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WEC looking into Ohio as a future event site

Dann Stupp runs UFCjunkie.com, an associate partner site of Yahoo! Sports. For daily MMA and UFC news, visit www.ufcjunkie.com.

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer Updated 12:41 AM Monday, April 13, 2009

World Extreme Cagefighting is the latest major mixed-martial-arts promotion that has its sights set on Ohio.

The organization, which is owned by and operated as a sister promotion to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, recently concluded its successful Chicago debut with an April 5 event at the UIC Pavilion. After the show, officials from the Las Vegas-based organization confirmed interest in an Ohio event.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on the state,” WEC co-founder and current executive Reed Harris said. “The area does really good (TV) ratings. We were just talking about possibly going to Ohio this year.”

The WEC, which focuses on the sport’s lighter weight classes, currently airs its event on Versus. Like with the UFC’s pay-per-view events, Ohio continually provides strong numbers during those broadcasts.

“We’ve discussed a few possible (host) cities.” WEC Vice President Peter Dropick said. “There are a few options, but we’re not ready to discuss them publicly yet.”

Columbus and Cincinnati, which have previously hosted UFC events, would seem the likely options, though the decision is at least partially dependent upon available venues.

The WEC used to host its events in Las Vegas and California but recently expanded to new host sites in Texas, New Mexico and Florida.

Alvarez to headline Bellator show in Dayton

Top-10 world lightweight Eddie Alvarez is set to headline Bellator Fighting Championships’ May 1 show at Hara Arena.

The organization, which airs on ESPN Deportes, launched its 12-week season on April 3 and ventures to cities throughout the U.S. each week. Eight-man tournaments take place in four different weight classes, and each event is bolstered with non-tourney bouts.

In the May 1 main event and a lightweight semifinal fight, Alvarez (16-2) takes on Eric Reynolds (10-1). The lightweight tourney’s other favorite, Jorge Masvidal (17-3), meets Toby Imada (21-12) in the night’s co-main event.

Tickets currently are on sale.

Area results

• Cincinnati-based fighter Victor O’Donnell (7-0) remained undefeated with a second-round submission victory over UFC veteran Forrest Petz. The bout headlined April 11’s “ICF: Breakout” event at Cincinnati’s U.S. Bank Arena. Cincinnati’s Luke Zachrich (9-1), a former cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter,” also picked up a win by submitting Robert Thompson.

• Former UFC fighter Josh Hendricks (16-5) became the newest heavyweight champion of the Cincinnati-based “MMA Big Show” promotion. Hendricks defeated former champ Brian Heden at the organization’s April 11 show at Indiana’s Belterra Casino.

Dann Stupp is

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