Tag: Anthony Pettis

TUF 13 Card Set; Ramsey Nijem Meets Tony Ferguson for Title

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS – Following Wednesday’s final regular-season episode of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the UFC has filled its fight card for Saturday’s TUF 13 Finale.

In the championship bout to crown the next “Ultimate Fighter,” finalists R…

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LAS VEGAS – Following Wednesday’s final regular-season episode of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the UFC has filled its fight card for Saturday’s TUF 13 Finale.

In the championship bout to crown the next “Ultimate Fighter,” finalists Ramsey Nijem and Tony Ferguson will meet for the title and a guaranteed UFC contract. The two welterweights won their semifinal fights in an episode that aired Wednesday night on Spike TV. Additionally, the UFC has made official for the televised main card a bout pitting losing semifinalists Chris Cope and Chuck O’Neil against each other.

And four other TUF 13 cast members will see action against each other on the preliminary card on Saturday: Shamar Bailey vs. Ryan McGillivray and Justin Edwards vs. Clay Harvison. The UFC and Spike made those fights official Thursday morning.

Bailey, a Strikeforce veteran, was one of this season’s favorites and was coach Junior dos Santos’ top pick. He advanced to the quarterfinals, but was upset there by Cope. The Indianapolis firefighter has trained alongside UFC vets Chris Lytle and Matt Mitrione, both also veterans of “The Ultimate Fighter.” His opponent, McGillivray, was dos Santos’ second pick. He, too, lost his quarterfinal fight. The five-year Canadian veteran started his career with Maximum Fighting Championships in Canada. Nine of the 11 wins in his pro career have come by submission.

Edwards, who trains in Ohio with Jorge Gurgel, lost his first fight in the house to Ferguson, who went on to reach Saturday’s finals. In his pro career, Edwards is 6-0 – with six first-round stoppages. The last five have come by submission with four by guillotine. Four of his wins have come in less than one minute. Edwards’ second pro fight was for Bellator, and he also has a win over Josh Rafferty, from TUF 1, on his resume. Harvison, who fought for Brock Lesnar‘s team, won his first fight this season before losing to Nijem in the quarterfinals. The 6-1 pro has fought all seven of his bouts in Georgia, and all six of his wins have come in the first round.

Seven of the eight quarterfinalists from TUF 13 are on Saturday’s card. Only Zach Davis is absent, replaced by Edwards. Davis lost a quarterfinal fight to O’Neil, but suffered torn retinas in both eyes and was told by doctors on the show that he should no longer fight.

Saturday’s TUF 13 Finale takes place at The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The main card, which will air live on Spike, features a highly anticipated lightweight contenders fight between Clay Guida and Anthony Pettis, the last WEC lightweight champion. And Ed Herman and Tim Credeur meet in a middleweight bout, the return to action for both after nearly two years off because of injuries.

 

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The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale: Clay Guida Tells Anthony Pettis to "Step It Up"

One of the most care-free and beloved fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida is the last person to hold a grudge or any sort of resentment towards an opponent. However his opponent, Anthony Pettis, might just be an exception. The two lightweights will sq…

One of the most care-free and beloved fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida is the last person to hold a grudge or any sort of resentment towards an opponent. However his opponent, Anthony Pettis, might just be an exception. 

The two lightweights will square off in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Finale this weekend, with the winner likely earning a title shot by the year’s end. Pettis, who was acquired by the UFC from the WEC merger, is one win away from possibly earning his title shot.

But Guida plans on ruining his chances.

“I’m going to make him pay [his UFC dues] June 4. It’s not out of any rivalry or anything like that, but he’s going to realize that it’s time to step it up,” Guida said in an interview with ESPN.com.

Guida said he respects Pettis and he acknowledges the fact he has fought tough, credible opponents, but he plans on showing the difference in competition.

“He has wins over Shane Roller and Ben Henderson — they are tough guys. But I’ve fought the best in the cage,” he said. 

Guida has a valid point, and one that not many could argue against; plain and simple: the best competition resides in the UFC.

Pettis, however, is no slouch when it comes to competition. The former WEC lightweight champion brings a unorthodox style, along with a high amount of energy, that keeps the crowd entertained and on their feet. But Guida knows a thing or two about entertaining a crowd, and on June 4, he said he intends to get into his opponent’s face and welcome him to the UFC. 

“I’m going out there guns blazing,” Guida said.

“I’m looking to finish this fight. It’s important to finish this and not leave it in the hands of judges. I don’t want there to be a big question mark at the end of this fight.”

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Anthony Pettis is a -165 Favorite Against Clay Guida!

The betting lines for The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale: Guida Vs. Pettis fight have been released and are showing Anthony Pettis as a (-165) favorite with Clay Guida as a (+135) dog. The famous “Showtime.

The betting lines for The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale: Guida Vs. Pettis fight have been released and are showing Anthony Pettis as a (-165) favorite with Clay Guida as a (+135) dog.

The famous “Showtime Kick” undoubtedly has impressed the line-makers over Guida’s latest 3 submissions win streak including his January 1st fight against Takanori Gomi, who Guida choked out in the second round. Pettis became nationally recognized with a Matrix-like kick that sealed him the WEC Championship belt, coming into the UFC. Pettis is currently on a 4 fight win streak, that Gray Maynard has dismissed by saying that save for Ben Henderson, Pettis has fought “scrubs.” This will be Pettis’ first fight in the UFC.

