The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale
Encyclopedia
The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale, also referred to as The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) on June 20, 2009. Featured were finals from The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom
in both the Lightweight
and Welterweight
divisions as well as a main event between Diego Sanchez
and Clay Guida
.
and Melvin Guillard was called off due to an elbow injury suffered by Tavares. Gleison Tibau has stepped in as Tavares' replacement.
Eric Schafer
injured his rib and was replaced by Mike Ciesnolevicz.
A matchup between Anthony Johnson
and Matt Brown
was scrapped due to a knee injury suffered by Johnson. A replacement was set to be named, however, due to nagging injuries Brown did not fight on the card.
This was the first time in the organization's history, the UFC handed out three Fight of the Night bonuses.
Another first for the UFC came in the form of Kim Winslow
, the first female referee to officiate a fight in the organization.
This fight card is also noted for two controversial decisions in bouts pitting Brad Blackburn
against Edgar Garcia
and Melvin Guillard
against Gleison Tibau
. Both Blackburn and Guillard received split-decision victories from the judges in bouts that are considered questionable. The decisions cost Garcia his perfect record and snapped a two-fight win streak for Tibau.
None of the Preliminary card bouts were broadcast.
Joe Stevenson – $70,000 ($35,000 win bonus)
Chris Lytle – $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
Melvin Guillard – $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
Clay Guida – $23,000
Nate Diaz – $20,000
Brad Blackburn – $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus)
Gleison Tibau – $17,000
James Wilks – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Ross Pearson – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Nick Osipczak – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Jason Dent – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Tomasz Drwal – $15,600 ($7,000 win bonus)
Kevin Burns – $9,000
Damarques Johnson – $8,000
Andre Winner – $8,000
Cameron Dollar – $8,000
Mike Ciesnolevicz – $6,400
Edgar Garcia – $5,000
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
(UFC) on June 20, 2009. Featured were finals from The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom
The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom
The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom is the ninth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. It began production in January 2009, and began airing on Spike on April 1, 2009. The season featured Lightweight fighters ...
in both the Lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
and Welterweight
Welterweight (MMA)
The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...
divisions as well as a main event between Diego Sanchez
Diego Sánchez
Diego J. Sanchez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, with a background in wrestling and Gaidojutsu, system of submission wrestling developed by his longtime trainer Greg Jackson...
and Clay Guida
Clay Guida
Clayton Charles Guida is an American mixed martial artist and currently fighting in the UFC as a lightweight. Guida was the first Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and held the title until being defeated by Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: Revenge...
.
Background
A previously announced Lightweight bout between Thiago TavaresThiago Tavares
Thiago de Mello Tavares is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He currently fights in the lightweight division in the UFC.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:Thiago Tavares entered the UFC with an undefeated record and was highly regarded...
and Melvin Guillard was called off due to an elbow injury suffered by Tavares. Gleison Tibau has stepped in as Tavares' replacement.
Eric Schafer
Eric Schafer
Eric John Schafer is an American mixed martial artist who competes a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Background and early career:Schafer attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh....
injured his rib and was replaced by Mike Ciesnolevicz.
A matchup between Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson (fighter)
Anthony Kewoa Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Amateur wrestling:...
and Matt Brown
Matt Brown (fighter)
Matthew Burton Brown is an American professional mixed martial artist.Brown starred in the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter television series and was eliminated from the show in the ninth episode due to a loss to Amir Sadollah by Triangle Choke...
was scrapped due to a knee injury suffered by Johnson. A replacement was set to be named, however, due to nagging injuries Brown did not fight on the card.
This was the first time in the organization's history, the UFC handed out three Fight of the Night bonuses.
Another first for the UFC came in the form of Kim Winslow
Kim Winslow
Kim Winslow is the first female to referee a match in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The achievement came when Kim refereed an undercard fight on the final episode of The Ultimate Fighter finale between Nick Osipczak and Frank Lester....
, the first female referee to officiate a fight in the organization.
This fight card is also noted for two controversial decisions in bouts pitting Brad Blackburn
Brad Blackburn
Brad Lavale Blackburn Jr. is an American professional mixed martial artist. He fought for the Seattle Tiger Sharks in the now defunct International Fight League...
against Edgar Garcia
Edgar Garcia
Edgar Garcia is an American mixed martial artist.-Mixed martial arts:On May 10, 2008 Edgar defeated Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Sean Loeffler in the first round.At WEC 38: Varner vs...
and Melvin Guillard
Melvin Guillard
Melvin Paul Guillard, Jr. is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He debuted with the company on The Ultimate Fighter 2 television series, losing in the first welterweight elimination bout to Josh Burkman...
against Gleison Tibau
Gleison Tibau
Janigleison Herculano Alves, better known as Gleison Tibau is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is one of the largest lightweights in MMA, weighing up to 183 pounds by the time he enters the cage.-Mixed martial arts:He was brought up...
. Both Blackburn and Guillard received split-decision victories from the judges in bouts that are considered questionable. The decisions cost Garcia his perfect record and snapped a two-fight win streak for Tibau.
None of the Preliminary card bouts were broadcast.
