TUF FINALE AT PALMS ON JUNE 4‏

[keithlewis]

UFC RETURNS TO THE PALMS IN LAS VEGAS ON JUNE 4 WITH THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE

ANTHONY PETTIS vs. CLAY GUIDA
JEREMY STEPHENS vs. JONATHAN BROOKINS

PLUS, WELTERWEIGHT BOUT TO DETERMINE WINNER OF
SEASON 13 OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER

From the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev.
Saturday, June 4

Tickets Go On Sale Friday, March 25 at 12 p.m. PT



Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 4 with a stacked card headlined by a pivotal lightweight clash between Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Clay “The Carpenter” Guida. The winner of this highly-anticipated bout is expected to emerge as a top contender to the UFC lightweight title.

If that wasn’t enough, the June 4 event will crown the welterweight winner of season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter®. Another bout confirmed for this card includes a lightweight collision between The Ultimate Fighter® season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins and tested veteran Jeremy Stephens.

“Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida both want to prove that they deserve the next shot at the lightweight title,” UFC President Dana White said. “Pettis comes in to the UFC with a lot of hype. He was the last WEC lightweight champion and became a superstar after landing that incredible kick off the cage against Ben Henderson. But this is the toughest fight of his career. Clay Guida is a gritty, in-your-face fighter who has put together a really impressive winning streak. This is a fight I can’t wait to see.”

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter® Finale go on sale Friday, March 25 at 12 p.m. PT and will be priced at $375.00, $250.00 and $150.00. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m. PT via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Thursday, March 24 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

The Ultimate Fighter® Finale will be televised nationally live on Spike TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Among the most dynamic strikers in all of mixed martial arts, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc./ 11-1) grabbed international headlines in December when he landed one of the most-gravity defying kicks of all-time against then-champion Ben Henderson. Propelling himself off the cage, Pettis landed the “Showtime” kick en route to becoming the last WEC lightweight champion. A winner of four straight, the 24-year-old now enters the hallowed UFC Octagon® with his sights set on earning a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

“This is one of those fights where I need to shine,” Pettis, a protégé of renowned trainer Duke Roufus, said. “For this fight, I need to go out there and prove that I belong as the number one contender in the UFC. That means beating a really tough opponent in Clay Guida. Clay always goes out there and performs. He never gets tired and he’s always pushing forward. I’m ready for this challenge and to prove that I deserve a title shot.”

A fan favorite for his high-energy, relentless fighting style, Clay Guida (fighting out of Albuquerque N.M. and Johnsburg, Ill. / 28-8) has reeled off three consecutive victories and believes a win over Pettis in June will secure him a coveted title shot. Known for his sturdy chin and unmatched cardio, the 29-year-old Guida has finished his last three opponents by submission and sees a similar fate for his opponent on June 4 at The Palms.

“There’s a lot at stake for this fight,” Guida, who is coming off an impressive stoppage win over Takanori Gomi in January, said. “What I did to Gomi was just a taste of what I have in store for Anthony Pettis. He’s been on one hell of a tear over the last few years and I respect that. But he hasn’t seen the rabid dog, and the type of fighter that I am in the cage. I’ve lost to better guys and I’ve beaten better guys. On June 4, I’m just going to be Clay Guida and use my conditioning and my wrestling. Wrestling wins championships and I want a shot at the belt.”

The card will also crown the welterweight winner of season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter®. Led by coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, 14 of the sport’s rising 170-pound competitors vie for the chance to earn a UFC contract. On June 4, two competitors will lock horns for the chance to be called The Ultimate Fighter®.

The Ultimate Fighter® Finale also features season 12 lightweight winner Jonathan Brookins (fighting out of Orlando, Fla./ 13-3) taking on Jeremy Stephens (fighting out of San Diego, Calif. / 19-6), who is coming off a stellar third round knockout of Marcus Davis in January.