Torres vs. Valencia Slated For Co-Main Event Of WEC 51

A bantamweight showdown featuring former WEC 135-pound champion Miguel Torres and Charlie Valencia is set to serve as the co-main event of WEC 51 on September 30.

MMAFighting reported the news earlier this afternoon after speaking with sources close to the fight.

Torres, the longtime champion of the WEC’s bantamweight division and one of the most dominant fighters in WEC history, has fallen on hard times recently, losing his belt to Brian Bowles at WEC 42 and then losing to Joseph Benavidez by submission at WEC 47. The loss to Bowles snapped a 17-fight winning streak, while the loss to Benavidez marked the first time Torres had ever lost consecutive fights in his career.

Valencia, an eight fight veteran of the WEC, is currently 5-3 with the promotion, but has won his last three contests all by decision. He last fought at WEC 46, where he defeated Akitoshi Tamura via split-decision, following his unanimous decision victories over Coty Wheeler and Seth Dikun at WEC 43 and WEC 38, respectively.

The bout will serve as the co-main event of WEC 51, which is set for September 30 in Broomfield, Colorado. No bouts have been officially confirmed by the promotion for the fall event.