The Ultimate Fighter Finale - Season 9
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.
Background
A previously announced Lightweight bout between Thiago Tavares and Melvin Guillard[2] was called off due to an elbow injury suffered by Tavares.[3] 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.
Results
Preliminary card
* Lightweight bout: United States Jason Dent vs. United States Cameron Dollar
Dent defeated Dollar via submission (anaconda choke) at 4:46 of round 1.
* Welterweight bout: England Nick Osipczak vs. United States Frank Lester
Osipczak defeated Lester via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:40 of round 1.
* Catchweight (208 lbs) bout: United States Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Poland Tomasz Drwal
Drwal defeated Ciesnolevicz via TKO (knee and punches) at 4:48 of round 1.
* Welterweight bout: United States Brad Blackburn vs. United States Edgar Garcia
Blackburn defeated Garcia via Split Decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
* Lightweight bout: United States Melvin Guillard vs. Brazil Gleison Tibau
Guillard defeated Tibau via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
Main card
* Lightweight bout: United States Nate Diaz vs. United States Joe Stevenson
Stevenson defeated Diaz via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
* Welterweight bout: United States Chris Lytle vs. United States Kevin Burns
Lytle defeated Burns via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
* Lightweight bout: England Andre Winner vs England Ross Pearson
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: United States DaMarques Johnson vs. England James Wilks
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: United States Diego Sanchez vs. United States Clay Guida
Sanchez defeated Guida via split decision (28–29, 29–27, 29–28). The fight went on to become Fight of the Year.
[edit] Bonus awards
Fighters were awarded $25,000 bonuses.
* Fight of the Night: United States Diego Sanchez vs. United States Clay Guida, United States Joe Stevenson vs. United States Nate Diaz, United States Chris Lytle vs. United States Kevin Burns
* Knockout of the Night: Poland Tomasz Drwal
* Submission of the Night: United States Jason Dent
