Pancrase champion Yoshiro Maeda has won the 135-pound sweepstakes. The 26-year-old Japanese fighter will challenge WEC champion Miguel Torres June 1 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
Torres confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com on Tuesday.
Originally scheduled to defend his title against undefeated Manny Tapia on WEC's upcoming June offering, Torres will fight Maeda after it was announced Monday that Tapia had sustained a right knee injury. The Millenia Jiu-Jitsu product will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in the coming week.
Torres captured the WEC title in February in a scintillating grappling clinic against Chase Beebe. The 27-year-old bantamweight kingpin carries a gaudy 32-1 mark, having won his last 14 bouts, with 13 of those victories coming inside the distance.
Maeda, the reigning featherweight King of Pancrase, made his stateside debut in February. He stopped the rugged Charlie Valencia (Pictures) with a crushing kick to the body in the first round. The Valencia bout was also the Osakan's first at 135 pounds. Maeda had been slated to fight Damacio Page on June 1.
