Ultimate Fighter TVFor the eighth season, UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and top heavyweight contender and former Champion, Frank Mir will train and coach fighters in the Lightweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.
TUF 10 quarter-finalists Justin Wren and Jon Madsen have been given another shot to prove they belong in the UFC, as they will face each other in a heavyweight bout slated for the undercard of next weekend's The Ultimate Fighter season 10 finale. News of the was first reported by Around the Octagon.
Wren and Madsen were teammates on The Ultimate Fighter 10 reality as members of Team Rashad. Wren advanced in the heavyweight tournament by defeating UFC veteran Wes Sims but would go onto lose to Roy Nelson via unanimous decision in the quarter-finals. Madsen scored a bloody unanimous decison win over Abe Wagner in the opening round, however, he would lose in the quarter-finals to Brendan Schaub.
The fight pits two men who are decorated high school and collegiate wrestlers. Wren was a two-time Prep State Champion (2004, 2005) and a two time Prep all-American, winning the Prep National Championship his senior year at Bishop Lynch High School. He was also a two time all-American in Greco Roman, winning the national championship in Fargo, ND.
Madsen attended high school in Doland, South Dakota, where he won many awards and even had a high school wrestling match with UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, which Lesnar won. He won a National Championship in his freshmen year at South Dakota State University.
Wren is currently riding a four-fight winning streak, with his most recent win coming over Lamar Coleman in April. Prior to the winning streak, he suffered his lone career loss at the hands of Matthew Thompson at Art of War 2 in May 2007. Wren sports a nearly perfect 8-1 professional MMA record, with all of his eight wins being by stoppage including six by TKO or KO.
Madsen last saw action in August of 2008, where he defeated Ryan Kotzea via unanimous decision. He is off to a 2-0 start in his young MMA career and currently hones his skills at Matt Hughes' The H.I.T. Squad in Granite City, Illinois.
TUF 10 finale takes place on Dec. 5 at The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV, and the main card will be televised on Spike TV. The event is headlined by a light-heavyweight bout between undefeated phenom Jon "Bones" Jones and contender Matt Hamill.
In addition, a battle between the top two heavyweight finalists from the TUF 10 will also be featured. Other bouts featured include Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Veach, Houston Alexander vs. Kimbo Slice and Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard.
IMO this is a good idea, Im rooting for wren all the way.
Thoughts?
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HW: Arlovski, CroCop, Mir
LHW: Wandy, Rampage, Liddell
MW: Marquardt, Silva, Franklin
WW: GSP, Hughes
LW: Penn
ALWAYS backin my boy Matt Hammill, BISPING IS A TOOL, WAR HAMMILL!
I think Wren is the best prospect on the show. He's only 22, he's got world class wrestling, and he's got good size (260-ish I think). He seemed to run out of gas against Nelson, but that's probably always going to be a problem for such a big dude. Madsen hasn't shown much so far, I think Wren TKOs him in the 2nd round.
I think Wren is the best prospect on the show. He's only 22, he's got world class wrestling, and he's got good size (260-ish I think). He seemed to run out of gas against Nelson, but that's probably always going to be a problem for such a big dude. Madsen hasn't shown much so far, I think Wren TKOs him in the 2nd round.
Since when does winning a few HIGH SCHOOL tournaments equal world class?
I dont think either of these two will last very long in the UFC. They are decent wrestlers with terrible stand up. Wrens gas tank looked pathetic against Nelson. I dont see either of them making it out of the first round with any of the top twelve heavyweights in the UFC unless they make some seriously drastic improvments.
Since when does winning a few HIGH SCHOOL tournaments equal world class?
If it did than I'm world class lol
Wren does have potental but he needs to get into shape and learn some stand up. Honestly I thought his fight with Nelson said alot, he was throwing bombs and fighting his heart out. IMO he looks like he's willing to learn and could improve durastically with a good camp. (pardon my spelling)
Madsen & Wren given one last shot at the ufc
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