PRIDE FC veteran, Ryo Chonan (14-7), and budding welterweight star, Thiago Alves (12-3), could meet in a 170-pound clash at the Prudential Arena on November 17 in Newark, N.J., as part of the nine-fight card, according to FightNetwork.com.
Alves is fresh of a submission win (verbal) less than one week ago at UFC Fight Night 11, strafing Kuniyoshi Hironaka with devastating kicks and punches until the tough Japanese fighter had enough midway through round two.
It was the first appearance for "The Pitbull" since serving an eight-month suspension for testing positive for banned substances (diuretics) after his UFC 66 fight with Tony DeSouza in December 2006. The American Top Team-trained fighter has five wins in seven tries inside the Octagon.
Chonan has been slated to make his UFC debut in November for a few weeks now; however, his opponent has remained unknown (perhaps up until now). This will be the first fight for Chonan at 170-pounds in a very accomplished career competing at middleweight (185 pounds).
Here a snip from the article:
"A star in Japan's DEEP promotion, Chonan graduated to PRIDE's roster in 2004 with mixed results. The 28-year-old's highlight moment in the now defunct promotion came against current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, when a standing Chonan dramatically scissor-dropped to a heelhook to submit the Brazilian at PRIDE Shockwave 2004 on New Year's Eve."
According to the article, Chonan now trains with former PRIDE FC middleweight and current welterweight champion, Dan Henderson, at the Team Quest gym in California.
For the latest rumored UFC 78 fight card click here.
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