Tag: TUF

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.

Former UFC heavyweight interim champion, and current season sixteen “TUF” coach, Shane Carwin (12-2) has suffered a bad knee injury and has been forced to withdraw from his TUF 16 Finale match with opposing coach Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson.

Officials confirmed the news by providing this update at UFC.com.

The injury assault of 2012 continued today when it was learned that former interim UFC heavyweight champion and current Ultimate Fighter 16 coach Shane Carwin reinjured his knee, forcing him out of his December main event bout with opposing coach and fellow contender Roy Nelson. UFC President Dana White tweeted: “WOW!! It never ends Carwin blew his knee out. Looking for a new opponent for Roy on the TUF Finale on FX.”

No news on a replacement has surfaced just yet. Despite Strikeforce heavyweight Josh Barnett’s name being thrown about as a replacement, reporter Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) confirmed that ‘Warmaster’ would not be considered for the position.

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale is expected to take place on December 15, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada with the main card airing live on FX television.

Carwin is looking to end a two-fight losing skid having lost a decision to Junior dos Santos in a title eliminator bout at UFC 131 in June 2011 and tapped out to Brock Lesnar at UFC 116 in a title unification bout. Following the loss to JDS, Carwin underwent back surgery and was out recovering till this fall.

A reunion bout between ‘TUF Live’ competitors John Cofer (7-2) and Mike ‘The Wolverine’ Rio (8-1) is set for this December’s upcoming TUF 16: Finale.

Officials with the promotion confirmed the fight via the TUF on FX Twitter (@TUFonFX) account on Wednesday.

– A #TUFLive reunion at the #TUF 16 finale? Yes, please. @coferpottery vs @MikeRioMMA : IT’S ON!

The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale is expected to take place on December 15, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cofer is looking for his first Octagon win after losing his debut at the TUF 15 Finale last June. Cofer, a member of Team Faber, suffered a third round knockout versus cast mate Justin Lawrence in the “Fight of the Night” winning match. The loss ended a four fight win streak for Cofer.

This bout will be Rio’s debut bout having withdrawn from the TUF 15 Finale due to a rib injury. ‘The Wolverine’ was a member of Team Cruz and on the television season, falling to Andy Ogle. Rio hasn’t fought professionally since December 2011 after winning a second straight bout at a CFA event in Florida.