Frank Edgar vs Kurt Pellegrino possible for TUF 10 Finale on Dec. 5

by Jesse Holland on Sep 10, 2009 12:49 PM EDT

edgar-pellegrino

There's a fantastic lightweight match-up brewing between Frank Edgar (10-1) and Kurt Pellegrino (14-4) targeted for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale scheduled for the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Dec. 5.

The news was first reported by ESPN's "MMA Live" host Jon Anik and MMAmania.com has since confirmed that bout agreements were distributed but are yet to be signed.

"The Answer" rebounded from the first professional loss of his career to Gray Maynard (unanimous decision) at UFC Fight Night 13 to outpoint former number one contender Hermes Franca on all three judges scorecards at UFC Fight Night 14: "Silva vs. Irvin" in July 2008.

The latter bout also earned "Fight of the Night" honors, but was water under the bridge after Edgar defeated former lightweight champion Sean Sherk at UFC 98: "Evans vs. Machida" on May 23 for what was undoubtedly the biggest win of his career.

Edgar recently earned a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu while training at Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu in Hamilton, N.J., under Ricardo Almeida — the star pupil of Renzo Gracie. He is a decorated high school (Toms River High School East) and collegiate (Clarion University) wrestler out of Toms River, N.J., who also moonlights as an assistant wrestling coach at Rutgers University.

It’s going to take every ounce of that talent for Edgar to get past the crafty Pellegrino.

"Batman" has flirted with being recognized as a top competitor in a very crowded division on numerous occasions throughout his career; however, he has been plagued by inconsistency just as he reaches the precipice of contendership.

After being submitted by Nate Diaz at Fight Night 13 in April 2008, Pellegrino was able to string together three consecutive wins including a submission victory over Rob Emerson at Fight Night 17 last February and a one-sided unanimous decision nod over the dangerous Josh Neer at UFC 101: "Declaration" just last month.

A win over the surging Edgar would unquestionably re-establish him as a force to be reckoned with -- and a possible heir to the 155-pound throne.

The TUF 10 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists from the Spike TV reality show as well as a potential light heavyweight war featuring Jon "Bones" Jones as he inches his way closer to contention against Matt "The Hammer" Hamill.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates to the Dec. 5 fight card as they become available.

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Comments

edgar takes this one with ease

by child on Sep 10, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

matt riddle fights nick osipczak at ufc 105 also

by JG on Sep 10, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

whoooooooooo JG!!!! Thats a damn good fight! Very entertaining scrap right there! thanks for the heads up. I am a fan of both fighters, but Nick is going to become a stud!

As for this match up. It wil be a very entertaining fight, but I honestly feel that Edgar is above fighting Batman. He just made Sherk look silly, he deserves more then a gatekeeper like Pellegrino. Will be an entertaining fight though for sure!

by john G on Sep 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Let’s see if Kur-Pe’s can dominate Edgar in guard and half-guard this fight, hehe

by Crackbaby on Sep 10, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

well boys, off to have lunch with Mr. Eddie Alvarez, I might take pics, but Im not sure If I want to act like a star struck 12 year old after already meeting the man twice. Check back in later!

by john G on Sep 10, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

just talk about that dude he raped on bully beatdown

by JG on Sep 10, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree that this is a huge fight for Batman, and not such a huge fight for Edgar, however I see Kurt winning. This is his big chance to become a real contender and I have to root for him, because he is my boy at 155.

by JRE on Sep 10, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

John – i just don’t see it in Nick. He might get better but i just don’t see him makin the jump to the next level. Riddle though that kid has it IMO.

Also frankie takes Kurt UD. Great scrap FOTN probly.

by NameNotRequired on Sep 10, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Fun fight but pretty pointless for Frankie, he should be fighting a top contender after beating Sherk and Pellegrino is barely top 15. Hopefully Edgar will be able to finish this fight and take a step-up in competition before earning a title shot, he should be fighting the elite of the division right now.

by David W-S on Sep 10, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

NNR: Isnt Nick a young kid? If so, he has all the potential in the world.

Riddle definitely has a bright future. that strong, yooung buck is too dumb n Naive to be afraid of anyone, which makes him dangerous

by john G on Sep 10, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Ya i like riddle…….i dont like that nick guy….there is just sumthing about him

by JG on Sep 10, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

SICK…I asked yesterday WTF was going on with Edgar…and the very next day the news comes in, and it’s not even Christmas yet. NICE

Strange though, Edgar is 1-2 fights from a title shot IMO…Maybe not??

by ToeLock on Sep 11, 2009 4:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Pellegrino is a solid, entertaining fighter, but I still actually see this as a step down in competition for Edgar. I had thought Edgar was a win vs a top 5 guy away from being in the mix for a title shot. Pellegrino could elevate his status with a win. If Edgar wins, nothing much changes for him.

by CL on Sep 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Cut n paste job:

Andrei Arlovski Postpones Boxing Debut to Focus on MMA, Sets Record Straight on Playing Russian Roulette
Posted by Chad Edward on September 9th, 2009
http://www.fighters.com/09/09/andrei-ar … n-roulette

Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (14-7) has postponed his previously planned professional boxing debut anticipated for the end of September or early October to focus on MMA, Arlovski announced at Arlovski.com Wednesday night.

