This Wednesday the UFC heads to Duluth, Georgia from the UFC Fight Night 35. A quick glance at the card might have you shrugging your shoulders a bit, but you might rethink that notion after you hear this.
Amidst everything else going on, the UFC has themselves a busy day today with the UFC on FX 6 taking place in Australia and The Ultimate Fighter 16 finale weigh-ins. All 24 fighters made weight today for tomorrow’s event that will crown The Ultimate Fighter 16 welterweight winner.
Not only is The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale taking place this weekend but the second international version of the reality shot, TUF: Smashes will also be holding their finale in Australia. With the time difference the Australian card airs on Friday, while the domestic TUF 16 finale will air live on Saturday from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Earlier this month 12 of the 16 TUF Live fighters made their official UFC debuts at the season’s finale. The four that didn’t get their shot under the big lights were unable to fight on the card due to injuries sustained in the last few weeks of the season. One of the unlucky ones was Mike Rio.
Last night was the last episode of TUF Live before the finale that will crown another Ultimate Fighter winner on June 1st, from the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. The final four fighters faced off tonight in the semifinals with two of them moving one step closer to the six figure UFC contract.
Thirty-two men started off the season looking to be this season’s Ultimate Fighter as well as the winner of a Harley Davidson and a one year sponsorship deal with Tapout. Twelve weeks and twenty-eight fights later, we are down to only four: James Vick taking on Mike Chiesa and Vinc Pichel taking on Al Iaquinta.
The latest episode of TUF Live served up the second half of the quarterfinal round, as well as announced the new opponent for Urijah Faber at UFC 148. Thus far one fighter from each team has advanced into the semifinals as James Vick (Team Cruz) and Michael Chiesa (Team Faber) now await the other two semifinalists.