LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN TAMPA FEATURING LAUZON AND FRANCA ON SPIKE TV

UFC LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN TAMPA FEATURING JOE LAUZON AND HERMES FRANCA ON SPIKE TV

“The Ultimate Fighter 6” Champ Mac Danzig, “The Ultimate Fighter 7” Champ Amir Sadollah, And Top Heavyweight Contender Cain Velasquez Featured LIVE Saturday, February 7 at 8:00pm

New York, NY, December 17, 2008 – Spike TV will be showcasing some of the rising stars in the UFC with the first ever “UFC Fight Night” from Tampa, Fl, with a main event featuring a lightweight battle between division standouts Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca. Spike TV’s live “UFC Fight Night” will emanate from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fl. on Saturday, February 7 from 9:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT. Also appearing on the fight card will be Mac Danzig (“The Ultimate Fighter 6” champion), Amir Sadollah (“The Ultimate Fighter 7” champion), and undefeated heavyweight Cain Velasquez.

Joe Lauzon (16-4) made an impressive debut in the UFC with a knockout over Jens Pulver at UFC 63 in September 2006. Lauzon, from suburban Boston, gained further acclaim as a standout fighter on “The Ultimate Fighter 5.” Since then, Lauzon has won three of four UFC bouts, most recently an impressive second round TKO of Kyle Bradley in September, and he is determined to continue his ascent in the UFC’s lightweight division against Franca.

The 34-year old Franca (20-7), a native of Fortaleza, Brazil who now trains in Jupiter, FL, had won eight straight mixed martial arts bouts prior to losing to then lightweight champion Sean Sherk at UFC 73 in Sacramento in 2007. After a year long layoff, Franca returned to the Octagon this past July and after a Fight of The Night battle with Frankie Edgar, he impressively won a grudge match with American Top Team’s Marcus Aurelio at UFC 90 in October.

Even though Mac Danzig (19-5-1) was a standout mixed martial artist in smaller promotions, it wasn’t until he dominated “The Ultimate Fighter 6” in 2007 that he gained national acclaim. Since claiming “The Ultimate Fighter” title over Tommy Speer in December of 2007, Danzig has fought twice in the UFC, a string that includes a submission victory over Mark Bocek at UFC 83. Currently training with Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Danzig needs a victory over Josh Neer to continue his path to a lightweight crown. Nicknamed “The Dentist,” the 25-year old Neer (24-7-1) is a native of Des Moines and trains with the renowned MFS Elite team. Neer won an impressive decision over UFC veteran Din Thomas in April, but even though his three-fight winning streak ended in September with a split-decision loss to Nate Diaz in the main event of a “UFC Fight Night” on Spike TV, his stellar performance earned him accolades from diehard fight fans.

In heavyweight action, one of the division’s most promising talents, Cain Velasquez, looks to spoil the debut of UFC newcomer Denis "The Menace" Stojnic. Velasquez (4-0), with an impressive pedigree as a two-Time All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, is anything but one dimensional inside of the Octagon, and he has been dominant in compiling an undefeated record. In fact, none of his bouts have lasted more than one round, with all four ending via TKO due to strikes. Looking to end Velasquez’s winning streak is Stojnic (5-1), a heavyweight hailing from Sarajevo with a successful run of victories on the European mixed martial arts circuit.

Also on the card, in middleweight action, Amir Sadollah (2-0) will enter the Octagon for the first time since winning “The Ultimate Fighter” as he battles UFC newcomer Nick Catone. Sadollah made the mixed martial arts world take notice as he steamrolled through the competition en route to winning “The Ultimate Fighter 7” finale against CB Dolloway via armbar this past June. Since then, the 28-year old Sadollah has given up his surgical technician’s job in Richmond, VA and moved to Las Vegas to train full-time with Xtreme Couture. Sadollah aims to keep his perfect record intact against Brick, New Jersey’s undefeated Catone (6-0), who is making his UFC debut.

The entire fight card will be announced shortly.

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