"MMA now is number one priority for me," Arlovski assured fans during a video chat, but he hasn’t buried his squared circle aspirations, adding, "Definitely, I want to try [boxing]." Arlovski also announced he’s considering competing at a North American Grappling Association event, saying, "I’ve been working on my jiu-jitsu."

"I’m 30 years old. It’s not over," Arlovski emphasized about his future in mixed martial arts. "What’s happened has happened. I’m ready to go and ready to fight."

Arlovski envisioned returning to MMA in December at a slimmed-down 238-240 pounds, but stopped short of announcing a fight or that he’s signed a contract with a promotion.

Arlovski did reiterate his desire to rematch fellow former UFC champ "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-6). "Any time, any day," challenged Arlovski. When asked whether he or Sylvia would be the first to return to the UFC, Arlovski said, "Nobody don’t want to sign Tim Sylvia."

Arlovski also weighed in on the announced autumn Strikeforce match-up between the last two men to knock Arlovski out, Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) and "Grim" Brett Rogers (10-0).

"Brett Rogers can lose and go back and change his tires in his body shop. I want Fedor to win," Arlovski said.

by john G on Sep 10, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

very disresectful toward Rogers it seems. I guess Arlovski could work as Roger’s apprentice in the tire shop.

by James S on Sep 10, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

and you can handle his nuts

by David on Sep 10, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

AA can sod off, how disrespectful to say that about the man who just smashed him. Grim was not the one slumped in his corner after getting KO’d in 20 seconds. AA would get destroyed in boxing so it’s no wonder that he changed his mind about that, after losing 2 consecutive 1st round KOs it would be pretty stupid to go into boxing now.

by David W-S on Sep 10, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

awesome fight! can’t wait!

by battery on Sep 10, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

It may be a step down but Batman just beat Neer so you have to give him props. Also, Pellegrino has better jits and G&P than Edgar. I dont think Pellegrino has the same level of boxing, but his wrestling is solid and he may be able to trick Edgar into a ground fight. I take Pellegrino by split decision.

by BoBBy on Sep 10, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Sigh…how many times does it have to be repeated: you can’t predict someone to win by split decision. The definition of a split decision is that two or more judges disagreed about the winner of a fight.

It takes three people to cause a split decision…one person can’t decide on a split decision.

by Scotty on Sep 10, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Ummmm…I’m predicting that 2 judges will say he won and 1 judge will say he lost. I’m saying this because at least one judge will come from a boxing back ground and one will have a ground art back ground and who knows about the other one. Remember athere are 3 judges at the event.

by BoBBy on Sep 11, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

good fight for main event i gotta go with edgar

by bryant on Sep 10, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Nice matchup for Edgar. If he wins this one he could be in contention for the next shot at the light weight title. Especially if Huerta beats Maynard.

by Kdog on Sep 10, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

solid matchup! edgar seems like a more complete fighter and he always has the ability to outperform his opponent but batman seems like a bad matchup for him.

by COR on Sep 10, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

I like Pellegrino on ice with a lime

by kibbled_bits on Sep 10, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

huge pelligrono fan, but i think Edgar will be to much on the feet! Kurt’s only chance is to take it to the ground for a sub.

by manalito on Sep 10, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

i kno both of these guys n should make for a very entertaining fight…of all the lws currently not booked to fight kurt is the best out there for frankie…with a edgar win n a maynard loss i see frankie gettin the next shot…if kurt wins i say give him 1 more fight n if he wins give him the shot

by hahaha hehehe on Sep 10, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Kurt and Frankie wrestled for nearby schools in high school. Frankie placed 2nd and 5th in NJ states at 130 and 135 while Kurt places 2nd and 2nd at 140 and 160 lbs. Kurt’s wrestling is just as good as Frankie’s but you don’t see it much in his matches because he has also been training BJJ for a long time is uses it quite often in his matches. Kurt wrestled 160 lbs backs in 1998 lol and now 11 years later hes fighting at a lower weight class than that.

by riko on Sep 10, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Edgar probably deserves a bigger fight, but everybody really worth fighting is booked up. Should be a good fight anyways.

by manstick on Sep 10, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

Everyone is saying what I am thinking. Frankie is known for eating guys alive that fight similar to Batman. Does anyone else think Edgar’s style is alot like Alvarez’s but more technical with less KO power?

by Bill Maher on Sep 10, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

Frankie’s striking and wrestling are much sharper than Kurts…would be VERY surprised if Frankie lost this one…but Kurt did surprise me with that win over Neer…but was’nt Neer in some kind of legal trouble just before that fight..maybe his head wasnt in the right place…no disrespect to Kurt..

by salamagogo on Sep 10, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions