Historic WEC Lightweight Champions
A list of all historic belt holders in the WEC's 155 pound Lightweight Division
Gilbert Melendez is no stranger to Championship belts as Melendez defeated Olaf Alfonso at WEC 10 to become the first WEC Lightweight Champion. While the championship belt bounced around a bit in the years after Melendez held the title, Rob McCullough's loss to Jamie Varner at WEC 32 meant a new title holder had emerged. Varner survived two title defenses, but his fight with Donald Cerrone left him with hand and eye injuries causing the WEC to issue an Interim title. When Benson Henderson defeated Cerrone it was determined that Varner's return after a 12-month layoff would be a title-unification fight with Henderson. Henderson, just months earlier thought to be just another fighter in the 155 pound division, emerged victorious to become the WEC's undisputed Lightweight Champion at WEC 46 in January 2010.
Belt Holder |
Won belt at |
Defeated |
Date |
Title Defenses |
| Gilbert Melendez | WEC 10 | Olaf Alfonso | May 21, 2004 |
|
| WEC Lightweight title vacated | ||||
| Gabe Ruediger | WEC 12 | Olaf Alfonso | October 21, 2004 | - defeated Jason Maxwell at WEC 14 on March 17, 2005 - defeated Sam Wells at WEC 17 on October 14, 2005 |
| Hermes Franca | WEC 19 | Gabe Ruediger | March 17, 2006 | - defeated Branden Olsen at WEC 21 on June 15, 2006 - defeated Nate Diaz at WEC 24 on October 12, 2006 |
| After being purchased by Zuffa, the WEC Lightweight title was vacated | ||||
| Rob McCullough | WEC 25 | Kit Cope | January 20, 2007 | - defeated Richard Crunkilton at WEC 30 on September 5, 2007
|
| Jamie Varner | WEC 32 | Rob McCullough | February 13, 2008 | - defeated Marcus Hicks at WEC 35 on August 3, 2008 - defeated Donald Cerrone at WEC 38 on January 25, 2009 |
| Ben Henderson (interim) | WEC 43 | Donald Cerrone | October 10, 2009 |
|
| Ben Henderson | WEC 46 | Jamie Varner | January 10, 2010 | - defeated Donald Cerrone at WEC 48 on April 24, 2010
|
More Historic WEC information @ ProFighting-fans.com:
- Historic WEC results
- Historic WEC Lightweight Champions
- Historic WEC Featherweight Champions
- Historic WEC Bantamweight Champions