The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

In September of 2012, Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez made history as the first two athletes to fight for the UFC flyweight title. On November 30, a little more than a year after the epic five round battle won by Johnson, the best two 125-pound fighters in the world will meet again in the main event of the Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale card in Las Vegas.

Since their first bout, Johnson has successfully defended his title with wins over John Dodson and John Moraga, while Benavidez fought his way back to the number one contender's spot with victories against Ian McCall, Darren Uyenoyama, and Jussier Formiga.

Also on the card, former TUF season five competitors Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz meet again in a pivotal lightweight battle, and the male and female winners of TUF 18 will be crowned.

http://www.ufc.com


The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale - Johnson vs. Benavidez 2
November 30, 2013
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas, Nevada


Demetrious Johnson (18-2-1) vs. Joseph Benavidez (19-3) - UFC flyweight title bout
Gray Maynard (11-2-1) vs. Nate Diaz (16-9)

[keithlewis]

Fresh off a brilliant submission victory over John Moraga at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Moraga, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson returns to defend his flyweight title Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas against Joseph Benavidez in a can’t-miss flyweight showdown.

Johnson, 27, beat Benavidez in September 2012 at UFC 152 to become the first champion in the newly minted flyweight division and looks to retain his status as the only champion the 125lb class has ever known.

A UFC standout, the 29-year-old Benavidez has reeled off three straight victories over the likes of Ian McCall, Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga to earn a rematch with the champion. Benavidez also holds notable victories over Eddie Wineland and Rani Yahya and has developed a reputation as one of the division’s most dynamic fighters.

“UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and No. 1 contender Joseph Benavidez will meet again in the main event of the TUF Finale on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas,” UFC president Dana White said. “Their first fight was fast-paced and featured five rounds of really close, back and forth action. I’m really excited for this flyweight title rematch and then the crowning of the winners of this season of The Ultimate Fighter!”

In addition to the Johnson-Benavidez main event, this season’s The Ultimate Fighter winner will be crowned when the Octagon makes its way back to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Ultimate Fighter® Finale card also includes:


· Former UFC title contenders Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz in a battle of Top 10 lightweights.

· Jared Rosholt vs. Walter Harris face off in the heavyweight division

· Akira Corassani vs. Maximo Blanco in a matchup of rising featherweights

[keithlewis]

The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale - Johnson vs. Benavidez 2
November 30, 2013
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas, Nevada


TUF 18 Finale - Fight Card:

Demetrious Johnson (18-2-1) vs. Joseph Benavidez (19-3) - UFC flyweight title bout
TBA vs. TBA - "TUF 18" men's tournament final
TBA vs. TBA - "TUF 18" women's tournament final
Gray Maynard (11-2-1) vs. Nate Diaz (16-9)
Jared Rosholt (8-1) vs. Walter Harris (4-1)
Akira Corassani (11-3) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-4-1)
Rani Yahya (19-7) vs. Tom Niinimaki (20-5-1)
Zak Cummings (16-3) vs. Sergio Moraes (8-2)

[keithlewis]

The exciting and historic conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate, the 18th season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®‘s reality series, takes place Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. For the first time ever, the Finale crowns both a man and a woman winner, live on FOX Sports 1. Both The Ultimate Fighter winners receive a six-figure contract with the UFC and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

In the main event, The Ultimate Fighter alums Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz meet for the third time in a pivotal lightweight battle. The No. 5-ranked Maynard (12-2-1,1NC) first faced No. 8-ranked Diaz (16-9) on season five of the reality series back in 2007, with Diaz prevailing and ultimately winning the entire season. Maynard evened the score in January 2010 with a split decision victory.

Also on the main card, the two bantamweight The Ultimate Fighter winners will be crowned as Chris Holdsworth squares off against an opponent to be revealed on the Nov. 20 episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate on FOX Sports 1, and Julianna Pena faces an opponent announced on the final episode Nov. 27.

Other announced fights on THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE card include submission specialist Sergio Moraes (8-3) battling Sean Spencer (10-2) in a welterweight match. Rani Yahya (19-7) takes on Tom Niinimaki (20-5) in what should be a clash of BJJ experts at featherweight. TUF season 14 alumni Akira Corassani (13-4-1) faces Maximo Blanco (9-4-1, 1NC) in a featherweight match, while Jared Rosholt (8-1) and Walt Harris (4-1) face each other in a heavyweight fight. The full fight card will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 27 after the last The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate semifinal on FOX Sports 1.

Coverage of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE begins Friday, Nov. 29 (7:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 2 with the live UFC WEIGH-IN. Veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant hosts the show, with UFC light heavyweight and The Ultimate Fighter season 17 coach Chael Sonnen and UFC middleweight contender and The Ultimate Fighter season three winner, and two-time coach, Michael Bisping providing analysis. Three-time MMA journalist of the year Ariel Helwani interviews fighters on-site in Las Vegas.

Fight day kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 30 with the live online prelims streaming on FOX Sports’ digital arm, FOXSports.com, starting at 7:00 PM ET.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE PRE-FIGHT SHOW begins at 7:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2 with hosts Jay Glazer, Sonnen and Bisping previewing all the bouts from the FOX Sports studios in Los Angeles. Preliminary bouts start at 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1, followed by the three-hour main event at 10:00 PM ET. Jon Anik and Kenny Florian call all the fights from Las Vegas. Additionally, FOX Sports’ Spanish-language network, FOX Deportes, has live coverage of the main card fights with Victor Davila and UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum calling the action.


The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale - Maynard vs. Diaz
November 30, 2013
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas, Nevada


TUF 18 Finale - Fight Card:

Gray Maynard (11-2-1) vs. Nate Diaz (16-9)
Chris Holdsworth vs. TBA - "TUF 18" men's tournament final
Julianna Pena vs. TBA - "TUF 18" women's tournament final
Jared Rosholt (8-1) vs. Walter Harris (4-1)
Akira Corassani (11-3) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-4-1)
Rani Yahya (19-7) vs. Tom Niinimaki (20-5-1)
Sean Spencer (10-2) vs. Sergio Moraes (8-2)

[keithlewis]

The UFC welcomes newcomers Ryan Benoit and Josh Sampo to the Octagon at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on Nov. 30. UFC officials announced the bout on Wednesday.

Benoit (7-2) makes his way to the Octagon from Legacy Fighting Championship, where he has won all four of his bouts. Out of his seven overall victories, Benoit has knocked out six of his opponents; the other win was a submission finish.

Sampo (10-2) is fresh off of a defense of his CFA flyweight championship, which put his current victorious streak at four consecutive fights. Like Benoit, Sampo has spent time with Legacy Fighting Championship, and after defending his belt, knew he was ready to take a step up.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-newcomers- ... -18-finale

[keithlewis]

The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale - Maynard vs. Diaz
November 30, 2013
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas, Nevada


TUF 18 Women’s Final: Julianna Peña vs. Jessica Rakoczy (1-3)
TUF 18 Men’s Final: Chris Holdsworth vs. Davey Grant

Gray Maynard (11-2-1) vs. Nate Diaz (16-9)
Rani Yahya (19-7) vs. Tom Niinimaki (20-5-1)
Akira Corassani (11-3) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-4-1)
Jared Rosholt (8-1) vs. Walter Harris (4-1)
Sean Spencer (10-2) vs. Drew Dober (13-4)
Josh Sampo (10-2) vs. Ryan Benoit (7-2)
Jessamyn Duke (2-0, 1 NC) vs. Peggy Morgan (2-0)
Roxanne Modafferi (15-10) vs. Raquel Pennington (3-3)