Things to Watch for TUF 9 Finale

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                                Things to Watch for TUF 9 Finale

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                            <strong class="ArticleSource">[sherdog]</strong>


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After eight seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, the UFC decided it was time for some global flare and embattled blokes from the United Kingdom against bros from the United States for season nine. The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas hosts this international incidents culmination.

Here are five things to watch for come fight night -- one for every finger in the fist.

No. 1 contendership

The misconception that grappling is not exciting can easily be dispelled by the scramble-fests Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida have had in their UFC careers.

Always in overdrive but coming up inconsistent, Guida currently rides a three-fight win streak, besting two reality show winners in Mac Danzig and Nate Diaz.

Sanchez is just 1-0 at lightweight, earning a decision over Joe Stevenson at UFC 95. However, with 155-pound vultures picking off contenders, Sanchez’s stellar welterweight run and the popularity he carries into the lightweight division makes him the No. 1 contender if he defeats the tireless Guida.

Guida’s UFC resume places him on par with the other wrestlers vying for the top of the division like Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar and Tyson Griffin.

In other words, Sanchez-Guida is a battle of two of the division’s hottest. And an emphatic performance from either can leave no doubt they deserve the title shot against the winner of UFC 101’s championship clash between Kenny Florian and divisional king B.J. Penn.

2. The British precedent

3. Clinging to the lightweight ladder

4. Semi-finalist sprint

5. Veteran boost


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