Demian Maia vs Kendall Grove, Stephan Bonnar vs Igor Pokrajac confirmed for TUF 12 finale
Two high-profile fights have been confirmed on the live finale of The Ultimate Fighter season 12, set to air on Spike TV on 4 December.
As had been previously rumoured as early as September, TUF season 3 winner Kendall “Da Spyda” Grove will be facing off against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) phenom Demian Maia in the main event of the evening,
in a fight that should create a new middleweight contender out of the winner.
Also, another TUF alumni, Stephan Bonnar will be facing fellow light heavyweight Igor Pokrajac. Bonnar is forever associated with the TUF television show from the first season of the program, when he lost
in the finale to Forrest Griffin in a memorable slug-fest that boosted ratings for the show and secured its future on the network.
TUF is a reality show tournament whereby 28 fighters are pitted in an exhibition tournament to determine two finalists, who vie on the finale for a multiple-fight contract with the UFC, though both finalists
inevitably get a contract. Usually as well, many eliminated participants of the show, which this year features lightweights, get a chance to come back on the finale and fight their way into the UFC.
Those yet-to-be announced fights will round out the rest of the card. Three TUF alumni have become champions in the UFC (though none have successfully defended a belt) and many more have challenged unsuccessfully.
Grove, (12-7) is once again solidifying his place in the UFC after a pair of high-profile losses seriously threatened his position in the promotion. A victory over former title challenger Maia (13-2) would
give him by far his highest profile win so far.
Meanwhile, after struggling and losing three fights in a row, Bonnar (12-7) recently revived his career by kneeing Krzysztof Soszynski into unconsciousness at UFC 116.
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