Diego Sanchez (18-2) and Luigi Fioravanti (12-3) will face off in a welterweight showdown at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 Finale on June 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to AmericanTopTeam.com.
This latest news confirms a Sherdog.com report last week that also revealed that the match up will headline the SpikeTV special.
Sanchez recently snapped a two-fight losing streak, defeating David Bielkheden via submission (verbal) in the first round at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” earlier this month. He was the middleweight winner of the inaugural TUF series, meaning that he’ll be around to watch the latest 185-pound contestant on the show to get crowned.
Fioravanti — a military serviceman-turned mixed martial artist — also got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Luke Cummo at UFC 82. The former middleweight had dropped his two previous fights inside the Octagon to Forrest Petz and Jon Fitch, respectively.
The win over Cummo evened his UFC record (3-3) and apparently earned him a shot against a very noteworthy opponent in front of a nationwide audience.
That’s a big opportunity.
Fioravanti’s best chance of winning this fight will be on the feet — a place Diego more than likely look to avoid as soon as possible. Look for Diego to attempt the takedowns and pound out the ATT-trained fighter as quickly as possible.
Stay tuned for more details.
32 Comments »
I hope he Diego gets back on the right track. Let him never be an undercard fight again.
Dirty sanchez is going DOWN AGAIN.
The newer stronger Sanchez will take this one in the 1st with strikes! Mark my words, Diego will be fighting GSP for the belt. With his new camp, he will be the number one contender soon. He is back and ready to 9 and 0 again.
War Diego!
Sanchez takes this first round hands down.
It should be Sanchez vs. Koscheck
sanchez has so much potential. lets hope dana does not fuck this one up.
Cough Cough Sent this in last week cough cough
Luigi Fioravanti in the upset!
Luigi gave Jon Fitch a hard time, and he defeat Luke Cummo with ease. Luigi looked a lot stronger, and had powerful, agressive takedowns at UFC 82.
Luigi Stand-Up looked impressive, and I think he is a very tough guy for Diego Sanchez.
Wow kind of weak especially since its on TUF & finale. Not exactly the way Diego saw his career heading. But hey at least he can chalk up a win today !
I want to see Diego/Fitch 2. I feel that Diego was much more agressive in that fight, but Fitch was just stronger. Fitch was on defense for almost the entire fight. His win streak is unbelievable, but i’m not sold on the fact that he would beat Diego again.
A reliable source has confirmed ProElite, Inc. has offered Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) a four-fight, 18-month contract.
A request for confirmation or comment from Jeremy Lappen, ProElite Head of Fight Operations, has been ignored.
The contract calls for Emelianenko’s first two fights in the promotion to broadcast on American television network CBS as a part of the recently inked deal between ProElite and the TV giant.
The final two fights would air on pay-per-view and share proceeds with Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is currently partnered with M-1 Global, an MMA promotion formed solely to stage his fights.
However, ESPN: The Magazine reported on 6 March that Emelianenko and M-1 Global would “divorce”. Sherdog.com followed-up on 18 March reporting that Emelianenko was in fact never under contract to M-1 Global.
M-1 Global Vice President Brian Patton denies Sherdog’s report.
“I have seen the contract and watched it being signed by all parties,” Patton confirmed on 19 March.
ProElite’s offer supports Patton’s claim, requiring Emelianenko to be announced in ProElite fights as “M-1 Global’s Fedor Emelianenko”.
Emelianenko is reportedly also being courted by the UFC. It’s likely other MMA
i know TUF finales are usually weak, but damn this would not even make the main card of a fight night
OFF TOPIC tis is the 2nd Redbelt trailer. to ease the pain of watching never back down over and over.
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809873029/video/7104341
[quote comment=”386645″]i know TUF finales are usually weak, but damn this would not even make the main card of a fight night[/quote]
Well the TUF 6 Finale main event was unbelievable (Huerta v Guida). Actually because that one was so good I’m more disappointed with this announcement.
diego will walk through this guy with ease, hes just to pissed of these days to fuck around anymore…
[quote comment=”386616″]It should be Sanchez vs. Koscheck[/quote]
should remach before he get to st piere it more logical
should remach before he get to st piere it more logical
[quote comment=”386661″][quote comment=”386645″]i know TUF finales are usually weak, but damn this would not even make the main card of a fight night[/quote]
Well the TUF 6 Finale main event was unbelievable (Huerta v Guida). Actually because that one was so good I’m more disappointed with this announcement.[/quote]
ya i completely agree with the huerta guida, i think thats why i was dissapointed with this announcement as a main event along with the crazy fight night card
i definately feel dieago is getting off easy, i consider him in the UFC WW division top 5, 6, or 7 i dont see anyone else up there getting any mediocre opponents, i mean give him josh burkman or roan carneiro, if u watch the LF vs LC fight all he did was take him down over and over again, and on the ground he wasn’t even doing a good job of controling him, and cummo’s wrestling is pretty soft even matt serra said that about luke. All im saying is there are definately more opponents closer to dieagos level that he could be fighting, and the guys making 60 G’s if he wins, i think its BSD. deiago RNC round 1.
