The announcement has the biggest effect on fans and fighters but I think it affects all 3 camps good/bad differently.
WEC Fighters: 50/50. On one hand they will get more exposure and potentially bigger pay, but will they be the same fighters they were in WEC? They were big fish in a small pond in WEC but now its small fish in the fuckin ocean. There def is an adjustment, some will make it and some won't. The headliners should do fine but I worry about the guys lower down the card. Pressure is much bigger in the UFC.
UFC Fighters: 50/50. More competition is good in that when you win it boosts your rep giving you the potential to earn more money and possibly a title fight. But the guys that have been treading water are gonna be in trouble when these WEC guys hungry for the UFC spotlight come in like a tidal wave. Everyone will have to step up their game or get passed by.
Fans: 90/-10. I say -10 because it does suck that we are losing 5 free cards on TV next year, WEC shows were usually damn good top to bottom. But the 4 free shows plus the PPV and Spike events should be awesome with the talent pool and divisions they have now. We should get some great fights next year. But I bet these last 2 WEC shows will be off the hook, trying to go out with a bang. As a fight fan this announcement has me pretty excited. Plus a featherweight or Bantamweight edition of The Ultimate Fighter would be pretty sweet.
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