TUF 19 winner Eddie Gordon vs. Josh Samman set for UFC 181

Though one Long Islander dropped off UFC 181 this week, another one has joined the Dec. 6 event.

TUF 19 middleweight winner Eddie “Truck” Gordon will meet Josh Samman at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Newsday reported the bout Tuesday.

Gordon (8-1) will return to the venue at which he won TUF 19. He knocked out Dhiego Lima in just 1:11 to claim the TUF title in July.

The 26-year old Samman (10-3) was a TUF 17 semifinalist, losing to eventual winner Kelvin Gastelum. His last fight was a second-round KO of Kevin Casey on the TUF 17 Finale card. Samman, who has recorded nine of his 10 wins via finish, was scheduled to face Caio Magalhaes in April, but pulled out with a torn hamstring.

UFC 181 was originally slated to feature Gordon’s Serra-Longo Fight Club teammate, middleweight champion Chris Weidman, against Vitor Belfort. But Weidman pulled out Monday with a boken hand, so the card will now be headlined by a Johny Hendricks–Robbie Lawler rematch.

Though one Long Islander dropped off UFC 181 this week, another one has joined the Dec. 6 event.

TUF 19 middleweight winner Eddie “Truck” Gordon will meet Josh Samman at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Newsday reported the bout Tuesday.

Gordon (8-1) will return to the venue at which he won TUF 19. He knocked out Dhiego Lima in just 1:11 to claim the TUF title in July.

The 26-year old Samman (10-3) was a TUF 17 semifinalist, losing to eventual winner Kelvin Gastelum. His last fight was a second-round KO of Kevin Casey on the TUF 17 Finale card. Samman, who has recorded nine of his 10 wins via finish, was scheduled to face Caio Magalhaes in April, but pulled out with a torn hamstring.

UFC 181 was originally slated to feature Gordon’s Serra-Longo Fight Club teammate, middleweight champion Chris Weidman, against Vitor Belfort. But Weidman pulled out Monday with a boken hand, so the card will now be headlined by a Johny Hendricks–Robbie Lawler rematch.