This past Sunday, in Sacramento, California, WEC 34 delivered a memorable night of fights. But it did far more for the lighter divisions in mixed martial arts than anyone could have hoped for. WEC, while known to produce exciting match-ups, has always been deemed average, or rather the B-level UFC. 

June 1, 2008 could have been the day that it marked its name in the history books. I hope that it now begins to gain prominence, particularly speaking of its lighter divisions, which are not easy to catch on just any card.

The fact that this show was not on PPV helped the sport significantly. The talk this weekend was all about EliteXC on CBS, the first MMA show on broadcast television. While EliteXC did its part in delivering an action-packed night of fights, especially with the card and talent level put into consideration, it did not do much in terms of showcasing the hardest working, most athletic or premier talents in the sport. 

For any newfound fans that might have found themselves compelled enough by EliteXC 'Primetime' to catch WEC 34, chances are those fans will not be going anywhere. Aired on Versus in the U.S. and TSN in Canada, World Extreme Cagefighting produced a thrilling showcase of some of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists on the planet. Not only were they good fights, they transcended some of the best fights this year, if not of all time. 

In the main event, the 29-year-old Urijah Faber established himself as arguably the greatest featherweight in the sport's short history. In his five round war with UFC veteran Jens Pulver, five years his elder, Faber picked his opponent apart. He showcased what is widely acknowledged as the best cardio in the sport. Pulver's iron chin made for an electrifying 25 minute standup war. He rocked Faber at points in the fight and really made you believe that he could knock him out with one big punch. The crowd's appreciation in the final minutes of the fight tells the whole story. And while fans often go home disappointed after the main event goes to a decision, not a soul left the Arco Arena feeling like they didn't get their money's worth.

My personal favorite, the co-main event, featured the world's top bantamweight, Miguel Torres, defend his crown against Pancrase veteran Yoshiro Maeda. This fight was spectacular, going back and fourth to a swift pace. The two engaged in a ruthless Muay Thai exchange and even tangled on the ground. The highlight had to be when Maeda appeared to have a heel hook sunk in, but Torres managed to get Maeda locked in a heel hook of his own. Within seconds, they were back on their feet exchanging kicks. It was an unforgettable war.

The rest of the bouts did well as lead-ins to the title fights. Mark Munoz quickly turned his fight with Chuck Grigsby around and knocked him out in the first round. Donald Cerrone impressively submitted Danny Castillo to extend his undefeated streak to 8-0. And while not exactly a classic, Rob McCullough edged out a split decision against Kenneth Alexander to the disgruntlement of the live crowd. 

The main thing that WEC 34 was able to accomplish was to send a message out that the 135 and 145 pound divisions are some of the most exciting and competitive in the world today. These divisions have long been considered among the best in boxing, but are now beginning to positively impact mixed martial arts. What's next? Maybe UFC will begin to showcase lighter divisions on their shows, trying to blend in WEC talent. Maybe WEC shows will now air on PPV (which would be a big mistake). One thing is certain. While I'm not a mixed martial arts guru, WEC 34 was one of the best shows of the year (in my opinion the best) in terms of fight quality. Torres, Maeda, Faber and Pulver did far more than engage in entertaining action for 40 minutes. They set a milestone for anyone in their weight class and they put MMA fans on notice. 

And that's one for the little guy...