“The Carpenter” will meet “The Nightmare” on June 20 after The UFC confirmed Clay Guida will fight Diego Sanchez.
Also slated to fight in Vegas are the men Guida and Sanchez beat in their last outings, with Nate Diaz taking on Joe Stevenson.
This is Guida’s big chance. Undoubtedly one of the most popular lightweights in The UFC, this is his moment to leap up about three rungs on the 155lbs ladder towards a title fight.
Currently 25-6-0, the relentless lung-busting wrestler is on a three-fight tear, most notably seeing off submissions specialist Nate Diaz in his last outing.
Sanchez represents a different level though, a man who announced his arrival in the lightweight division with victory over Joe Stevenson, a man who is already eyeing the likes of Sean Sherk and BJ Penn.
With TUF 9 coaches Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson set to war at UFC 100, The UFC needed a hugely intriguing match-up to headline the finale of blockbuster reality series "The Ultimate Fighter"...and Guida/Sanchez fits the bill.
“Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida has the potential to be one of the most action-packed fights of the year,” UFC President Dana White said.
“Both men have won multiple “Fight of the Night “awards and are two of the most aggressive grapplers in the division. The winner of this fight will move into the upper portion of the lightweight rankings and get that much closer to a title shot.”
Guida will undoubtedly carry the fans’ backing in Vegas, and he warned Sanchez not to expect the same suffocating Guida we saw against Diaz.
“I couldn’t feel more confident about this fight right now in my career,” Guida said.
“We’re both coming off three consecutive wins and we’re two of the most explosive lightweights in the division. This has the potential to be fight of the year. My hands are going to be the best they’ve been…Vegas is where I do my best work.”
TUF 9 Finale card:
Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida
Joe Stevenson vs Nate Diaz
Anthony Johnson vs Matt Brown
Chris Lytle vs Kevin Burns