Liddell adds luster at Covelli

'Cowboy' Cerrone works out in Youngstown

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Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, WEC interim lightweight title contender, works out at Jack Loew's South Side Boxing Club for his Sept. 2 fight against Ben Henderson at the Covelli Centre.

The UFC legend will sign autographs before the WEC event in September.

Vindicator staff report

LAS VEGAS — The hype is building and the building is hyped.

In less than a month, the Covelli Centre should be rocking with a 10-bout World Extreme Cagefighting show featuring Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson in the main event.

At stake in the bout between Cerrone-Henderson on Sept. 2 will be the WEC’s interim lightweight (155 pounds) championship.

But the appearance of four Ultimate Fighting Championship figures — including the legendary Chuck Liddell — will be an equally vibrant event.

“To have three former world champs and a UFC Hall of Famer is pretty exciting,” WEC public relations manager Dave Sholler said of Liddell, Urijah Faber, Jens Pulver and Frank Mir.

“For Chuck to come to Youngstown when he’s in high demand is going to be outstanding,” Sholler said of Liddell’s appearance following his induction in July.

“He loves the WEC product and is more than happy to come out and help with an autograph signing. He’s pretty fired up about guys like Kelly Pavlik.”

Liddell won’t be available until Sept. 2, but Faber, Pulver and Mir will appear Sept. 1 for a question-and-answer session only, although the time hasn’t been finalized.

“We’re waiting on Covelli and the athletic commission,” Sholler said. “Typically, the weigh-in is early afternoon and, in this case, a Tuesday, will work.”

Mir (pronounced Meer) will also do the color commentary when the Versus Network broadcasts the Sept. 2 show.

Mir (12-4) most recently lost to Brock Lesnar (4-1) at UFC 100 in Las Vegas on July 11. Mir was stopped in the second round.

Pulver — the UFC’s first-ever lightweight champion — now competes in the WEC’s featherweight division.

Faber is a former 145-pound champ.

“He’s one of the most popular of all MMA competitors,” Sholler said. “It’ll be unique for fans to have Frank, Jens and Uriah in one room participating in a meet and greet,” Sholler said of the Q & A following the weigh-in at Covelli.

Mir, whose father is Cuban, is looking forward to his trip to Youngstown.

“Ohio has a rich history in the fight game and I’m excited to be coming to Youngstown on Sept. 2.

“Ohio is also known for having strong wrestling programs,” Mir said. “They have great high school and collegiate wrestling and a lot of those competitors have gravitated toward MMA. That part of the country has become a hotbed for mixed martial arts.”

If the “caveman” image seems appropriate to describe UFC/WEC fighters, Mir has a reply to the misconception: “We have some of the most athletically gifted competitors in professional sports. Come to our event on Sept. 2 and you’ll witness first-hand the talent of our fighters.”

Sholler said the WEC/UFC are owned by the same company and refers to them as “sister” companies.

He said it does help to have the WBC/WBO middleweight boxing champion in the WEC venue’s backyard.

“Being in a real traditional fight town like Youngstown makes it that much more exciting,” Sholler said. “Kelly is a fan of MMA and our guys are big fans of boxing.”

Sholler has witnessed the gravitation of a lot of boxing writers toward MMA.

“They see excitement and potential and some are big MMA fans now,” he said.

“It only takes one event to see what all the fuss is about and we’re confident that the Youngstown show will be like any unseen before.

“Bringing in Frank, Jens, Uriah and Chuck couldn’t bring any more heavy hitters, that’s for sure.”