TUF 9 Pulls in Half Million Dollar Gate

The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale finished in a flurry with the UFC designating three Fights of the Night -- a first in the promotion's history -- and Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida immediately being mentioned as a Fight of the Year candidate.

The reality series finales aren't typically counted on for live ticket revenue, but season nine's sold out for an official tally of $498,650.00 at the gate, based on 1,801 tickets sold and 326 comps, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Wraps Up Saturday Night

The ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter comes to a close Saturday night in Las Vegas and on Spike TV. Team U.K. has made its presence known, owning three of the four finalist spots.

In the main event, lightweights Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida battle it out to determine in hopes of the winner being next in line for a UFC lightweight title shot.

Main Bouts:

TUF 9 Lightweight Finals:
-Ross Pearson (8-3) vs. Andre Winner (9-2-1)

TUF 9 Welterweight Finals:
-Damarques Johnson (9-6) vs. James Wilks (5-2)

-Diego Sanchez (23-2) vs. Clay Guida (25-9)
-Kevin Burns (7-2) vs. Chris Lytle (28-17-5)
-Joe Stevenson (31-10) vs. Nate Diaz (13-3)

Preliminary Bouts:
-Melvin Guillard (21-7-2) vs. Gleison Tibau (17-6)
-Tomasz Drwal (15-2) vs. Mike Ciesnoleviscz (17-3)
-Edgar Garcia (7-0) vs. Brad Blackburn (13-9-1)
-Cameron Dollar (2-1) vs. Jason Dent (18-9)
-Frank Lester (3-2) vs. Nick Osipczak (3-0)

Diego Sanchez Talks About Training for Clay Guida

Diego Sanchez talks about his preparations for Clay Guida and how he's turned his house into an extension of his training gym. (Courtesy of Inside MMA)

Nate Diaz Sidelined for 2008

Initially hoping to have a fight against Clay Guida in December, Gracie Fighter Nate Diaz looks to be sitting out the rest of this year.

According to GracieFighter.com, his manager's website, the planned showdown with Guida was never completed due to a foot injury that Guida sustained in his fight with Mac Danzing at UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Neb.

With most of the other contending lightweights in the UFC already scheduled out for the remainder of the year, it's likely that Diaz won't have his next bout until Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, where Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn headline UFC 94.

Diaz most recently competed on the same card as Guida. He defeated Midwest fighter Josh Neer in the main event, scoring a tough split decision victory.