WEC 47 fighters at home in Ohio

Torres, Bowles have a connection to Columbus in different ways.

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer Updated 12:21 AM Saturday, March 6, 2010

COLUMBUS — After three successful mixed martial arts events held in conjunction with the annual Arnold Sports Festival, the Ultimate Fighting Championship skipped Columbus this year. But taking its spot and making an Ohio debut is the UFC’s sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting.

“WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz” takes place Saturday, March 6, at Nationwide Arena (Versus, 10 p.m.), and the fight promotion — which uses a smaller cage and focuses on lighter weight classes — is bringing some star power.

Headlining the show is 135-pound champion Brian Bowles (8-0), and his opponent, Dominick Cruz (14-1). The winner of that fight is likely to meet the victor of the WEC 47 co-main-event between former champion Miguel Torres (37-2) and Joseph Benavidez (11-1).

Torres has been on the front line of the WEC’s marketing efforts, which included a mid-February media tour in Columbus, photos with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a major presence at this weekend’s Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports and fitness exhibition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center that annually draws tens of thousands of sports fans.

“I think a lot of people here know who I am,” said Torres, who’s competed in and brought students to grappling and amateur MMA competitions during the past six to seven Arnold events. “I almost feel like I’m fighting in front of a hometown crowd. ... That’s how much I feel at home here.”

Of course, Bowles feels much the same way. Now based in Georgia, the Charleston, W.Va., native has family in Columbus, and many friends from West Virginia and Georgia are making the trek to Nationwide Arena.

“It’s not easy for them to get to my fights in Las Vegas (the WEC’s usual home), so this is about as close to home as I can get,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of people on my side.”