After nearly a year of contract disputes with the UFC which subsequently cost him his ranking among lightweights, the winner of Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter will return to The Octagon on December 13th. As the co-main event of the evening, Diaz (18-9-0) will have his hands full with #3 ranked lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (22-7-0).
Other bouts on the STACKED card include Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Matt Mitrione(!), Joe Ellenberger vs. Bryan Barberena, Ed “Short Fuse” Herman vs. Derek Brunson, Jamie Varner vs. Drew Dober, Alistair Overeem vs. Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve(!!), and the Main Event: #2 ranked Heavyweight Junior Dos Santos taking on #4 ranked Stipe Miocic. The winner of that fight will likely get a shot at the Heavyweight Title. And that depends on who wins the TUF: Latin America Finale…current Champ Cain Velasquez, or Fabricio Verdum on November 15.
Of further note is that this event will be the first ever UFC held in the state of Arizona. John McCain, the state’s senator, was one of the earliest and most ardent opponents of the sport. After seeing early video of the fights, McCain referred to it as “human cock-fighting” and penned letters to all fifty states calling for a total ban.
UFC on FOX 13 will air at 8PM/5PM ETPT December 13th.
[Photo: UFC]