To bet on Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis, you may click on the icons to the online sports books in the Odds Side Bar to the right of our page or head here.

Anthony Pettis: Grab Some Popcorn, It’s Showtime

When the lights dim and the cameras roll on June 4, the MMA world will watch in unison as two of the most exciting lightweights do battle.
Ladies and gentleman, it’s showtime.
Former WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will make his anti…

When the lights dim and the cameras roll on June 4, the MMA world will watch in unison as two of the most exciting lightweights do battle.

Ladies and gentleman, it’s showtime.

Former WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will make his anticipated UFC debut in the main event of Saturday’s TUF 13 Finale card.

He’ll step right into the fire on the big stage against fan favorite and MMA wildman Clay Guida.

Those unfamiliar with Pettis are definitely in for a treat. He is one of the most creative strikers in the world, who seemingly has an affinity for pulling out insane highlight reel maneuvers.

Fans are still drooling over Pettis’ Matrix-like kick in his WEC championship bout against Ben Henderson. Along with making ESPN’s Sportscenter Top Ten, Pettis generated a massive following with his performance.

He was set to challenge the UFC lightweight champion in his debut, but with the January 2010 title bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard ending in a draw, a monkey wrench was thrown into the UFC’s plans for the rising young star.

Instead of waiting around for Edgar and Maynard, Pettis decided to take an extremely risky bout against Guida.

Some fans were upset about the possibility of Pettis missing out on a promised title shot.

An example of a similar situation is UFC featherweight Josh Grispi, who was originally scheduled to be the first to challenge Jose Aldo for his newly-acquired UFC title.

After an injury forced Aldo to pull out of the January bout, Grispi decided to take a fight against Dustin Poirier and ended up blowing his featherweight title shot.

As for Pettis, he made a great decision in taking the bout against Guida. The rematch for Edgar and Maynard was set for UFC 130, but both lightweights have been sidelined with injuries.

If Pettis waited around for the title shot, he could’ve been out of action for at least a year.

Recently, there have been questions surrounding Pettis’ position in the lightweight division. With a division full of guys like Gilbert Melendez, Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard, the title picture can become clouded with uncertainty at times.

UFC President Dana White has already stated that Edgar versus Maynard is still on deck, and if Pettis gets past Guida, he remains at the forefront of the lightweight herd.

“It’s Pettis,” White said according to MMAWeekly when asked about the next person in line for a lightweight title shot.

June will be a big month for MMA, and a bout between Pettis and Guida is a hell of a way to get things started.

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Clay Guida: Anthony Pettis Bout Will Be a Fight of the Year Candidate

Filed under: UFCSandwiched between two UFC pay-per-views and at the start of the busiest stretch of the year in mixed martial arts, Saturday night’s Ultimate Fighter Finale is being somewhat overlooked by MMA fans.

But Clay Guida, who’s fighting Antho…

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Sandwiched between two UFC pay-per-views and at the start of the busiest stretch of the year in mixed martial arts, Saturday night’s Ultimate Fighter Finale is being somewhat overlooked by MMA fans.

But Clay Guida, who’s fighting Anthony Pettis in the main event on Saturday night, says any fan who misses it is going to miss what may be the single best MMA fight of 2011.

“It’s got fight of the night, fight of the year written all over it,” Guida said on The MMA Hour. “It’s going to be a fun fight for the fans and a fun fight for us.”

Although Guida’s bout with Pettis may be a brawl, he says it’s no grudge match. Guida said he likes Pettis personally and admires the way Pettis approaches the sport, constantly looking to improve himself and bringing new techniques into the cage every time he fights, as he did with his “Showtime Kick” in his last fight, a win over Ben Henderson.

“I’m a fan of his,” Guida said of Pettis. “I love watching him fight. He’s very exciting. He has a high pace. Every time he fights he’s coming up with different things. Besides the kick heard round the world he has lots of tricks in his bag.”

Learning new tricks is part of why Guida moved to New Mexico and began training with a new coach, Greg Jackson. Guida made a football analogy in explaining why he’s thrilled to be training at Jackson’s gym.

“Training with the best guys in the world is only going to improve your game,” Guida said. “Do you want to be coached by Vince Lombardi or Dave Wannstedt? Go to the best guys in the world and you’re going to be one of the best. The first week I was here I realized there’s nothing but hard working animals in the gym.”

If Guida beats Pettis, he might just become the next No. 1 contender in the UFC’s lightweight division — and possibly the next champion from Jackson’s gym. But Guida says he’s not focused on that.

“I’m focused on June 4,” Guida said, “and that’s all I’m thinking about.”

 

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The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale: Clay Guida/Anthony Pettis Head to Toe Breakdown

On June 4, 2011, the 13th season of the popular and long running Ultimate Fighting Championship reality TV show—The Ultimate Fighter—will officially come to a close with another live ‘Ultimate Finale’ event.In the main event, Anthony Pettis…

On June 4, 2011, the 13th season of the popular and long running Ultimate Fighting Championship reality TV show—The Ultimate Fighter—will officially come to a close with another live ‘Ultimate Finale’ event.

In the main event, Anthony Pettis is set to take on popular UFC lightweight journeyman Clay Guida.

All indications are that this will be an explosive bout between two entertaining Lightweights. But who has the advantage?  What are both fighters risking in this fight? What will they gain if they win?

Let’s examine this match up from head to toe.

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