TUF 22 Finale set for Dec. 11 in Las Vegas with Lauzon-Dunham, LaFlare-Pierce
By Mike Bohn August 20, 2015 12:15 am
Many anticipate UFC 194 on Dec. 12 to be the biggest event of the year. That weekend of UFC action just got a little more stacked with The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale set for Dec. 11, as well.
Although a venue has yet to be determined, UFC official today announced The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale will take place in Las Vegas one night before UFC 194. The event is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
Two fights have been announced for the TUF 22 Finale. Lightweight submission specialists Joe Lauzon (25-10 MMA, 12-7 UFC) and Evan Dunham (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) will go to battle while welterweights Ryan LaFlare (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Mike Pierce (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) are also tapped to collide in “Sin City.”
Lauzon enters the event off one of the signature victories of his career. He stopped former PRIDE lightweight champ Takanori Gomi by TKO in less than two minutes at UFC on FOX 16 in July for his third victory in his past four fights. “J-Lau” has been a member of the UFC roster since 2007 and has earned a 155-pound record 11 stoppage victories along with a divisional record 13 “Fight Night” bonuses.
Dunham is also among the most credentialed lightweights on the UFC roster. He’s scored nine octagon victories since his February 2009 debut and after a slump of four losses in five fights is now on a two-fight winning streak. The 33-year-old’s most recent bout saw him grapple his way to a unanimous decision win over Ross Pearson at UFC Fight Night 72.
LaFlare returns to the octagon hopes of getting back on track after the first defeat of his career. He was granted a main event contest against Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 62 in March but was ultimately unable to stop the superior grappling skills of his opponent and dropped a unanimous decision.