This is kinda off topic but I was rewatching the Kos Sanchez fight the other day and at the weigh-ins, remember when Diego pushed Kos and was acting all badass and stuff, I think maybe he did that to look tough in front of Ali Sonoma, I remember them being together at the time, anyway, just a thought. Oh and I see this being a tougher fight than most think. I can’t realy choose a victor just yet, but I do see a WAR!!
Ya, good to see Diego have another fight booked so quick. Everyone who wrote Diego off after dropping to Kos and Fitch(still believe Diego won) will be in a for a rude awakening. Diego is gonnna go an another tear and will get his title shot in 09. Every fighter goes through losses and that has only mad Diego stronger and more determined than ever. Luigi is in for a NIGHTMARE!
even though i would like to see the Nightmare get back on track with some wins, this is kinda weak for a main event. the NIGHTMARE should be able to finish luigi in the 2nd by GnP . i hope there is going to be some more fights announced.
Evan Tanner should be available for another fight by then. maybe they should give him da spyda kendal grove since they are both coming off of losses. Tanner would probably KO him, just like Cote & Rivera did. i would like to see Tanner get back on a winning track.
afer this fight if he wins he should get a rematch against Koscheck. and if he beats KOS then a rematch against Fitch would be awesome.if Fitch gets a title shot then a rematch against the HEAT Karo Parisyan would be highly entertaing.
[quote comment=”386702″]even though i would like to see the Nightmare get back on track with some wins, this is kinda weak for a main event. the NIGHTMARE should be able to finish luigi in the 2nd by GnP . i hope there is going to be some more fights announced.
Evan Tanner should be available for another fight by then. maybe they should give him da spyda kendal grove since they are both coming off of losses. Tanner would probably KO him, just like Cote & Rivera did. i would like to see Tanner get back on a winning track.[/quote]
I dont think the ufc wants da spyda kendall grove losing three fights in a row. He is a marketable guy winning the tuf show and has a good marketable personality i think the ufc will throw him a can and maybe put it on a fight night show.As for tanner i wouldnt mind seeing him fight either jason macdonald or ed herman.
not really a main event but i guess it could have been worst
It should be Diego vs Marcus Davis, this is a fight that should take place. “that’s all I have to say”
Now this is a fight to see!!! Goodluck Diego give him hell!!!
Everybody keeps saying Koscheck vs. Sanchez… Koscheck is a free agent, and is no longer underneath contract with the uFC.
Should be good but see Diego winning in the first by over aggresion.
[quote comment=”386621″]Cough Cough Sent this in last week cough cough
Luigi Fioravanti in the upset!
Luigi gave Jon Fitch a hard time, and he defeat Luke Cummo with ease. Luigi looked a lot stronger, and had powerful, agressive takedowns at UFC 82.
Luigi Stand-Up looked impressive, and I think he is a very tough guy for Diego Sanchez.[/quote]
Mr. NC-17….*Burp* *Burp* I sent this in last week as well *Burp* *Burp*
This is a stupid fight sylistically. Fight starts. Diego shoots immediately, like he has been doing. He gets the take down and submits luigi in 1 minute.
Diego should be fighting more well rounded guys, and Luigi needs to be in there against a Banger. Joe Silva messed this one up!
[quote comment=”387118″]Everybody keeps saying Koscheck vs. Sanchez… Koscheck is a free agent, and is no longer underneath contract with the uFC.[/quote]
Very True…. Good point Nc-17
Talked about this one in last weeks threads…
Diego will take the fight to the ground immediately and win by GnP or Luigi will give up his back and Diego wins by RNC. I see the fight ending in no other way. I would copy/paste all of my fight analysis for this one, but don’t feel like scrolling through old threads.
[quote comment=”387118″]Everybody keeps saying Koscheck vs. Sanchez… Koscheck is a free agent, and is no longer underneath contract with the uFC.[/quote]
I know but they have plenty of time to sign kos before the finale which is still months away and it would draw a lot bigger audience than diego vs. fiorivanti. It would also be a bod blood fight which i think this time around will be fireworks as diego seems to be back to his old self and kos is always improving his game.