The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 cast clown, Matt Riddle (1-0), will meet up with Steve Bruno (12-4) inside the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 17 from the University of Southern Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on February 7, 2009.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com reported the welterweight match up — a first for Riddle — earlier today.
Riddle — who on the show joked that he still lived with his mother, didn’t have a driver’s license and much more — is perhaps best known for shattering Dan Simmler’s jaw in the opening of the show, which coach Quinton “Rampage” Jackson quipped was the “Knockout of the Century.”
He was bounced out of the tournament-style show courtesy of a Tim Credeur armbar. He rebounded to score a unanimous decsion win over Dante Rivera at the TUF 7 Finale back in June — the first of his professional fighting career.
Riddle now trains at Arizona Combat Sports alongside WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner, CB Dolloway, Ryan Bader and others, proving that he is serious about improving his mixed martial arts skills.
His opponent, Bruno — the United States Navy veteran turned mixed martial artist — scored his first win inside the Octagon against Johnny Rees via submission (rear naked choke) at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fight for the Troops” on December 1.
The American Top Team (ATT) member was overwhelmed by Chris Wilson at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” in August 2008, dropping a lopsided unanimous decision.
UFC Fight Night 17 features a 155-pound match up between Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca. Fellow lightweights Mac Danzig and Josh Neer are also likely hook ‘em up in the co-featured fight of the night, provided Neer is in the clear following a recent arrest for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and other charges in Iowa.
To check out the latest UFC Fight Night 17 fight card and rumors click here.
19 Comments »
someone give this kid an xbox 360 already!
lol! I like riddle, seemed like a lot of raw talent and a nice kid to boot!
Jonsey, I apologized in another thread to you! Sometimes we talk personal stuff on here, sorry! Thanks for not being a dick and actually asking respectfully! you could get in on our conversations, how old are you and where you from buddy!?
27 grass valley ca concrete finisher. 1 gf one 3yr old daughter 1 pitt bull 10 cats 2 goats. the animals were not my idea. my favorite fighters are dan henderson, bj penn and nick diaz when he’s not too hyphey. i think gsp is secretly gay. i will always root against diego sanchez and the only time i wanted anderson silva to win was his first fight with ace even though i respect both of them as fighters.
good to know. where is green valley? I’m in the bay area! I agree, GSP is gay, and goats huh!??? lol! good to see you hear at mmamania! we all have a good re-pore, get used to the casual conversation bro!
ive been on here for about 8 months since i left my other site because of lack of new news.i’ve been watching mma since ninjutsu was a fighting style and i’m not a noob. i have a boxing and wrestling background and have watched enough mma to have gotten people in arm bars, triangles, and guillatines from half guard. on threads about matt riddle its cool to be casual but theres a place and a time my friend. did i mention that my penis is microscopic?
i reiterate. the animals were not my idea. i’m 3 hours from you north of sac. does the casual conversation sometimes include strippers snorting coke off of cocks? just bustin balls bro!
Riddle has POTENTIAL! He is improving his skills and is already strong enough mentally to compete in the Octagon. This kid could be an ANIMAL in like 4 years~
riddle is a young kid with talent, but he’s a lil’ bitch and needs an ass kickin’ to show that his lucky ko in the tuf
i think riddle will take this fight, bruno looked pretty out of shape in his last fight and i think that could be the difference considering riddle looks in awesome shape
Can’t help but like Riddle, hope he can get another win here
this should be a very very un-interesting fight
I like Riddle fine and dandy, but last time he fought I really got tired of the lavish praise Rogan was heaping on him. It really smelled like he had been told “Matt Riddle – he will be our poster boy – make it happen” by the Zuffa brass.
Those belts that hes wearing in the pic look like plastic ones u buy in a toy store.
How many do you own?
I was wondering which belts he was holding, since the guy only has 1 pro fight. Maybe wrestling tournament belts?
Lehighton PA baby….do it up riddle….tko ( nasty gnp )
Just glad we got another interesting fighter on this card, let alone another fight! Really looking forward to this card.
WOOHOO!!! Ive been asking about when this dude is gonna fight again on this site for days and now he finally is!
I dont see him ever winning a title or title shot, but i defintily wanna keep seeing him fight!
HOLLYWOOD STEVE by murderation!