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The lightweight bout between Kenny Florian and Clay Guida that was originally scheduled for UFC 106 in November has been moved to UFC 107 on December 12 in Memphis, TN. This news comes on the heels of the announcement that the BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez bout was moved to this event, as well as the postponement of the scheduled Rashad Evans vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson bout to a later event. This story was originally reported via the MMALive Twitter page, and later confirmed by Kenny Florian on his Twitter page.

Florian was last in action at UFC 101 on August 8th where he suffered a loss to BJ Penn in his second shot at the UFC lightweight title. Prior to the bout Florian experienced a nearly nine month layoff after earning the title shot with a victory over Joe Stevenson, while he waited for Penn to face Georges St. Pierre, and recover from that fight. Florian had earned the title shot by putting together a six fight win streak following his loss to Sean Sherk in his first title fight, including victories over Roger Huerta and Joe Lauzon.

Guida will also be looking to bounce back from defeat against Florian after losing via unanimous decision to Diego Sanchez in a “fight of the year” candidate bout at The Ultimate Fighter: US vs. UK finale in June. Prior to the loss Guida had put together three straight victories over the likes of Nate Diaz and Mac Danzig. This bout will mark Guida’s fourth consecutive bout against a “The Ultimate Fighter” alum, though Florian will be the first non-winner he has faced.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC 107 news and UFC 107 rumors.

Pictured: Kenny Florian

Florian (11-4) won six-straight fights over the likes of Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta, and Joe Stevenson to earn a shot at the lightweight title, but was submitted by champ BJ Penn in the fourth-round of their bout at UFC 101 earlier this month.

Guida (25-10) dropped a split decision to lightweight contender Diego Sanchez in his most-recent fight in June after previously winning three-straight against Samy Schiavo, Mac Danzig, and Nate Diaz.

UFC 106 is headlined by heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin and also features Tito Ortiz’s return to the Octagon against Mark Coleman and Jon Fitch vs. Ricardo Almeida.

For the latest UFC 106 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.

Pictured: Kenny Florian

According to NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, fighters Diego Sanchez, Clay Guida, DaMarques Johnson, James Wilks, Ross Pearson, Andre Winner, Chris Lytle, Joe Stevenson, Brad Blackburn, Nick Osipczak, Melvin Guillard, and Tomasz Drwal tested negative at the Spike-televised event, which took place at The Pearl in Las Vegas.

For more TUF 9 Finale coverage click here.

[Pictured: TUF 9 lightweight winner Ross Pearson]

Guida, who suffered a unanimous decision loss to Diego Sanchez in the evening’s main event, is suspended until August 15 for precautionary reasons. Burns must have his right hand cleared by a doctor or serve a suspension until December 18. He too faces a minimum suspension until August 15 after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Chris Lytle on the Spike-televised card.

The full list of injuries and suspensions for the event include:

• Clay Guida — Suspended until August 15 and no contact until July 21
• Kevin Burns — Right hand must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or suspended until December 18. Minimum suspension until August 15 with no contact until July 21.
• Andre Winner — Suspended until July 21 with no contact until July 12 due to a left cheek laceration
• Brad Blackburn — Right shoulder must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or suspended until December 18. Minimum suspension until August 15 with no contact until July 21.
• Edgar Garcia — Suspended until July 21 with no contact until July 12 due to a right eyebrow cut.
• Mike Ciesnolevicz — Suspended until July 21 with no contact until July 12
• Frank Lester — Suspended until July 21 with no contact until July 12
• Jason Dent — Right knee must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or suspended until July 21. No contact until July 12

For more coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale click here.

[Pictured: Clay Guida]

Sanchez earned $90,000 for his main event win over Clay Guida ($23,000), while Stevenson received $70,000 by topping Nate Diaz ($20,000) in the first bout of the Spike-televised main card. The total disclosed payroll for the event (excluding fight night bonuses) was $430,000.

The event took place at The Pearl in Las Vegas and drew a sell-out attendance of 1,800 for a live gate of $500,000.

The official salaries for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, as reported to the NSAC, were:

• Diego Sanchez ($90,000 – includes $45,000 win bonus)* def. Clay Guida ($23,000)*
• James Wilks ($16,000 – includes $8,000 win bonus) def. DaMarques Johnson ($8,000)
• Chris Lytle ($36,000 – includes $18,000 win bonus)* def. Kevin Burns ($9,000)*
• Ross Pearson ($16,000) def. Andre Winner ($8,000)
• Joe Stevenson ($70,000 – includes $35,000 win bonus)* def. Nate Diaz ($20,000)*
• Melvin Guillard ($24,000) – includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Gleison Tibau ($17,000)
• Brad Blackburn ($18,000 – includes $9,000 win bonus) def. Edgar Garcia ($5,000)
• Tomasz Drwal ($15,600 – includes $7,000 win bonus)*^ def. Mike Ciesnoleviscz ($6,400)^
• Nick Osipczak ($16,000 – includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Frank Lester ($8,000)
• Jason Dent ($16,000 – includes $8,000 win bonus)* def. Cameron Dollar ($8,000)

* Salaries do not include fight night bonuses.
^ The salaries of Drwal and Ciesnoleviscz have been adjusted for the 20% ($1,600) Ciesnoleviscz paid Drwal for failing to make weight.

[Pictured: Diego Sanchez]

Sanchez edged Guida by split decision in the evening’s main event following a standup war that saw Sanchez nearly finish Guida early in the opening frame only to have The Carpenter fight his way back into the fight with ground and pound in the second and third rounds. Ultimately it was Sanchez’s multiple near finishes and cut-opening elbows from his back that earned him split decision victory.

