Tag: TUF

Officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship have announced five more additional bouts to the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale show scheduled for this December.

Verbal agreements are in place for the following matches which include a lightweight fight between newcomers Rustam ‘Tiger’ Khabilov (14-1) vs. Vinc ‘From Hell’ Pichel (6-0), along with a pair of bantamweight matches between Reuben ‘Hurricane’ Duran (8-3-1) vs. Hugo ‘Wolverine’ Viana, and Johnny ‘Brutal’ Bedford (18-9-1) vs. Marcos ‘Vina’ Vinicius (20-3-1).

Also confirmed for the event from previously named bouts are heavyweight coaches Shane Carwin (12-2) vs. Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (17-7), a welterweight fight between Mike ‘Quicksand’ Pyle (23-8-1) vs. James Head (9-2), and another 170-lbs tilt featuring Nick ‘The Jersey Devil’ Catone (9-3) vs. T.J. Waldburger (15-7).

Khalibov rides a three fight win streak into his UFC debut, having earned a decision over former UFC fighter Jason Dent this past May at a Pure MMA event in Pennsylvania. The Russian appeared in the ONE FC cage in February, defeating Rodrigo Ribeiro by decision, and won a first round TKO victory over Nazir Kadyzhev at a Russian event.

Pichel is undefeated as a pro, having made his way to the UFC as a member of Team Cruz on The Ultimate Fighter season fifteen. Pichel was eliminated in the semi-finals by Al Iaquinta and was to debut with the UFC at the shows Finale against James Vick but the match was pulled after Vick failed to receive clearance.

Duran is 1-1 since joining the UFC last year, losing a split decision to Takeya Mizugaki at UFC on Versus 3, while submitting Fracisco Rivera at the TUF 13 Finale. That submission also earned ‘Hurricane’ the “Submission of the Night” bonus.

Viana was a member of Team Vitor on the first series of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. ‘Wolverine’ was eliminated in the semi-finals by Rony Jason, and debuted with a split decision victory against John Teixeira at UFC 147 in a 150-lbs catchweight bout. All of Viana’s six pro victories have come via decision.

TUF 14 participant, Bedford carries a two fight win streak into his match, winning his Octagon debut last December at the TUF 14 finale by stopping Louis Gaudinot by TKO. ‘Brutal’ was to step back into the cage at UFC on FOX 2 and UFC on FOX 3, but had his match cancelled at the FOX 2 show and withdrew due to injury for the FOX 3 event.

Vinicius also appeared on the TUF: Brazil reality series, initially selected by Team Wanderlei and then reshuffled to Team Vitor. ‘Vini’ was eliminated in the semi-finals by Godofredo Pepey.

A welterweight bout between Mike ‘Quicksand’ Pyle (23-8-1) and James Head (9-2) appears to be on tap for the TUF 16 Finale, which is expected to take place this December.

Pyle Tweeted (@Mike_Pyle) the news on Sunday night.

– I’ll be fighting James head in Vegas dec 15 !!!

The TUF 16 Finale is expected to occur on December 15, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will feature the finale for season sixteen of the reality series as well as a heavyweight tilt between coaches Shane Carwin and Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson.

Pyle is 5-1 over his last six fights, winning his last two fights by finishing Josh Neer on UFC on FX 3 via knockout and Ricardo Funch via TKO at UFC 142. ‘Quicksand’ suffered a first round TKO loss to Rory MacDonald at UFC 133.

Head has won his last two dropping down to welterweight for both of those victories. He was last in action in July at UFC 149, after beating Brian Ebersole via split decision for his second win at 170-lbs. And submitted Papy Abedi at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in the first round by submission.