Middleweight-prospects-turned-welterweight-contenders Martin Kampmann (15-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Mike Swick (14-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) have concluded bout agreements for a challenge that will have an instantaneous impact on the UFC’s 170-pound division. Close sources have revealed MMAjunkie about the bout and that both fighters have agreed to meet at the as-yet-unannounced UFC 103 event in Dallas, expected to take place September 19.
Additional sources well-known with the bout have point toward the organization may be employing the match to resolve who will meet the reigning welterweight titleholder following the UFC 100 title fight between recent champ Georges St. Pierre and challenger Thiago Alves.
Kampmann is 2-0 at 170 pounds after making the switch from middleweight following a September 2008 loss to Nate Marquardt. The Xtreme Couture fighter earned a split-decision over former WEC champion Carlos Condit in a rousing contest in the main event of UFC Fight Night 18 in April. That result followed a January TKO wins over Alexandre Barros in Kampmann’s first fight at welterweight.
On the other hand Swick is currently enjoying a four-fight winning streak in the welterweight division after compiling a 5-1 mark at 185 pounds. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter grossed a second-round TKO over Ben Saunders at UFC 99 earlier this month, after which he called out former champ Matt Hughes.
But prior to the fight, Swick told MMAjunkie he was simply looking for the biggest fights available. “I’m going to go in there and try to show that I deserve a big fight in my next fight,” Swick said. “If I win this next fight, that will put me at 9-1 in the UFC against some tough opponents. I definitely think I deserve a big fight.”
Meanwhile the attendee report of TUF 9 has been also revealed. It is said that TUF9 nabbed 2,217 attendees for a $500K gate. The Nevada State Athletic Commission today released official figures for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, and the June 20 event did even better than UFC officials initially announced. Through an email Keith Kizer he NSAC executive director had confirmed that the event actually drew 2,217 (1,801 paid) attendees for a live gate of $498,650. The event was announced a sellout on fight night.
The show featured Diego Sanchez’s split-decision win over Clay Guida in the night’s Spike TV-televised main event. Additionally, “The Ultimate Fighter 9″ concluded with the crowning of lightweight Ross Pearson and welterweight James Wilks as “TUF” champions. In fact, the card was so good, a record six “Fight of the Night” bonuses (covering three bouts) were handed out to Sanchez (winner), Guida, Kevin Burns, Chris Lytle (winner), Nate Diaz and Joe Stevenson (winner).
