became the 19th largest city in Oklahoma. It is nicknamed "The Garden Spot of Oklahoma" for its rich agrarian heritage. Though one of the fastest-growing communities in Oklahoma, it remains a sod-growing center and a popular location for purchasing fresh vegetables. The per capita income of $36,257 is the highest in the Tulsa Metropolitan area and is more than 50 percent higher than the state average.Stephanie Andre. "Bixby, Oklahoma's 'Garden ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 35
''WEC 35: Condit vs. Miura'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 3, 2008 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. The event drew an estimated 423,000 viewers on Versus. The event featured three title fights, the first time a Zuffa, LLC promoted MMA card featured more than two title fights on the same card since UFC 33 in 2001; there would not be another UFC event with more than two until UFC 205 in 2016, after Zuffa had sold the promotion. Background A featherweight bout between Cub Swanson and Hiroyuki Takaya was originally scheduled for this event, but Swanson pulled out due to a broken hand. Promotional newcomer LC Davis had verbally agreed to replace Swanson, but Takaya did not approve the new matchup, and the bout was removed from the card. The Swanson/Takaya bout was rescheduled for WEC 37 in December 2008, where Swanson won by unanimous decision. Results Bonus awards Fighters were award ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 50
''WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 18, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas. Background This event marked WEC's first visit to Las Vegas since WEC 45 in December 2009 and was also shown on the TV channel Versus. Urijah Faber was expected to make his bantamweight debut against Japanese striker Takeya Mizugaki. However, Faber was forced off the card with an injury. As a result, Mizugaki was also pulled from the event. The Faber/Mizugaki bout was simply pushed back, to WEC 52. Faber won the rescheduled matchup by first round submission. Stephan Bonnar served as color commentator for the event along with Todd Harris. The event drew an average of 316,000 TV viewers. Results Bonus Awards Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses. *Fight of the Night: Scott Jorgensen vs. Brad Pickett *Knockout of the Night: Maciej Jewtuszko *Submission of the Night: Anthony Pettis Repor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. Pettis was also the final WEC Lightweight Champion prior to the promotion being merged into the UFC. Early life Pettis was born on January 27, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Annette (''née'' Garcia) and Eugene Pettis Jr. He grew up in the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with his older brother, Reynaldo Pettis and younger brother, Sergio Pettis, who fights in the flyweight division. Pettis is of Mexican ancestry. His grandfather, Eugenio Pérez, anglicized the family name from Pérez to Pettis to avoid discrimination. Pettis attended Dominican High School. He started training in taekwondo and boxing at the age of 5. In college he also start ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 48
'' UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber'', also referred to as ''WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. This was WEC's first and only event on pay-per-view before their merger with the Ultimate Fighting Championship later that year. Background The event was first announced by WEC President Reed Harris on the Dave and Mahoney Show. Jamie Varner was expected to face Kamal Shalorus at this event, but that bout was called off due to an injury sustained by Shalorus. The match was later rescheduled for WEC 49 on June 20, where both men fought to a split draw. A bout between Alex Karalexis and Zach Micklewright was due to take place at this event, but Micklewright suffered a broken ankle and was later replaced by Anthony Pettis. Antonio Banuelos was scheduled to face Damacio Page at the event, but Page was forced off the card with an injury. Banuelos ending up fac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Njokuani
Anthony Obinna Njokuani (born March 1, 1980) is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional competitor since 2001, Njokuani has also formerly competed for the UFC, WEC, and ONE Championship. Background Born in Enugu, Nigeria on March 1, 1980, Anthony Njokuani and his family immigrated to the United States in 1983, settling in Garland, Texas. Njokuani began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 17 before later moving on to Muay Thai and then mixed martial arts at the age of 21. Njokuani's younger brother, Chidi Njokuani, is also a professional mixed martial artist. Career Early career (2001–2008) Njokuani began his professional career in 1999, initially fighting as a kickboxer. He enjoyed some success in the sport by compiling a 24–0 record and winning the Kansas state Muay Thai title. He turned his hand to mixed martial arts in 2003 and became champion of the Texas-based Art of War promotion in 2007 before making a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 44
''WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting. It took place on November 18, 2009 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. Background Anthony Pettis was originally slated to face Rob McCullough at this event, but was forced from the bout due to an injury, and was replaced by promotional newcomer Karen Darabedyan. A lightweight bout between Danny Castillo and Alex Karalexis was once attached to this event, though it was later scrapped. Both men remained on the card with new opponents, as Castillo was matched with Shane Roller, while Karalexis was expected to face the debuting Kamal Shalorus. However, Karalexis had to bow out of the Shalorus matchup due to a broken hand, and was replaced by fellow WEC newcomer Will Kerr. The event drew an estimated 414,000 viewers on Versus. Results Bonus Awards Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses. *Fight of the Night: Cub Swanson vs. John Franchi *Knockout of the N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danny Castillo
Daniel Alfonso Castillo (born August 25, 1979) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2007 until 2015, he competed in 22 bouts with both the UFC and WEC. Mixed martial arts career Early career Castillo began training MMA when he joined the wrestling team at his high school in suburban Sacramento. His vice principal, who was also the wrestling coach, told Castillo that if he joined the team, he would not call his mother after seeing Castillo constantly in trouble. Castillo claims he was scared his first day at practice, "I got the xpletivekicked out of me that day, but after that, I wasn't nervous at wrestling practice ever." After leaving private school, Castillo graduated from Laguna Creek High School (Elk Grove, CA) and attended Menlo College; becoming an NAIA All American in 2004. His nickname "Last Call" was given to him in college due to his ability perform very decently in his team's offseason morning runs albeit having been consuming massive am ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 42
''WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on August 9, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Background Kenji Osawa was originally scheduled to face Rani Yahya at this event, but was pulled from the bout due to injury and replaced by WEC newcomer John Hosman. The event drew an estimated 670,000 viewers on Versus. Results Bonus Awards Fighters were awarded $10,000 bonuses. *Fight of the Night: Joseph Benavidez vs. Dominick Cruz *Knockout of the Night: Brian Bowles *Submission of the Night: Rani Yahya Reported payout The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the WEC. *Brian Bowles: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus) def. Miguel Torres: $26,000 *Dominick Cruz: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) def. Joseph Benavidez: $12,500 *Danny Castillo: $14,000 ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marcus Hicks
Marcus Dewayne Hicks (born November 25, 1975) is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in 2014. A professional since 2002, he is perhaps best remembered for his six-fight stint in the WEC, but also competed for Legacy FC. Mixed martial arts career Early career Hicks made his professional mixed martial arts debut on January 26, 2002, defeating Ben Hand at Rocky Mountain Slammer 1 via armbar submission. Following this win, Hicks would compile a record of 5–0 before signing with WEC. World Extreme Cagefighting After winning his first three fights in the WEC by guillotine choke, Hicks fought Jamie Varner for the WEC Lightweight Championship losing by TKO in the first round. Hicks next fought former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough at WEC 39 on March 1, 2009, losing by majority decision. In his fight at WEC 42 on August 9, 2009, Hicks lost to Shane Roller by unanimous decision. After his loss to Roller, Hicks was subsequently released from the promotion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WEC 40
''WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on April 5, 2009 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. The event aired live on the Versus Network. Background This was the first WEC event to exclusively feature fights in the lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight weight classes. The organization's heavier weight classes had been folded into the UFC over the previous four months. World Extreme Cagefighting would maintain this weight class structure for the remainder of the promotion's existence. WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres was to defend his title against Brian Bowles at this event, but Bowles was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a back injury, and was replaced by WEC newcomer Takeya Mizugaki. The Torres/Bowles bout was rescheduled for WEC 42 that August, where Bowles won the title by knockout. Early reports suggested that Wagnney Fabiano could face former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber at t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson (born November 16, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist who competes for Bellator MMA, currently competing in their Lightweight division. He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and WEC Lightweight Champion. As of November 22, 2022, he is #3 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings. Early life Henderson was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to a Korean mother and an African American father. Benson has an older brother, Julius, who was born in Korea. He was raised in Federal Way, Washington. When Henderson was approximately 9 years old, his mother, Song, insisted that he take Tae Kwon Do lessons with his brother. "She's Korean, I'm half-Korean, and it's the traditional Korean martial art, so she wanted us to do that to get a little bit of the culture and tradition," he says. Both Benson and his brother attained black belts in Tae Kwon Do. He attended Decatur High School from 1998 to 2001. Benson became a part of the high school's wrestling team. After gradua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