Lytle and Burns also engaged in a standup brawl that saw Burns rock Lytle late in round one only to have Lytle survive to open up a deep gash that sent blood streaming early in the third. The cut may have been the deciding factor in the bout as Lytle was awarded the unanimous decision win.

Stevenson put his recent training with Greg Jackson on full display in a technical tussle with Diaz, as “Daddy” battered Diaz on the feet and was constantly applying pressure on the ground en route to unanimous decision victory.

All six “Fight of the Night” winners, along with Jason Dent who earned “Submission of the Night” and Tomasz Drwal who was awarded “Knockout of the Night”, received $25,000 bonuses.

Click here to read MMAFrenzy.com’s TUF 9 Finale recap and official results.

[Pictured: Joe Stevenson]

The fight opened with a flurry and rarely slowed, as Sanchez battered Guida in the opening seconds with a flurry of punches and knees that appeared as though they could end the fight. The iron-chinned Guida survived the early onslaught to deliver punishment of his own in rounds two and three, but it was Sanchez’s dominant opening frame, head kick knockdown, and cut-opening elbows from the bottom that were enough to earn him the win and put him in contention for a lightweight title shot.

The rest of the card failed to disappoint either as Chris Lytle and Kevin Burns traded blows in a bout that deserved Fight of the Night before being upstaged by Sanchez and Guida, Joe Stevenson looked impressive in topping Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in a technical battle, and welterweight James Wilks and lightweight Ross Pearson were crowned The Ultimate Fighter 9 champions with victories on the Spike-televised main card.

After three quick stoppage victories by Jason Dent, Nick Osipczak, and Tomasz Drwal to start the event, the prelimiary card was marred by a duo of controversial decisions as Brad Blackburn edged Edgar Garcia and Melvia Guillard topped Gleison Tibau.

The event’s official results were:

• Diego Sanchez def. Clay Guida via split decision (28-29, 29-27, 29-28)
• James Wilks def. DaMarques Johnson via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 4:54
  TUF 9 Welterweight Final
• Chris Lytle def. Kevin Burns via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Ross Pearson def. Andre Winner via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  TUF 9 Lightweight Final
• Joe Stevenson def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Melvin Guillard def. Gleison Tibau via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Brad Blackburn def. Edgar Garcia via split decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28)
• Tomasz Drwal def. Mike Ciesnolevicz via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 4:48
• Nick Osipczak def. Frank Lester via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 3:40
• Jason Dent def. Cameron Dollar via submission (anaconda choke) — Round 1, 4:46

[Pictured: Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida]

The event takes place on Saturday at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, the same venue which hosted today’s weigh-ins, and airs live on Spike TV beginning at 9pm ET.

Light heavyweight Mike Ciesnolevicz was the lone fighter who failed to make weight, weighing in at 208 pounds for his light heavyweight contest against Tomasz Drwal, who agreed to the higher weight in exchange for 20-percent of Ciesnoloevicz’ show money.

The official weigh-in results for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale were:

MAIN CARD (Spike TV – 9pm ET)

• 155: Clay Guida (155) vs. Diego Sanchez (156)
• 170: DaMarques Johnson (170) vs. James Wilks (171)
  TUF 9 Welterweight Final
• 170: Kevin Burns (171) vs. Chris Lytle (170)
• 155: Ross Pearson (156) vs. Andre Winner (155)
  TUF 9 Lightweight Final
• 155: Nate Diaz (156) vs. Joe Stevenson (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• 155: Melvin Guillard (155) vs. Gleison Tibau (155)
• 170: Brad Blackburn (170) vs. Edgar Garcia (171)
• 205: Mike Ciesnolevicz (208)* vs. Tomasz Drwal (205)
• 170: Frank Lester (170) vs. Nick Osipczak (170)
• 155: Jason Dent (155) vs. Cameron Dollar (154)

* Ciesnolevicz weighed in over the light heavyweight limit, but Drwal agreed to fight him at 208 pounds. Ciesnolevicz will be penalized 20% of his show money, which will go to Drwal.

[Pictured: Diego Sanchez]

Diego Sanchez attempts a flying knee against Joe Stevenson at UFC 95

The finale for season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter” is beginning to grow. Earlier this week it was reported that Anthony Johnson would be facing John Howard in a welterweight battle. Today it is being reported by Sherdog that Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida have agreed to face off as the main event of the June 20 card. A win for either man could greatly help their lightweight title aspirations.

Sanchez recently made his successful debut as a Lightweight against Joe Stevenson at UFC 95 in London England on February 21, winning via Unanimous decision. Prior to that he Compiled a 7-2 Record in the UFC Welterweight division, after winning Season one of “The Ultimate Fighter” as a Middleweight. His only two losses came against top Welterweight competitors Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, both by decision.

Guida has compiled a 5-3 record in the UFC since his 2006 debut, most recently going on a three fight win streak, and entering himself in to title consideration. His last two victories came over “The Ultimate Fighter” season six and season five winners Mac Danzig and Nate Diaz, respectively. Guida will now look to take down his third “The Ultimate Fighter” winning opponent in as many fights.

Both fighters have strong wrestling backgrounds, but Sanchez will have a marked advantage on the feet. One would expect to see Guida try to impose his will and keep this fight on the ground, and Sanchez on the bottom. It will be interesting to see if Sanchez will rely on his wrestling skills solely to keep the fight standing, or if he will try to give Guida some of his own medicine in terms of take-downs and “ground ‘n pound”. Both fighters also have a history of big gas tanks, and constant pressure and action throughout their fights, which should lend to an exciting fight, with potential “Fight of the Night” status.

For more on the Finale event for “The Ultimate fighter 9: US vs. UK” visit our rumor page for the event.