| The Ultimate Fighting Championship
returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on
Saturday, June 4 with a stacked card headlined by a pivotal lightweight
clash between Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Clay “The Carpenter”
Guida. The winner of this highly-anticipated bout is expected
to emerge as a top contender to the UFC lightweight title.
If that wasn’t enough, the June 4 event will crown the welterweight
winner of season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter. Other bouts confirmed
for this card include a lightweight collision between The Ultimate
Fighter season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins and tested veteran
Jeremy Stephens, as well as an exciting bantamweight fight between
rising stars Renan Barao and Demetrious Johnson.
“Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida both want to prove that they deserve
the next shot at the lightweight title,” UFC President Dana White
said. “Pettis comes in to the UFC with a lot of hype. He was the
last WEC lightweight champion and became a superstar after landing
that incredible kick off the cage against Ben Henderson. But this
is the toughest fight of his career. Clay Guida is a gritty, in-your-face
fighter who has put together a really impressive winning streak.
This is a fight I can’t wait to see.”
Among the most dynamic strikers in all of mixed martial arts,
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc./ 11-1)
grabbed international headlines in December when he landed one
of the most-gravity defying kicks of all-time against then-champion
Ben Henderson. Propelling himself off the cage, Pettis landed
the “Showtime” kick en route to becoming the last WEC lightweight
champion. A winner of four straight, the 24-year-old now enters
the hallowed UFC Octagon with his sights set on earning a shot
at the UFC lightweight title.
“This is one of those fights where I need to shine,” Pettis, a
protégé of renowned trainer Duke Roufus, said. “For this fight,
I need to go out there and prove that I belong as the number one
contender in the UFC. That means beating a really tough opponent
in Clay Guida. Clay always goes out there and performs. He never
gets tired and he’s always pushing forward. I’m ready for this
challenge and to prove that I deserve a title shot.”
A fan favorite for his high-energy, relentless fighting style,
Clay Guida (fighting out of Albuquerque N.M. and Johnsburg, Ill.
/ 28-8) has reeled off three consecutive victories and believes
a win over Pettis in June will secure him a coveted title shot.
Known for his sturdy chin and unmatched cardio, the 29-year-old
Guida has finished his last three opponents by submission and
sees a similar fate for his opponent on June 4 at The Palms.
“There’s a lot at stake for this fight,” Guida, who is coming
off an impressive stoppage win over Takanori Gomi in January,
said. “What I did to Gomi was just a taste of what I have in store
for Anthony Pettis. He’s been on one hell of a tear over the last
few years and I respect that. But he hasn’t seen the rabid dog,
and the type of fighter that I am in the cage. I’ve lost to better
guys and I’ve beaten better guys. On June 4, I’m just going to
be Clay Guida and use my conditioning and my wrestling. Wrestling
wins championships and I want a shot at the belt.”
The card will also crown the welterweight winner of season 13
of The Ultimate Fighter. Led by coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior
dos Santos, 14 of the sport’s rising 170-pound competitors vie
for the chance to earn a UFC contract. On June 4, two competitors
will lock horns for the chance to be called The Ultimate Fighter.
The Ultimate Fighter Finale also features season 12 lightweight
winner Jonathan Brookins (fighting out of Orlando, Fla./ 13-3)
taking on Jeremy Stephens (fighting out of San Diego, Calif. /
19-6), who is coming off a stellar third round knockout of Marcus
Davis in January. A fast-paced bantamweight fight is also slated
for the card, as Demetrious Johnson (fighting out of Parkland,
Wash./ 13-1) looks for his fourth straight victory when he meets
submission ace Renan Barao (fighting out of Natal, Brazil/ 22-1,
1 NC). |