Preliminary card
- Lightweight bout:
Jason DentJason DentJason William Dent is an American mixed martial artist. The Lightweight competitor has held several regional championships, most recently he won the IFBL Welterweight Championship. He runs the GriffonRawl MMA Academy in Mentor, Ohio, and previously hosted an MMA oriented radio talk show on WWGK...
vs. Cameron Dollar
- Dent defeated Dollar via submission (anaconda choke) at 4:46 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout:
Nick OsipczakNick OsipczakNicholas Dominic Osipczak is an English professional mixed martial artist. He is a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. He is also a known practitioner of Sanshou and Kung Fu, and is a member of Team Rough House.-Background:Nick attended high school at...
vs. Frank LesterFrank Lester (fighter)Frank Gibson Lester is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom.-Biography:...
- Welterweight bout:
- Osipczak defeated Lester via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:40 of round 1.
- Catchweight (208 lbs) bout: Mike CiesnoleviczMike CiesnoleviczMichael David Ciesnolevicz is an American mixed martial artist. He fought for the Quad City Silverbacks of the International Fight League. Ciesnolevicz is also a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship....
vs.
Tomasz Drwal
- Catchweight (208 lbs) bout:
- Drwal defeated Ciesnolevicz via TKO (knee and punches) at 4:48 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout: Brad BlackburnBrad BlackburnBrad Lavale Blackburn Jr. is an American professional mixed martial artist. He fought for the Seattle Tiger Sharks in the now defunct International Fight League...
vs. Edgar GarciaEdgar GarciaEdgar Garcia is an American mixed martial artist.-Mixed martial arts:On May 10, 2008 Edgar defeated Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Sean Loeffler in the first round.At WEC 38: Varner vs...
- Welterweight bout:
- Blackburn defeated Garcia via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
- Lightweight bout: Melvin GuillardMelvin GuillardMelvin Paul Guillard, Jr. is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He debuted with the company on The Ultimate Fighter 2 television series, losing in the first welterweight elimination bout to Josh Burkman...
vs.
Gleison TibauGleison TibauJanigleison Herculano Alves, better known as Gleison Tibau is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is one of the largest lightweights in MMA, weighing up to 183 pounds by the time he enters the cage.-Mixed martial arts:He was brought up...
- Lightweight bout:
- Guillard defeated Tibau via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
Main card
- Lightweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Joe StevensonJoe StevensonJoseph Christopher Stevenson is an American mixed martial artist fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing as a welterweight, he won The Ultimate Fighter 2 welterweight tournament. Stevenson fought most of his UFC career as a lightweight, and made his featherweight debut at UFC Live: Kongo vs....
- Stevenson defeated Diaz via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Welterweight bout: Chris LytleChris LytleChris Scott Lytle is a retired American mixed martial artist, boxer and a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Lytle was prominently featured as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. In Chris's MMA and boxing career he was never knocked out or submitted, though he did...
vs. Kevin BurnsKevin Burns (fighter)Kevin Burns is an American mixed martial artist in the welterweight division. He is most known for his 2-3 stint in the UFC. Burns is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Carlos Henrique "Caique" Elias.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Welterweight bout:
- Lytle defeated Burns via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Lightweight bout: Andre WinnerAndre WinnerAndre Winner is an English professional mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom, reaching the final. Winner is also a member of Team Rough House. He holds notable wins over Jeff Lawson, Rolando Delgado and Rafaello...
vs Ross PearsonRoss PearsonRoss Pearson is an English professional mixed martial artist from Sunderland. He is the lightweight division winner of The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom and is a member of Team Rough House.-Background:...
- Lightweight bout:
- Pearson defeated Winner via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) to become the Season 9 Lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
- Welterweight bout: DaMarques JohnsonDaMarques JohnsonDaMarques Johnson is an American mixed martial artist. He was the runner up for the welterweights on The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom.-Background:...
vs. James WilksJames WilksJames Brett Wilks is an English professional mixed martial artist. He was the winner of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. Wilks currently fights for Ultimate Fighting Championship in the welterweight division.-Biography:Wilks was born and raised in Leicestershire,...
- Welterweight bout:
- Wilks defeated Johnson via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:52 of round 1 to become the Season 9 Welterweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
- Lightweight bout: Diego SanchezDiego SánchezDiego J. Sanchez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, with a background in wrestling and Gaidojutsu, system of submission wrestling developed by his longtime trainer Greg Jackson...
vs. Clay GuidaClay GuidaClayton Charles Guida is an American mixed martial artist and currently fighting in the UFC as a lightweight. Guida was the first Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and held the title until being defeated by Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: Revenge...
- Lightweight bout:
- Sanchez defeated Guida via split decision (28–29, 29–27, 29–28). The fight went on to become Fight of the Year.
Bonus awards
Fighters were awarded $25,000 bonuses.- Fight of the Night: Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz, and Chris Lytle vs. Kevin Burns
- Knockout of the Night: Tomasz Drwal
- Submission of the Night: Jason Dent
Reported payout
Diego Sanchez – $90,000 ($45,000 win bonus)Joe Stevenson – $70,000 ($35,000 win bonus)
Chris Lytle – $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
Melvin Guillard – $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
Clay Guida – $23,000
Nate Diaz – $20,000
Brad Blackburn – $18,000 ($9,000 win bonus)
Gleison Tibau – $17,000
James Wilks – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Ross Pearson – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Nick Osipczak – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Jason Dent – $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus)
Tomasz Drwal – $15,600 ($7,000 win bonus)
Kevin Burns – $9,000
Damarques Johnson – $8,000
Andre Winner – $8,000
Cameron Dollar – $8,000
Mike Ciesnolevicz – $6,400
Edgar Garcia – $5,000