Mike Brown to meet Jose Aldo at WEC 44 at the Palms

Associated Press

Mike Brown, left, punches Urijah Faber in the fifth round of a World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight world title mixed martial arts fight on Sunday, June 7, 2009, in Sacramento, Calif. Brown won by unanimous decision to retain his championship.

By Andy Samuelson

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 3 p.m.

The World Extreme Cagefighting announced today that WEC 44 will take place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at The Palms and feature a main event between WEC featherweight champ Mike Brown and Jose Aldo.

“This fight is for more than just the featherweight title,” said WEC general manager Reed Harris, of the card that takes place three days before UFC 106 in Las Vegas.

“For Mike Brown, a win establishes him as the best featherweight fighter in the history of the sport. For Aldo, who is just 22 years old, this fight could mean the start of an Anderson Silva-like dominant reign.”

While Brown is riding a four-year, 10-fight unbeaten streak than includes two wins over Urijah Faber, the 34-year-old said he’s not underestimating the top 145-pound contender.

“He’s really, really good for a young kid,” said Brown, who defeated Faber via unanimous decision in June. “I’m 12 years older than him, so I’m going to have to use my experience and my ‘old man strength’ to take him out.

“I hear a lot about how explosive Aldo is and how hard he hits. We’ll see how he does when I control the fight and push him like he’s never been pushed before.”

Aldo (15-1 overall record in MMA) — a vicious striker from Brazil, who knocked out Cub Swanson in just eight seconds at WEC 41 — says while he’s honored to be fighting for the belt at such a young age, he’s not going to be overwhelmed by the veteran.

“I’m so happy to get this shot at such a young age. Mike Brown is a nice champion. His wrestling and boxing are really good, but his ground game is not the same,” Aldo said.

“Like all of my other fights in WEC, I’m trying to finish this one as fast as I can and become world champion.”

Tickets for Brown vs. Aldo go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 22 at noon Las Vegas time and will be priced from $50 to $175 and available at The Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. A special Internet ticket pre-sale is available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Sunday, Sept. 20 starting at 10 a.m. Vegas time.