The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 contestant George Sotiropoulos (9-2) will face off against Matt Grice (9-1) at UFC Fight Night 17 'Lauzon vs. Franca' at the University of Southern Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida on February 7 according to MMAWeekly.
Sotiropoulos was among the pre-show favorites to win TUF 6 until the Australian was derailed by Tommy "The Farmboy" Speer in the semifinals. He bounced back to submit Billy Miles via rear naked choke at TUF 6 Finale in the first round back in December 2007.
After TUF 6 wrapped, Sotiropoulos headed out to New York City to train with his coaches on the program, Matt Serra and Ray Longo at Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He followed up with a dominating TKO win over fellow TUF contestant Roman Mitichyan at UFC Fight Night 13 last April.
Now fully healed from an injury suffered earlier in the year, Sotiropoulos will lock horns with "The Wolverine" on the undercard portion of the event.
Grice was on a personal leave from the UFC and hasn't been seen in the Octagon since his battle against Jason Black at last year's UFC 77. The two put on a stellar three-round war that garnered "Fight of the Night" honors and some much deserved buzz about their respective futures.
UFC Fight Night 17 features several 155-pound match ups. Mac Danzig is expected to take on Josh Neer and Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca are slated to headline the show. Kurt Pellegrino and Rob Emerson will also likely hook ‘em up.
Here is the current UFC Fight Night 17 fight card:
Main event:
155 lbs.: Hermes Franca (19-7) vs. Joe Lauzon (17-4)
Main card:
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig (18-5-1) vs. Josh Neer (24-7-1)
155 lbs.: Gleison Tibau (15-6) vs. Rich Clementi (32-13-1)
185 lbs.: Amir Sadollah (1-0) vs. Nick Catone (5-0)
265 lbs.: Cain Velaquez (4-0) vs. Denis Stojnic (5-1)*
Under card:
155 lbs.: George Sotiropolous (9-2) vs. Matt Grice (9-1)
155 lbs.: Kurt Pellegrino (12-4) vs. Rob Emerson (8-6)*
185 lbs.: Alessio Sakara (13-7) vs. Jake Rosholt (5-0)
*Fight not yet officially confirmed by UFC.com.