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Their fights might not be as significant as Wednesday night's three title bouts, and they might not yet be world-ranked MMA fighters like Albuquerque headliner Carlos Condit.

But "Bad Boy" and "Ox" are sure to heat up the undercard of Wednesday night's World Extreme Cagefighting show at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Featherweight Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia (14-3), of Jackson's Gym, and bantamweight Coty "Ox" Wheeler (6-1), of the Fighters-in-Training/No-Holds-Barred Gym, don't have a clue how to put on a boring fight.

Garcia showed the world what he was about last year. On short notice, he took on UFC poster child Roger Huerta (20-1-1) in Houston. Garcia lost the fight, by unanimous decision, but he earned himself two more UFC dates by displaying nonstop aggression.

"The loss helped my career out a lot," says the 29-year-old Lubbock fighter. "It was a good learning experience, and helped make me a name.

"But the problem was the weight. He did outsize me. It wasn't like I was tired, but weight was definitely a factor."

At best, Garcia is a 145-pounder, but he had to give up 10 pounds to get the fight. Weight also played a factor in his next two UFC dates - a win by submission and a loss by decision - both at 155.

Now, however, with the WEC and its lighter divisions, Garcia is returning to his optimal fighting weight.

"For Leonard, weight is everything," says trainer Greg Jackson, who's been working with Garcia for a year.

"Before, he had to eat and eat to make weight. But that doesn't mean he has an easy fight on Wednesday."

Wednesday's fight will be against Japan's Hiroyuki Takaya (9-4-1), who will be making his WEC debut.

When Garcia says that Takaya "has the perfect style for me," what he means is, "expect a war."

"We both like to duck our heads and go at it."

Close by is another scrapper. Just across town trains 29-year-old, 135-pound "Ox" Wheeler, a half-Apache, half-Nez Perce, full-blooded American Indian who grew up on the Mescalero Reservation before making his way to Albuquerque.

"Growing up on the rez, I never boxed, I never wrestled, I never took martial arts," says Wheeler. "But I sure fought a lot. I fought . . . and drank."

Before walking through the doors of the FIT/NHB gym - where he hooked up with Tom and Arlene Vaughn - Wheeler was overweight and desperate for a life change. He found it in the ring, and the cage.

"I traded in my beer cans for cage fight fans," says Wheeler.

"I needed to put a cork on it. I needed a replacement. I was sick of being in trouble. Fighting has saved my life. It has been my release."

Wheeler fought amateur at first, in the sport that was quickly growing in New Mexico. After compiling a record of 11-1, he turned pro in July 2006.

In 2007, Wheeler took out six opponents, five by submission in the first round, before he got his lucky break - a chance to fight for the WEC.

"At 135 pounds, I thought the best I could do was fight for a state belt," says Wheeler. "But then when I found out the WEC were doing world championship belts at my weight class, I felt like it was Christmas."

Wheeler's first fight in the WEC was a battle. On WEC 30 in Las Vegas last September, Wheeler lost by a third-round TKO to the more experienced, undefeated Ian McCall (6-1).

"I don't like the taste of defeat," says Wheeler. "It was an eye-opener, but now I'm ready for anyone."

"Anyone," at least Wednesday, will be the more experienced Del Hawkins (22-12), of Phoenix.

"I'm familiar with Hawkins and all I can say is, `It's gonna be a good fight.' "