Lightweights Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz will step in as the main event at the TUF 18 Finale now that Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez have been moved to the UFC on FOX 9 main event.
UFC officials announced on Sunday the shift in main events.
Gray Maynard vs Nate Diaz will now headline TUF 18 Finale
Maynard (11-2-1 1NC) is coming off a first round TKO loss to T.J. Grant in a number one contender match at UFC 160 in May. Prior to that fight he won a split decision against Clay Guida in a very lacklustre fight.
Diaz (16-9) has lost his last two fights and will look to return to the win column at the TUF 18 Finale. He was riding a three-fight winning streak and earned himself a lightweight title shot against Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 5 last December. He lost to Henderson via unanimous decision and went on to lose via TKO for the first time in his career to Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 7.
Diaz and Maynard first met in the semi-finals of The Ultimate Fighter 5 where Diaz won via second round submission (guillotine choke) and eventually went on to win the tournament. They fought in a rematch at UFC Fight Night 20 in 2010 and Maynard won the split decision.
The TUF 18 Finale is set to go down on November 30 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Maynard vs. Diaz bout will serve as the night’s main event.
