Matt Mitrione
Former season ten TUF heavyweight Matt Mitrione (5-1) is set to replace The Ultimate Fighter 16 coach Shane Carwin (12-2) in the shows finale, stepping in against fellow TUF 10 castmate, and Carwin’s opposing coach, Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (17-7).
The two will meet at the TUF 16: Finale expected to take place on December 15, 2012 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Carwin’s injury was announced yesterday, with the promotion providing this update Thursday afternoon.
Mitrione had been scheduled to face Philip De Fries (9-1) later in the month in December at the end-year UFC 155 event. No new opponent has been named for De Fries at this time.
Mittrione has been linked to a couple of other bouts earlier in the year both against Rob Broughton, first in August at UFC on FOX 4, which was cancelled after Broughton withdrew for personal reasons, and as part of UFC on FX 5 which was scrapped altogether.
Mitrione lost his last bout, the first of his career, suffering a decision defeat at the hands of Cheick Kongo at UFC 137 in October 2011. His last win took place in June of last year, a second round knockout finish of Christian Morecraft at the UFC on Versus 4 event.
Nelson is 2-1 in his last three with a 51-second knockout finish over Dave Herman in May at UFC 146. ‘Big Country’ earned the “Knockout of the Night” bonus for the KO. Nelson also earned the “Fight of the Night” bonus in a loss to Fabricio Werdum in February as part of the UFC 154 event. The other win came in October of last year, a TKO finish against Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovi? at UFC 137.